4 Broken Ribs and Ruptured Spleen: Wanchow
March 5, 2007
The results come out that I have 4 broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. I had
to be sent to ICU for the night to make sure my spleen didn’t start bleeding again. As the doctor let me know what was wrong. I felt so lucky that he wasn’t going to have to cut into me and remove my spleen. Well it ended up that I spent the following day in ICU so they could run check ups.
The alarm went off at 7:00AM. I snoozed till 7:15 when it dawned on me that
it was the Saturday of President’s day weekend and it just dumped like 2-3 ft of fresh and I had to beat the rush. On goes the gear in a tornado like fashion. 7:45 Out to the bus stop and the snowflakes are falling down all around me. No wind though, just perfect straight down flakes. When you are in a storm like that it better than any dreams to pretty much repeat my last run or next to it at least. Back on the ridge, this time one other person. “You been over here yet?” he asks. “Yea, its sweet,”I reply, “nobody’s over here yet.” I get down bottom after another epic run. I get to the top and see the guy I just saw on the ridge. I quickly jester to him and mention how sick that run was and how I was going RIGHT back there. This time I wouldn’t be as fortunate. I get to Rodger’s again go through the opening in the rope. But this round I traverse right a little more. I spot it! Its a perfect little drop to chute two turns and then into the trees, I can already see myself in the planned out line that is unfolding in my brain. Its dumping snow plumbing all around. I’m ready lets DO IT. I point straight. I don’t quite get the speed I want but I’m not worried because it’s a tiny drop. Suddenly my board catches the rock below and digs into my base stopping the lower half of my body sending me into a front flip. I try to go with it and attempt to stomp the front flip. Nope, I land sideways and start rag-dolling down hill. I bounce off a rock to my left face and chest first and get sent into the middle of an untouched run. The snow is waist deep. I can’t breath. Light fades away. I swear I was dreaming something awesome but wake up to snow flakes dumping down into my eyes and instantly remember my real life nightmare. I can’t move
the left side of my body. I spit out blood. I try to get up but can only use my right arm. It sinks in the snow I can’t get up. I feel stranded and alone but I can hear kids laughing in the distance. Their laughter calms me down. I try to call for help but I can’t yell that loud, my ribs are obviously broken. I hear a voice are you alright?? Its the guy that I saw on the ridge last run and at the chair. Its my savior. Can you help me get up? He gives me a hand and I get up. I leave my goggles and beanie and just point it to the mill. I try to take off my bindings, I get off the right one but have trouble with the left. I feel awkward because I have just my front foot out (all mongo style) I reach down one last time and just grab my wracthet with all my strength and get it undone. I find a Mammoth employee. I tell him to call an ambulance and I sit down. Next thing I know I got ski patrol there and they’re telling me to lay down. I didn’t want to but I listen. They put me in one of those meat carts from the mill to the parking lot which is like 50 yards. Then we get to the ambulance and they tell the ski patrol they got me in the thing all wrong. After what I had been through I would have rather walked to the ambulance. It would have been faster and I wouldn’t had to lay down on my ribs. As we took the ride down in the ambulance I felt a sigh of relief because I knew I was in good hands and I new I was lucky that I made it down to them. I tried to make light of the situation and cracked some jokes with paramedics. We get to the hospital and they immediately take X-rays and give me a cat scan. The results come out that I have 4 broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. I had
to be sent to ICU for the night to make sure my spleen didn’t start bleeding again. As the doctor let me know what was wrong. I felt so lucky that he wasn’t going to have to cut into me and remove my spleen. Well it ended up that I spent the following day in ICU so they could run check ups. Thanks to all of my friends who came to visit while I was in the hospital. Also, a very special thanks to that guy that helped me out at the ridge, you are my savvier.
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Ouchh. At least you’re okay though!
you’re lucky you’re alive