Injury.

As industrial athletes aches and pains are common place. We deal with these things everyday, sore muscles, tight tendons and the list goes on and on. But what about major injury, so as to render a climber incapable of their craft in canopy access?
I recently just sustained a major shoulder injury. I think it's a torn rotator cuff, I have about 30% mobility in my arm and I can't climb trees, which, by the way, is how I provide for my family. So what do I do now?
Much of it is luck, really. I'm lucky enough to contract for a company that has a place for me in ground operations and fine pruning. My situation is unique in the sense of who I work with. While I wait to see a surgeon I can complete tasks that I'm still somewhat capable of. So I'd like to lay out a quick guide to the things I need to focus on while dealing with my injury.
First, my role has switched from climber to ground support, so I'm trying to be more helpful in the pit. This means that my responsibilities include tree inspection, organizing rigging gear and readying saws and other cutting equipment for the climbers, and of course I can't leave out dragging brush. I can run rigging, tend tag lines and keep other climbers hydrated and comfortable. Although my right arm cant handle it, I can still tuck a good bundle of slash under my left arm, and I'm thankful for that.
Don't forget the mental aspect as well. Knowing I can't climb is tough mentally for me. Yesterday morning, coming to the job site and realizing I couldn't be in the air made me want to cry. And so not only has my shoulder sustained a serious injury, but my ego as well. I can't tell yet what hurts more. So I'm challenged mentally to stay positive and to dial back my ego for another day.
I've always said that even as a contract climber you should find an everyday crew of professionals to run with, people that are safe, that care for each other and that are loyal. This is important because no matter how good you are, technical tree work requires a highly skilled and motivated team. Without a team, a great climber is worthless, and I'm thankful everyday for the guys I work with. They've bailed me out countless times, taught me contless lessons and now even provide an environment I can go through the healing process in and still be considered a contracting arborist.
I've often thought about what I would do if I couldn't climb. For now I'm throwing chaps on and hanging out in the rigging until I get this old soup bone figured out. Stay high.