Hiking accident, medical bills and recovery help

It is with great humility and immense gratitude that I share my story with you.

 

While hiking in the familiar San Bernardino mountains with my good friend on Tuesday 12/21/21, we very quickly found ourselves in an unfamiliar position. An icy patch on the trail led to a slip and tumble down the side of the mountain nearly 200 feet and into a tree, where I sustained multiple life-threatening injuries (broken wrist, ribs, collapsed left lung, shattered spleen and internal bleeding).

Finding ourselves helpless, in immense pain, without a means of contacting help, -at a 45 degree iced-over incline, it is worth mentioning the miracle that initiated our survival.

Using a stick that my hiking partner found, encouraging me to dig myself out, I hit an I-phone under 6" of snow. Not knowing whether it was working or not, the SOS emergency function came to mind. I have always been a techie-gear-head with an interest in crisis response, and this opportunity to "test the skill" saved our lives, and could save others. After holding down the side buttons to initiate the SOS-swipe, we were patched to 9-11, and received the incredible response of the San Bernardino Sheriff's aviation and rescue team, and the emergency medical triage at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. At 1% battery life, we stayed connected to our rescuers for more than 15 minutes. Until we were found.

I am now in recovery. Mindful. Grateful. My wife and I are more connected and resilient as a partnership than ever before; the connection I have to my family and friends means infinitely more than I could have imagined; my life is a gift and it is without a doubt that I intend on living as fiercely and as presently as I can.

 

And I am aware that there is much more healing to do, and much financial strain to consider, such as the upcoming surgery to my wrist/hand, continued hospital bills and recovery time that will take away from my plans to student teach and Jess' ability to manage her private practice.... These are logistical factors that we are managing, and we want to express that we are greatly appreciative of any support, -thought, -prayer, -encouragement, -nutrition,

-financial donation, are all so well received by our community and support circles.

 

Thank you again to the professionals that saved my life and nursed me through the scariest week of our lives; To my family, to the Ancich family, to Lisa and Harley Smith, Lisa Strong, and their church family (the spirit of Christ and Christmas has truly been felt in your unconditional generosity), to our Marina neighbors, to Natalie Asawesna, Patti Huber and the Center for Integrated Health and Healing, to all of those participating in our meal train and to those who requested Venmo information.

 

We have always valued acts of service, this experience has only rein-stilled our faith in that value, and refined the ways we want to show up for those in our lives.

Thank you for being gifts to me.

 

Sheriff J. Thompson, Deputy Sheriff San Bernardino County

 

 

 

 

LA Times article

 

Yahoo Article

 

Finger Lake Times Article