Philip Palmer, coordinator for the English as a second language program at University Church of Christ, was severely injured after falling out of a tree Labor Day morning.
Palmer was trimming dead limbs off a tree for a friend when the branch he was leaning on broke. He landed on the edge of the roof before plummeting to the ground. He sustained multiple injuries that kept him hospitalized for a week.
His daughter Hannah Palmer, a student at Cisco College, said her dad was doing “OK.”
“He got home Monday night at 6 p.m.,” she said.
Hannah said her family received “plenty of food” from friends at UCC.
“All the people at church want to know what they can do to help,” she said.
Martin and Paulette Haught have taken over the ESL program at UCC until Palmer is able to return. Paulette teaches ESL at Hardin Simmons University and the couple has housed international students in there home on several occasions.
The couple said Palmer suffered lacerations of his face, a broken nose, broken wrists, cracked vertebrae in the neck, a concussion, bruised heart and lungs and two broken ribs after he fell from the tree.
“There were dead limbs up there he was trying to get off,” Martin said. “He was laying on the limb trying to break it off a little at a time.”
Martin said Palmer can remember hearing a big crack when the limb broke, but very little else. Palmer had surgery on both wrists and reconstruction on his nose two days after the accident.
“They put a plate in the right wrist and some screws,” Paulette said, “and several plates and screws in the left wrist.”
The couple described Palmer as the “glue” that holds the ESL program together. His duties include obtaining materials, overseeing the classes and keeping tutors and students up to date.
ESL classes take place at the church Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. The classes provide international students with the opportunity to meet with a tutor who will work with them on improving their English. Many of the students and tutors who attend ESL are ACU students.
The Haughts said they hope Palmer will be able to take over the program in two weeks.
On Wednesday night, Paulette said she was shocked that Palmer said he was going to come to class.
Palmer was unable to return on Wednesday because he was too tired, but he was able to prepare for the class via email.
The Haughts said Palmer’s doctor said he won’t be able to do tree work again.
“But knowing him, he may come back and do it,” Paulette said.
