I ask the members of snowest to help someone in need...

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I hope admin will put aside their differences with another site and allow snowest members to help..this fellow sledder(from back east) had a terrible snowmachine accident right in front of his whole family..and meraculously he is still alive..but in bad bad shape..I hope we as sledders can put aside our differences and help out a fellow sledder and his family..thank you..mike

here is the thread that tells his story...
http://snowest.com/showthread.php?t=5019

 

[newmy1]

Link no workie.

 

[KSH]

I hope admin will put aside their differences with another site and allow snowest members to help..this fellow sledder(from back east) had a terrible snowmachine accident right in front of his whole family..and meraculously he is still alive..but in bad bad shape..I hope we as sledders can put aside our differences and help out a fellow sledder and his family..thank you..mike

here is the thread that tells his story...
http://snowest.com/showthread.php?t=5019

Link no workie.

It's probably link to the other site. He just needs to start a thread here.

 

[smokindave]

Fellow sledder Critically injured - He needs our help!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As some of you folks on here have heard me talking abut a friend of mine Ron Spychalla was critically injured a few weeks ago in a sledding accident on The St. Croix River, near Stillwater, MN

He was having a cook out with his family and friends on an island just north of Stillwater. After the cook out, he was ferrying people and gear back to the parking lot on his snowmobile, and he was running up the river, making another trip when he hit a stump sticking out of the snow on the river.

He was estimated to be going 60-80 mph at the time. He hit the stump very near where his family (14, 12 y/o kids and wife) and friends were watching him return.

He was life-flighted to a hospital in the twin cities and is still there today. He will likely be there for at least another month.

This guy is a complete family man, great guy, and his life has catastrophically changed forever.

His injuries were:
Head seperated from his spine
Pelvis crushed and seperated from his spine
Back broken in three places
Neck broken
Many internal injuries
Body parts amputated

I dont say this to be graphic, I say this to attempt to communicated the unbelievable extent of his injuries.

You can get updates on him and read his daughters' and wifes' updates to his condition.

This guy is totally and completely screwed financially. He has health insurance, but there is not way that will even come close to covering expenses, or his future income needs. His house will need to be revamped to accomodate his new situation when he gets home.

I ask you a couple of things:
1. Please pray for Ron and his family.
2. Please pray for Ron and his family
3. Please pray for Ron and his family
4. Go to the caringbridge.org website and visit his website "Ronaldspychalla" and read about this guy and what he has gone through, and you can get a hint of what what is in store for him
5. Please donate any amount you can to help him. Any amount is truly appreciated.

I just went to the bank today and opened up a benefit account for him.

If you can donate, please do:

Ronald Spychalla Benefit fund
Central Bank
3670 East County Line Road
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Bank phone number is (651)426-6348

I have a Paypal account Clematiscrazy@gmail.com if you would rather go the Paypal route

6. Spread the word about this man, and let others know about him.

7. If anyone has ANY experience with putting on a benefit of this type, I could use all the help I can. I am thinking about a silent auction in a month or so and a spagetti feed somewhere.

I want to take my time and get this benefit "right". There is really only one chance to do this, and I want to get as many dollars in the Spychalla family's hands as I can.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS, and PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS FAMILY

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

thank you Dave for getting this moved over.....
here is the caring bridge journal.... I must warn you tuffies..this is a heartbreaker read...and will make you want to help..
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ronaldspychalla

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Friday, February 26, 2010 9:50 PM, CST

More apologies for the time lapse between posts - Im finding it somewhat difficult being able to juggle being back at work full time in a management position, being at the hospital with dad, and getting enough sleep to keep doing it the next day.

A few days ago, dad had a bit of a setback. Unfortunate​ly, all of the muscle tissue in dad's gluteus maximus and minimus (in laymans terms - his butt muscles) died. It had turned grey and had to be removed before it got septic and poisoned his blood or spread infection to the rest of his body. This means he's essentially laid open to the bone in most of his pelvic area on the back side of his body - there wasnt enough tissue left at the time they discovered it to close the wound. Also, they want it open so they can keep it clean and make sure he doesnt lose more tissue. The muscles and underlying tissues may have died for several reasons - the most likely of which is lack of proper circulation after his muscles were separated from his pelvis in the accident. They tried to reattatch them in his big surgery, but there was only so much they could do and, unfortunate​ly, those muscles couldnt be saved after the trauma of being torn so badly. We havent told him any of this yet. He did have to get a (hopefully temporary) colostomy because of it, but as long as he doesnt lose more tissue, his rectum will remain intact and they can remove the bag at some point. He's aware of the colostomy, obviously - the bag encases a small part of his intestine outside of his belly, so he can see it. That much we told him. But we feel that knowing he no longer has a butt might be too damaging to his spirits - so if any of you reading go in to see him, please dont mention it to or around him. We need to keep him as positive as possible.

