Dog helps save owner

Photo: Picasa

Mike Soubble is seen here with his dog, Bud, who caught the eye of a passer-by when Mike fell in his driveway, breaking bones throughout the right side of his body. (Times photo by Cherri Crockett)

RUMFORD- On the morning of January 6, Mike Soubble and his black lab, Bud, took a routine walk to the end of the driveway for the daily paper when Mike slipped and fell. Bud took a seat next to his owner, catching the eye of a passer-by.

“I was taking my girls to the mountain to ski,” stated Richard Cote. “I saw the dog sitting a few feet away from the side of the road and saw Mr. Soubble laying on the ground next to him. I turned around and went back and that’s when we saw he was hurt pretty bad.”

Cote noted that he and his daughters took their jackets off and covered Soubble, while they called for an ambulance and one daughter ran to the house.

“I was still in bed,” stated Beth Soubble, Mike’s wife. “I didn’t know what had happened. But, when I got down there, I could see it wasn’t good. His arm and leg were not in natural position.”

Upon arrival of the ambulance, rescuers took Soubble to Rumford Hospital, but it was quickly apparent that he needed the services of Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Soubble had broken his right shoulder, his arm, his right hip was out of joint and his right leg was broken.

“When the ambulance guys told me that I was going to feel the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life,” stated Soubble. “They weren’t kidding. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

Soubble is a Vietnam veteran and suffers from exposure to agent orange, making his bones weak. He had already suffered one fall and had to have his right hip replaced. This most recent fall forced doctors to remove the first artificial hip and replace it with a new one.

“He spent six weeks down there,” stated Beth. “I tried to travel, but it was just too much. I ended up getting a room at the Arbor House. What great people they are down there.”

The Soubbles credit, Bud, their trusty nine-year-old lab, with saving Mike’s life. “He’s such a sweet dog,” stated Beth. “He’s as good as they come.”

The Soubbles want to take this time to thank those who have had a hand in Mike’s recuperation to this point.

Richard Cote and his girls, Med-Care Ambulance EMTs, Rumford Hospital, CMMC, all the doctors and nurses that have helped put Mike back together, the Arbor House, the orthopaedic and rehab nurses, Androscoggin Home Health, the Veteran’s Clinic and of course, their son, Mike Jr. and his friends for building the ramp for the house and rearranging furniture for the hospital bed.

Soubble will have to remain off his feet until at least July, the time frame doctors have given him before he can put any weight on his leg. He has little to no use of his right arm, other than to wiggle his fingers.

“It’s a hard thing to have to go through,” stated Soubble. “But I’ve been through worse. I’ll make it through this.”