It was a warm fall morning on October 9, 2017, and harvest was underway on the Sass’ farming operation in rural Streator, Illinois.
Darla Sass was doing dishes in the kitchen when she heard ambulance sirens and the sound of an OSF Life Flight helicopter, which is based full-time at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport – Walter A. Duncan Field in nearby Peru.
“I said, ‘that sounds close.’ But I didn’t go look outside. I figured God had it in his hands,” Darla said.
But when a strange pickup truck pulled up to her home in a hurry, she knew something had happened to her husband, Dale.
The Sass’ son, Darrin, came into the house, telling his mother to get some clothes “and come on. We need to get to Peoria.”
On the ride to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Darrin told his mother what had happened.
“I just started praying,” Darla said.
Routine farm work
The Sass family runs a 2,500-acre farm operation that’s been in the family since 1864. Dale Sass, 66, is the fifth generation. His son and nephew are sixth generation.
That morning, Dale was greasing the gear boxes of the sweep augers in the empty grain bins. The sweep auger rotates along the floor inside the grain bin to move the grain. They travel at a faster rate when there is no grain present, as was the case that morning.
The auger motor came on unexpectedly. Dale was in front of the auger and it immediately pulled in his left leg.
“As soon as it grabbed my left leg, I couldn’t get out of it. I was laying down and was holding the auger to stop it from going over the top of me,” he said.
The auger worked its way up Dale’s left leg and then it grabbed the right leg and pulled it in, snapping his femur above the knee.
Daniel Beutke, a Sass employee and chief of the Long Point Volunteer Fire Department, was nearby when his fire department pager went off.
“I ran into the bin to assess things and Dale said, ‘Get me a helicopter,’” Daniel said.
Dale saw the damage the auger had done and knew he needed OSF Life Flight. The helicopter landed in a tight grassy patch right behind the grain bin.
“I prayed all the way to Peoria. It helped me to remain conscious,” Dale said.
The damage done
The auger broke bones in both of Dale’s legs and his left ankle, shredded skin, tendons and cartilage and completely destroyed his left knee and most of his right.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rob Kinzinger handled Dale’s case.
“I’m a farm boy, so I actually understand the injuries Dale sustained,” Dr. Kinzinger said. “This was a very severe trauma.”
During Dale’s 21 days at OSF Saint Francis, Dr. Kinzinger put rods in to repair the right femur and left tibia. He fixed the left ankle and repaired both of Dale’s patellar tendons – the tendon that goes from the knee cap to the shin bone – as both of those were cut.
Following one of his six surgeries, Dale asked if he’d ever walk again. “They told me, ‘yes,’ so we knew it was just a matter of time and put our faith in God.”
Dr. Kinzinger said, “50 years ago, he would have been looking at amputation of both legs above the knee.”
Faith in recovery
Darla and Dale Sass.
Dale went through extensive rehabilitation after coming home. He received care through OSF Home Care Services, and continues weekly therapy and home exercises. He uses a cane to get around and still has weakness in his legs. His right femur hasn’t healed completely and Dr. Kinzinger said Dale likely will need a knee replacement due to the damage.
“It’s a really gratifying portion of this job when you see something like that and then you see him walk back into your office,” Dr. Kinzinger said. “It’s the Good Lord’s work.”
Dale agreed.
“The Lord has been looking after me for a long time.”
Last Updated: June 13, 2019