Noland says he's OK after ladder fall

State Sen. Mike Noland reassured people that he is OK after falling off a ladder, as rumors about his health had swirled Monday.

Noland said he suffered hairline fractures to his ribs and a transverse process Friday afternoon after falling while painting his house in the east side of Elgin. He spent two days at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates and was home by Sunday night, he said.

"I was extremely, extremely lucky," he said. "I could have hit my head. I could have had broken bones to my leg, my arms, anything. Talk about miracles."

Shortly after the Daily Herald left him a voice mail inquiring about his health Monday afternoon, Noland posted a photo of himself standing, smiling, in his front yard with a brace around his chest.

"When viscosity gives way to gravity, and gravity is not your friend, you'd better have someone posted higher than the roof watching over you. I must have," his post said.

Noland said he's taking this week off and plans to be back at work next week. It will take him four to six weeks to fully heal, he said.

Noland said he didn't properly place the ladder because he was in a hurry. He was about 16 feet off the ground when he fell onto the roof porch and bounced off onto his driveway. He called out to his 11-year-old son Lucien, who retrieved his phone so he could call his wife, who then took him to the hospital.

"The first thing my son said, 'Mom was right. She told you to be careful up there,'" he said.

"I said, 'Lucien, now is not the time.'"