Its amazing how often this probably happens, we just never hear about it. The story is sad but yet it is the most inspiring story I have ever heard in my life. It seems that many of us take life for granted and dont realize how much we have around us that we worked so hard for that can be taken from us in a blink of an eye, this story really made me think of how much I take my life, my wife, my children, my job and everything I do for granted. I dotn knwo what I would do if something happend to me that would change my life to the point that I would never be able to see, hold, kiss, run, and play with my family. I realized all this about7 years ago to this date, when I had an incident myself. It was right before bow season in WI and I decided to hang a stand in a great loacation. I looked over all my gear, everything was in tip top shape. I made the trip to the woods with my new stand, and new tree steps. I hung the stand aqbout 18 feet off the ground put the safety harness and sat sat on the stand admiring the view. When I was done admiring the view I removed the harness, and began my decent. No more than 2 steps down I lost my footing, sliding me down the tree faster than I could imagine. I was able to grab one my steps with my left hand hoping to at least slow me down enough to make hitting the ground not hurt so bad. Well god was watching out for me that day, I was able to grab the step with my left, but I almost lost my weddingband and finger at the cost. the only thing the was held me long enough to get my footing back on the lower steps, was my wedding ring. I had just gotten married thatJune and had a 1 year old son. Although the damage to my ring and fingerwas servere, I didnt lose my finger, but had to have the ring reparied. It still doesnt fit like it used to, and It should be replaced, but I wear as a reminder of the day that could have ended my life, a reminder on how many things we really do takefor granted.That was the lastday I used screw in treesteps.(Fold up with the spikes on them). That very same evening, I went and bought some climbing sticks. Iveused them since. As it is getting harder for mein my old age...lol 31, im finding it harder and harder for me toput up hang ons andstill that day flashes through my head when ever I put one up. I find myself using my hang ons very little and now using ladder stands and my climber for most of my hunting. Anything can go wrong at anytime while hunting, and It took my fall to realize that. Since that day, before I even climb a tree, get on my knees, thank the lord for everything he has given me and taught me, and ask him to pleasemakeit a safe, blessfull hunt. And he has blessed me over the years since then. Sothe next time you go out to the woods, take a look at everything you havearound you, your family, friends, job, etc and ask yourself, what would reallyhappen if something happend to me?Always let someone know where you are hunting, to exact spot if psossible, carry a cell phone, firstaid kit, survival kit if away from home, always wear your climbing/safety harness when climb, hang, and decend your stand. And please let you family especially your children how much you love them before going out, I do.