One of the great things about my job is it allows me to meet some of the most incredible people in the world.
One of those people is Truman Duncan of Cleburne.
His father and grandfather were railroad engineers. As a boy, he dreamed of working on the railroad.
So it was no surprise when Duncan got a job at Greenbrier Rail Services in Cleburne, repairing and refurbishing trains.
But three years ago, he was in a terrible accident. He slipped while he was trying to connect two train cars.
One of the big wheels on the 20,000-pound rail car cut off his legs and part of his pelvis.
Incredibly, he was able to make his own cell phone call to 911.
“I think I’m cut in two,” he told the 911 operator. While waiting for rescue workers, he asked co-workers to get him a cigarette and a cup of water.
Below is a photo from the Cleburne Fire Department showing his actual rescue.
Doctors say it’s a miracle Duncan survived. But he did.
He was in such bad shape when he arrived at the hospital, his family didn’t think he would make it. His 17-year-old son Trey said goodbye to him.
Duncan spent 4 months and one day in a Fort Worth hospital. He underwent 23 surgeries.
He’s now confined to a wheelchair, but he hardly lets it rule his life.
He still mows his own yard, plays football, swims, and recently built a patio deck in back of his home.
He has the best attitude, a philosophy of life that somehow got him over such huge medical hurdles.
He’s now back at work, doing a desk job, at the same rail yard where the accident happened. His boss jokes that he keeps asking for more work.
It’s a pleasure to help tell Truman’s story.
He is an inspiration.
Wow…Truman is an amazing human being. I just saw his story on NBC’s Today Show & I don’t know that I could be as positive as he is.
God bless you Truman
I lost my leg in a plane crash that killed my father in 2004. After that, my leg was found in a grill that was sold at auction.
I wish you the best and get in touch with me to find out more on how I cope
Thank you, Truman, for your inspiring life. You made an overweight lady in the midwest quit having a pity party or feeling depressed for no reason. God bless you mightily for sharing your story and being such a great dad!! More folks should have your positive attitude. I’ll be praying for you as you get fitted for your new prosthetics, and every day forward. Sincerely, Suetta
Truman,
It’s so inspiring to hear that you see life is more than what we have in our physical bodies. My husband recently passed away – he was also a double amputee above the knee. He also saw how life still had many things to offer. That there was more to him than just 2 legs. His situation was different from yours in the loss of his legs, but his determination to show others to see that they still have many things to offer even when they may be facing difficult situations. I wrote a poem that somewhat shows just probably how you feel and how he felt.
I STILL STAND TALL
They look and they wonder, this man in his chair
their thought is to ask him, what fate put him there.
I don’t miss the look, it’s seen all the time,
my eyes never miss it, their stare is no crime.
For someone to see me, the person I am
Like a breath of fresh air to they see that I can
They look & they wonder, this man in his chair,
to some it might feel that – is life always fair.
I see in there eyes how sad they might feel,
do they understand beyond what is real.
The chair always with me, it’s how I live now.
Should it really matter, the why or the how.
Children look and are curious, parents say not to stare
Their questions I’ll answer,them to learn is only fair.
It is what it is, beyond they should see
don’t look at my wheelchair-take time – look at me.
What makes me a person, the fact I can’t stand.
With much more to offer, my abilities at hand.
My legs were just legs, certain jobs they could do.
Like run, walk & stand – wear a right & left shoe.
The rest of me though, I consider my all,
Because of the rest of me – I still stand tall.
My legs did not make me the man from my birth,
the chair that I live in does not make my worth.
There are so many things, which may surprise you,
without having legs the things I can do.
Please look again – see past the chair.
I don’t feel made fun of, I know that you care.
I say this to you, well really to all,
just take another look – because I STILL STAND TALL.
Katherine (Erickson) Skutevik
(wife of a double amputee)
2007
God bless you Truman.
Thanks for your inpiration to others.