Dave Reid's Trip Report of Grand Canyon Accident Sept 2012

[okieboater]

Hey Paul,

Like I think I put in the report, Doctors do the magic surgery, Nurses and their techs heal you medically and Physical Therapists get you back living your life.

I have spent a lot of time with Physical Therapist in AZ and now here in Tulsa. Now eight in total. Not a bad one in the group. I thought the ones in AZ were hard core. They would tell and show you what to do and then watch you agonize to do the moves. They would not give up on you. I know if I was in their shoes I think I would have given in and given a helping hand. They just coached you and encouraged you till you got it done on your own. When you succeeded the praise came and we moved on to a new move. I know now how hard it must be to be working with those just coming out of the operation. One you don't want to move and two it usually hurts big time when you do. I know those AZ ladies got me from being a log in bed to helping take care of my self in a wheel chair and able to get on the airplane and get home. Awesome and I still communicate back and forth with them as I owe them so much for what they did. Probably a life time friend for sure.

Back here at home I see the Doc's for a short check up. Then it is back to hours and hours with the Physical Therapist team. Again, they are the ones that get you back as much as possible to normal living.

So, I applaud you for what you do for others in your work. If it were not for you guys work, I think a lot of us who go thru horrific injuries would just give it up and stay in that bed or wheelchair. You guys know what works, give us coaching and then motivation to get back to doing what we can to live the rest of our life doing what we want to do.

Kudos to you and your brothers and sisters for the work you do for us.

And that pool is a life saver for me. I had not been able to walk for three months. Ride in a wheel chair or shuffle along with a walker was it. The first time I got lowered in to the pool and went a few steps, Francine said my face lighted up like a kiddo looking at a bicycle under the Christmas Tree. Good deal for your patients.

[Karla]

Dave, thank you for sharing this experience. You are one strong man and determined. I remember my whitewater school with you as an instructor and do hope you make it back to school and on the river, no matter what boat as long as you are paddling. I know you will. I am glad you shared this with all of us. I ran the essess of the tot last year Dec. 2012 and when I flipped, I gashed my nose open on a rock and broke it(didn't tuck fast enough). Although this is no where near what you experienced but it still makes me determined to not give up. I did end up buying a drysuit for that December trip last year and now I also have a full face helmet. I remember you telling me I at least needed a dry top so i bought the whole dry suit which I love having. Your an amazing man. Hope things heal up in time so you may do that roll.

Karla