They rechecked the wounds a few times now and all the remaining tissue looks really good - bright reds and pinks, which means good circulation and no infection. Losing those muscles will make it so he requires a lot more physical therapy down the road to be able to walk, but he should be able to manage (probably with a walker). Luckily the majority of the muscles used for walking are located along the sides and front of our legs. The backside/bu​tt is used primarily for maintaining balance and standing fully erect. I know its tough to read all this (trust me, its tough to say it), but its very likely that somewhere down the road they can try muscle grafts to the affected area to help with his mobility, and implants for more comfort/a more natural appearance.

Because of his loss, they ordered him another new bed. As the doctor put it "it costs about twice as much as [my] car, and weighs about twice as much, too". Basically the mattress is filled with air and sand - when hes on it most of the time, its inflated to just the right level for comfort so it doesnt put pressure on his wounds. It feels like laying on a cloud or floating on water. Then, when they have it molded to his body, they can make it as hard as stone in an instant to keep him stable. Its very ingenious. And very helpful.

Also, theyve been removing as many extra tubes and machines and IVs as possible in the last few days so its much less cluttered around his bed. And with the breathing machines running through a trache as opposed to going in through his mouth - his face is completely free (besides the halo arms). He still cant vocalize with the trache, but he can form the words with his lips so we can try to read what hes saying. Mom is remarkably good at doing this - Im not nearly as adept at it, but still better than some. Its just hard for him and everyone else when he gets frustrated because we cant figure something out. Theyre beginning to wean him very slowly off the respirators​, though - so hopefully soon he'll be able to speak through his trache until hes fully stable and out of SICU.

His lungs (especially the right, which was the collapsed lung) are still a bit gunky with the stapph infection, but its remaining very mild. Theyre still treating it and suctioning his lungs, but every day he gets better at coughing and getting some of the stuff up on his own. One unfortunate side effect of all this business with the respirators is hiccups. He gets them frequently and because of the feeding tube and colostomy going through the body wall, he tells us that they hurt quite a bit. Theyre trying to keep them under control, but the most effective way is via sedation meds, which make him tired.

Hes moving his left side really really well, especially his hand. Movement on his right side is slight and comes and goes from day to day. The other day he told me he could feel his right side - he just couldnt move it. Hes been asking mom and I to lift his hands and arms so he can see them, flex them, roll them, stretch them and rub them to keep the blood flowing and the muscles in good condition. Please pray he regains full use of his right side. He also has a minor blood clot in his right arm, though its nothing that can move to his heart or endanger him in any major way.

Hes been incredibly awake and alert - AND in remarkable spirits. He keeps amazing us with his continued sense of humor and dry sarcasm, and was glad that I was back at work. This isnt to say hes been in constant good spirits. There have been some tears shed in the last few days and Im sure there will be many more. I think he's starting to come to terms with his situation and what happened and as you can imagine, it cant be easy for him. Last night as he cried he kept repeating how sorry he was and I must admit, it was difficult not to join in his tears. Instead I squeezed his hand, stroked his face, wiped his eyes and told him not to be sorry. That this was a freak accident - things were in the wrong place at the wrong time and something really terrible happened. But that hes here. Hes here and hes himself and hes going to be able to see his babies grow up, bring his daughters down the aisle at their weddings, teach his son about life, feel the sun on his face and hold his wife. That it might seem dark, and painful and terrible right now, but that its only temporary. That it wont be forever and then hell be able to experience life again. He cried only a little longer after that, begging his brother Tom to "drive safe...plea​se drive safe"...I dried his eyes again, continued to comfort him, then watched as his contorted expression relaxed into one of peaceful repose as he drifted off to sleep.

These next few months wont be easy by any stretch. For any of us. But with his indomitable spirit, "go get em" attitude, and the support of countless friends and family members, we'll get through it. Just keep praying he stays infection free. That his fever goes away and his vitals grow steady in their strength. That hes able to gradually come to terms with what this new way of life will mean and see the silver lining. That his remaining tissues stay healthy. That his colostomy bag can at some point go away. That his right side regains full function. That his (and all of ours) journey down this road will be as encouraging and easy and pain free as possible.

Wi​th Love and Prayers,
The Family (Ashley)

 

[Jeff C]

That was me with that post

Yep, Because of this snowmobile accident, he needs all the help he can get!

I set up a paypal account yesterday in the afternoon, and already there is a couple of hundred bucks in the account.

Man you people are awesome for your giving.......

Also, if anybody has any experience in putting on a benefit for someone, I am going to take part in planning such an event. I am thinking my part would be to put on the silent auction. If anyone has items that they would want to donate, let me know.

Ron will likely be in the hospital for another month, and the benefit needs to be done right, as you only generally get one shot at raising money in this way.

Again, thanks so much for all of you who have donated so far.

The donations range from $10-$100, and several dozen of you have already given. Anything helps, and the power of the numbers of members of this site are friggin amazing.

 

[MARV1]

Tragic for sure. . .




On another note, you can link to any other website out there for stories and information. You can just see the immaturity on this one! Grow the fawk up and quit autoblocking the backcountry one! The world doesn't revolve around you. . . Sorry, had to.