Dewey Woody
Woody spent nine days in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at SkyRidge Medical Center after he reportedly aspirated during surgery.
Fluid reportedly went into his lungs, according to family members.
Woody was finally allowed to come off a ventilator, allowing him to breathe on his own.
Woody’s brother Jimmy Woody said the veteran firefighter and leader of Bradley County Fire Rescue was moved into a regular room late Monday at SkyRidge.
His wife, Melissa Woody, said during a previous report that Woody had been transferring equipment from one vehicle to another Jan. 15. He had one foot on ice and the other planted on a dry surface when he slipped and broke his ankle and a bone in his lower leg.
He had surgery to repair the breaks the following day and suffered the complications.
His wife said doctors treated Woody with antibiotics and kept him sedated.
Surgeons also utilized a new type of hardware to make the repairs and no further surgery should be required to remove it.
Melissa Woody also noted that although the chief is weak, he is becoming stronger and more active.
Woody’s accidental fall is the second incident during the past few months where a BCFR member suffered serious injury.
Captain Phillip Shelton was severely burned during a fire in late October at Abitibi Bowater.
Shelton continues to recover and undergo therapy after spending approximately a month at Joseph Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., then in an Atlanta rehabilitation facility.
Woody family members do not know when he will be released from the hospital.
