Science Reporter Miles O'Brien Loses Arm in Freak Accident

Miles O’Brien, well known as the science and space reporter for CNN for many years and currently with the PBS Newshour, is recovering from an emergency operation during which part of his left arm was amputated.

O’Brien posted details on his website today.  According to his account, while stacking cases of TV gear onto a cart after a reporting trip to Japan, one of the cases fell on his left forearm.   By the next day, as the pain and swelling grew, he was diagnosed with “acute compartment syndrome” that causes an increase in pressure inside an enclosed space in one’s body.  Doctors recommended a “gruesome” procedure to correct that problem, but during surgery the situation worsened and amputation was the only solution. 

His post ends with “But I am alive and I’m grateful for that…. Life is all about playing the hand that is dealt to you.  Actually I would love somebody to deal me another hand right now — in more ways than one.”

Miles O’Brien.   Photo credit: http://milesobrien.com/?page_id=2866

(H/T to NBC’s science reporter Alan Boyle (@bOyle) and others for spreading the word via Twitter.  We join with everyone in sending our very best wishes to Miles and give him many kudos for writing such an upbeat post at such an extraordinarily difficult time.)