Dane Mitchell ICU Stay, Surgery & Recovery
Donation protected
On Friday, May 7th Dane headed out for a mountain bike ride in Elmore, VT. He was on a trail he was very familiar with, as he is both an avid and competent rider. A half mile into the ride, his front tire landed a bit too far underneath him, causing him to flip over his bike and land directly on his back. The impact of the crash resulted in a collapsed lung, broken pelvis, and 16 breaks in his ribs (on the back side near the spine and on the front side). The collapsed lung was caused both by impact and by a puncture from a broken rib. Dane was somehow able to walk/crawl and bushwhack to the trailhead where he called 911. Doctors claimed 99% of people wouldn't have made it through this trek with the injuries he sustained, but Dane's mental, spiritual and physical strength helped him persevere. An ambulance arrived and the paramedic was able to perform a procedure to remove air from his chest, which in all likelihood saved his life. They transported him to Copley Hospital in Morrisville, VT. After reviewing his injuries, the team at Copley found it necessary to transport him to Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington.
Dane spent the first night in the ICU where they were able to stabilize him. Since then he has remained in the hospital as he recovers. This week he underwent surgery to mend the broken ribs. After several thorough discussions with doctors and surgeons, the decision to move forward with surgery was clear as one broken rib was pushing against his lung and each rib is broken in 2 locations, causing what they call a "flail chest injury," meaning a segment of his rib cage is detached from the rest of the chest wall. On top of that, he had tissue and blood in the lung, as well as bone fragments and other debris around the lung that needed to be removed.
For anyone who knows Dane, he is probably one of the best, if not THE best human you know. He has a sympathetic heart, a driven and hardworking soul, and is just a loyal and loving guy. Dane has worked so hard his whole life, often 6-7 days per week, and this unexpected week-long journey in the hospital, along with the anticipated recovery time, is especially tough for someone whose work as a builder and independent contractor is reliant on physical wellness, as there is no "work from home" option.
100% of funds raised will be used to help cover two ambulance rides, his ICU and hospital stay, surgery on his chest, and loss of income while he recovers.
Asking for help is new for Dane, and he has been hesitant to allow us to move forward with this fundraiser. So please know his and our appreciation is genuine and deep. Anything and everything helps, even if it's just sharing this fundraiser with others!
Dane and his family are eternally grateful to the paramedics who arrived at the scene and all of the professionals at Copley Hospital and Fletcher Allen Hospital, including nurses, doctors, and specialists, who have been part of his healing journey so far. And thank you to all of the friends and family members who have reached out through texts and phone calls to share your love and support. We are so thankful for all of you.
Dane spent the first night in the ICU where they were able to stabilize him. Since then he has remained in the hospital as he recovers. This week he underwent surgery to mend the broken ribs. After several thorough discussions with doctors and surgeons, the decision to move forward with surgery was clear as one broken rib was pushing against his lung and each rib is broken in 2 locations, causing what they call a "flail chest injury," meaning a segment of his rib cage is detached from the rest of the chest wall. On top of that, he had tissue and blood in the lung, as well as bone fragments and other debris around the lung that needed to be removed.
For anyone who knows Dane, he is probably one of the best, if not THE best human you know. He has a sympathetic heart, a driven and hardworking soul, and is just a loyal and loving guy. Dane has worked so hard his whole life, often 6-7 days per week, and this unexpected week-long journey in the hospital, along with the anticipated recovery time, is especially tough for someone whose work as a builder and independent contractor is reliant on physical wellness, as there is no "work from home" option.
100% of funds raised will be used to help cover two ambulance rides, his ICU and hospital stay, surgery on his chest, and loss of income while he recovers.
Asking for help is new for Dane, and he has been hesitant to allow us to move forward with this fundraiser. So please know his and our appreciation is genuine and deep. Anything and everything helps, even if it's just sharing this fundraiser with others!
Dane and his family are eternally grateful to the paramedics who arrived at the scene and all of the professionals at Copley Hospital and Fletcher Allen Hospital, including nurses, doctors, and specialists, who have been part of his healing journey so far. And thank you to all of the friends and family members who have reached out through texts and phone calls to share your love and support. We are so thankful for all of you.
Fundraising team (3)
Callie Hagedorn
Organizer
Anchorage, AK
Dane Mitchell
Beneficiary
Amanda Kuhnert
Team member