Journalist Miles O'Brien loses an arm: 'just a flesh wound'

Science and technology reporter Miles O'Brien ("PBS NewsHour," "Frontline," CNN) was finishing a trip to Japan and the Philippines this month when a camera case fell on his forearm. It hurt, a lot, but did not seem like more than that. Rather than get better, the pain got worse. Then things escalated, and while he was on the operating table a surgeon made the call to remove his arm above the elbow. O'Brien explains on his blog — typing one-handed with an assist from Dragon Dictate.

So I woke up to a new reality in the hospital. It’s been a challenging week dealing with the phantom pain, the vicissitudes of daily life with one hand and the worries about what lies ahead.

But I am alive and I’m grateful for that. Please don’t worry about me. I’m sure I can cope just fine. If I need your help, I promise I will ask.

Life is all about playing the hand that is dealt you. Actually, I would love somebody to deal me another hand right about now – in more ways than one.