He had a fight for life — and he’s won it|[12/23/07]

Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 23, 2007

A year ago at this time, Rick Skinner was assisting the U.S. Army Reserve 412th Engineers Command on a rebuilding mission in Iraq.

This year he plans to enjoy Christmas with family and friends in the midst of rebuilding something else — himself.

“Who knew I’d be fighting for my life right here?,” Skinner said before one of his thrice-weekly workouts at Good Samaritan Physical Therapy.

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Skinner, 50, was on his way to have a late lunch just after 5 p.m. on Aug. 14 when his southbound 2007 Ford Explorer was struck head-on by a motorist who had veered into his lane of traffic on Mississippi 27.

Skinner was taken to University Medical Center in Jackson with multiple broken bones, including his right femur and tibia.

Surgery to place more than a dozen screws in his hip and lower leg took its usual toll with his mobility, but said his taking care of his physical health contributed to smoother road to recovery than most car accident victims with similar injuries.

“My knee is still tight, but the doctor said I probably wouldn’t be healing as well if I weren’t in shape,” Skinner said.

Shortly after his nearly three-week stay at UMC, Skinner has rehabilitated at the Mission 66 health center.

“He came to us in a wheelchair,” said therapist Jeanie Castle, one of a team of three who works with their referred patients to get back on their feet.

Rehabbing has been a slow, gradual process for the Alabama native and Vicksburg resident since 1994. Recently, he’s done several series of flexibility exercises to get his legs back in shape — perhaps, in time for the avid runner to make next year’s Run Thru History.

“I usually ran about three to four times a week,” said Skinner, who has returned to his job in human resources with the Reserve. “It’s about just using my muscles again.”

If his therapy stays on track — at least two more months, his doctors say — Skinner’s sneaker soles may be hitting the pavement in time for the spring Vicksburg running classic.

Even if not, Skinner said, he feels blessed with the chance to spend Christmas at home in one piece following the accident.

“It’s only by God’s grace I am alive,” Skinner said. “He left me here for a reason and I just need to find out what it is.”