Bellingham window washer needs help after nasty fall
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BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A window washer in Bellingham suffered a frightening fall that left him battered and bruised.
Now Bruce Sherman's friends are trying to make sure the accident doesn't wipe out his wallet.
Sherman isn't used to the view from the inside of a hospital, but a recent fall on the job at a financial complex landed him in the emergency room with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a traumatic brain injury.
"I was either standing or kneeling on them and one gave out and next thing I knew I was on the ground," he said of the accident.
Sherman, who's been washing windows for more than 30 years, said he had just finished the third floor windows when he came to a glass awning. He crashed through the glass and landed on the ground.
"Well, I was just surprised that I was falling," he said. "This isn't holding me and I'm falling through."
Bruised and stitched up, the 64-year old isn't sure when he'll be released from the hospital. His doctor said he's not when or even if Sherman will recover from the brain injury.
"Will he be able to work again? That, we don't know," said Sherman's wife, Peggy.
For now, Sherman's sons are taking over the business, including finishing the job where their father fell ten feet.
"It's a total shock," his son said. "Those awnings are strong enough to hop up and down on."
Sherman's oldest and closest friend from kindergarten is now reaching out to Renton High School alums from their class of 1966 asking for help.
And while Sherman is a year away from retirement age, he said he isn't ready to throw in the squeegee just yet. He said he'd rather be hanging on the other side of the hospital window.
Officials from Labor and Industries said because Sherman owns his own company, they won't investigate the accident because they're jurisdiction is limited to employees.
If you'd like to contribute to the Bruce Sherman Donation Fund, you can do so at the Whatcom Educational Credit Union.
Now Bruce Sherman's friends are trying to make sure the accident doesn't wipe out his wallet.
Sherman isn't used to the view from the inside of a hospital, but a recent fall on the job at a financial complex landed him in the emergency room with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a traumatic brain injury.
"I was either standing or kneeling on them and one gave out and next thing I knew I was on the ground," he said of the accident.
Sherman, who's been washing windows for more than 30 years, said he had just finished the third floor windows when he came to a glass awning. He crashed through the glass and landed on the ground.
"Well, I was just surprised that I was falling," he said. "This isn't holding me and I'm falling through."
Bruised and stitched up, the 64-year old isn't sure when he'll be released from the hospital. His doctor said he's not when or even if Sherman will recover from the brain injury.
"Will he be able to work again? That, we don't know," said Sherman's wife, Peggy.
For now, Sherman's sons are taking over the business, including finishing the job where their father fell ten feet.
"It's a total shock," his son said. "Those awnings are strong enough to hop up and down on."
Sherman's oldest and closest friend from kindergarten is now reaching out to Renton High School alums from their class of 1966 asking for help.
And while Sherman is a year away from retirement age, he said he isn't ready to throw in the squeegee just yet. He said he'd rather be hanging on the other side of the hospital window.
Officials from Labor and Industries said because Sherman owns his own company, they won't investigate the accident because they're jurisdiction is limited to employees.
If you'd like to contribute to the Bruce Sherman Donation Fund, you can do so at the Whatcom Educational Credit Union.
Mr. Sherman, based on your age and now your injury, I'd suggest filing for Social Security. You should also submit an application for Medicaid for the non-grant medical assistance (NGMA) program to pay for your medical bills and ongoing care.