Support JD's Recovery After Lightning Strike

My friend, JD Corley, a sweet man, hard worker and tough as leather. I swear, if you look up “ranch hand” in the dictionary, his picture will be there. He’s 6’2”, 140 pounds soaking wet, doesn’t wear gloves and throws hay bales around like no other. He’s got a kind, gentle spirit and is always smiling. JD has worked in the oil fields and on ranches throughout these parts. He goes nowhere without his trusty companion, “Cowgirl” a red Aussie. He has a young daughter, Desiree, who he calls the “light of his life.” She loves animals, and JD keeps a little pony for her and her friends to ride. His family refers to him as “Cowboy” and they think the world of him. He was raised in a Christian household in Bloomfield, NM where his mom and dad, Ron and Jean Corley, did missionary work their entire lives and raised over 40 foster children. His dad was a well-respected Minister in the area and known for writing a complete bible in the Navajo language with Navajo Elders. It took him his entire life—he passed earlier this year.

Tuesday morning, the day I generally go into the office for meetings, was the morning after a horrific storm. We had hail, torrential downpours and high winds that left branches broken and leaves everywhere. Fortuitously, my normal Tuesday morning meetings were cancelled and JD, who’s been helping us at the ranch for years, came by bright early to assess the damage. He went to the back field, shovel in hand, to make sure the irrigation water wasn’t flooding our neighbors. About 9 am I heard the lightening crack and knew it was close. There were clouds in the distance, but the sky was still blue above the ranch. I went outside and my friend Lorenzo Rodriguez, who was doing some carpentry work here, had just arrived and met me in the drive. We discussed the lightning we just heard. I asked if he had seen JD and he said no so we figured he was taking shelter somewhere in back. I came back inside to finish a few calls and about 9:45 am it started to rain so I went back out to talk with the JD and Lorenzo. Lorenzo was in the barn working and Cowgirl was laying out front but no JD. I asked Lorenzo again if he’d seen him and said no so I got worried and I asked him to go help me look for him. We walked to the back field and about 300 yards away from the barn I saw a figure laying in the field. At first, I couldn’t tell what it was, but I saw movement and I told Lorenzo, “I think that’s JD laying out there!” He said, “no way” and we both took off running toward him. When we got to him we couldn’t believe the scene, he was face down in the wet grass, clothes completely tattered and shredded, his hat bill detached from the rest of the hat and he was barely moving. My 15 years of Search and Rescue with the Colorado Mounted Rangers kicked in and we began first aid and found he was breathing, conscious but incoherent and obviously in a lot of pain. The Sheriff first on the scene later explained to me that a lightning strike can contract all the muscles in a milli-second causing one large cramp that won’t relent. I called 911 and my neighbor as I ran back to the barn to get the UTV. We loaded JD in the UTV and drove to the county road to meet the ambulance. The Sheriff on scene helped us keep JD calm and assess his injuries. We all felt it was a miracle that he was alive.

Once the paramedics arrived and handled the situation, professionally as always, I had a gleam of hope as JD grabbed my hand and nodded at me. JD remains in critical condition and has since been flown from Mercy Hospital in Durango to CU/Denver Anschutz in South Denver where they are assessing all of his injuries. How such an unlikely event can happen to such a wonderful man is a mystery to me, but I know God has his plan. His family is with him and only ask for prayers and good thoughts.

I’ve heard of people getting struck by lightning but never thought I would be in a situation like this. If I had not been there that morning how long would’ve JD laid there? Cowgirl also got hit and although sore, she’s recovering well, and staying with us. I’ve always grumbled when there’s a lightning delay at a sporting event, but believe me now know the ramifications of not being cautious.