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View Full Version : BAD day at the lake



InKahntrol
12-26-2004, 11:13 PM
Hey all, I don't mean to dump my badness on anyone else, I just need to vent a little. My whole family came up to Havasu for the christmas/new year holiday, and we've basically been spending the last few days relaxing, eating, watching movies and boating. Today we took my dad's 32' Spectra out on the lake for a litte cruising. It was really really cold on the water, so my mom and sister were in the cabin staying warm, and I was driving while dad rode shotgun. The lake was as flat as a plate of glass, and I had the plates trimmed up and was cruising at 3800rpm at about 45mph. We hit a roller that I saw out of the corner of my eye, but didn't really think about since it wasn't huge and my dad's boat is a very deep-V. Next thing I know both the girls in the cabin are screaming so I pulled off the power. Apparently my mom was sleeping on the sideways facing bench seat in the boat, and when we hit the wake she rolled out onto the floor, hitting her back on the edge of the bench on the way down. She couldn't breathe and was white as a ghost, and her hands were shaking.
To make a long story short we rushed her to the hospital and they called in a spine specialist. It turns out she got a compression fracture of her L1 vertebrae. One bump in the boat and she broke her back. I can't believe it. The docs are pretty confident that she didn't do any nerve damage, which means she'll be able to walk and move ok, she's just in A LOT of pain. They say she'll need to be in the hospital a few days as they get things stabilized and have a fiberglass body cast/brace made for her. The next two months will be strict bed rest, and they figure after three months she might be able to go back to work and hopefully she'll be feeling good after six months. Talk about going from a great day to a terrible one. I'm glad that the damage wasn't worse, but I feel absolutely aweful. I broke my back weightlifting when I was in high school, and I remember how horrible all those months of bedrest were... and I just cursed her to the same fate. The wierdest thing is, that stupid wake didn't even look very big, it wasn't even a whitecap. The whole thing was just a freak accident.
I guess all I can say is, as this christmas weekend winds to a close hug your loved ones and be thankful if everyone is healthy and happy. Tommorow she's going in a for a cat scan, and we're going to investigate ways of getting her back to L.A. once she's stable. Thanks for the chance to vent.
Dan

Debbolas
12-26-2004, 11:15 PM
I'm sorry.............I had a spinal fusion 3 years ago, and that was really hard to recover from, I had to learn how to walk all over again, with a walker and stuff.
Best of luck to your mom...........
If you are in the IE Dr. Disney is the BEST

Kachina26
12-26-2004, 11:17 PM
Wow, glad to hear that she is somewhat ok, considering. I wish her a speedy recovery.

InKahntrol
12-26-2004, 11:18 PM
Thanks for the kind words. I also had a spinal fusion, and it was very difficult. Luckily I'm 100% now, so I guess there's always a silver lining. The doc didn't think she'd need any surgery, just lots of bedrest, so at least she can catch up on her reading, right?

Debbolas
12-26-2004, 11:19 PM
Yes, buy her some books and DVD's.........Don't feel bad, it wasn't your fault

Kachina26
12-26-2004, 11:26 PM
Maybe you can get her hooked on the forums. That's how Deb and I got our start. Me with an hernia and she with a bad knee. Maybe in 3 months she'll break Debs post count.

Havasu Hangin'
12-26-2004, 11:28 PM
Sorry to hear that.
We had a similar situation, so I know what it feels like.

RiverRatMike
12-26-2004, 11:30 PM
Hey all, I don't mean to dump my badness on anyone else, I just need to vent a little. My whole family came up to Havasu for the christmas/new year holiday, and we've basically been spending the last few days relaxing, eating, watching movies and boating. Today we took my dad's 32' Spectra out on the lake for a litte cruising. It was really really cold on the water, so my mom and sister were in the cabin staying warm, and I was driving while dad rode shotgun. The lake was as flat as a plate of glass, and I had the plates trimmed up and was cruising at 3800rpm at about 45mph. We hit a roller that I saw out of the corner of my eye, but didn't really think about since it wasn't huge and my dad's boat is a very deep-V. Next thing I know both the girls in the cabin are screaming so I pulled off the power. Apparently my mom was sleeping on the sideways facing bench seat in the boat, and when we hit the wake she rolled out onto the floor, hitting her back on the edge of the bench on the way down. She couldn't breathe and was white as a ghost, and her hands were shaking.
To make a long story short we rushed her to the hospital and they called in a spine specialist. It turns out she got a compression fracture of her L1 vertebrae. One bump in the boat and she broke her back. I can't believe it. The docs are pretty confident that she didn't do any nerve damage, which means she'll be able to walk and move ok, she's just in A LOT of pain. They say she'll need to be in the hospital a few days as they get things stabilized and have a fiberglass body cast/brace made for her. The next two months will be strict bed rest, and they figure after three months she might be able to go back to work and hopefully she'll be feeling good after six months. Talk about going from a great day to a terrible one. I'm glad that the damage wasn't worse, but I feel absolutely aweful. I broke my back weightlifting when I was in high school, and I remember how horrible all those months of bedrest were... and I just cursed her to the same fate. The wierdest thing is, that stupid wake didn't even look very big, it wasn't even a whitecap. The whole thing was just a freak accident.
I guess all I can say is, as this christmas weekend winds to a close hug your loved ones and be thankful if everyone is healthy and happy. Tommorow she's going in a for a cat scan, and we're going to investigate ways of getting her back to L.A. once she's stable. Thanks for the chance to vent.
Dan
Wow! Glad she's going to be ok. Keep us updated on her recovery.

Mrs CP 19
12-26-2004, 11:37 PM
All the best to your family, especially Mom, Hope she proves the Dr.'s wrong and is quick to recover. Any spinal thing is too scary for me! NOT your fault! Jill

Sleek-Jet
12-26-2004, 11:44 PM
What a way to cap a holiday weekend. :hammerhea
Glad to hear she will be OK, even if she's looking at a long road to recovery.

mike37
12-27-2004, 06:28 AM
bad deal
glad she will heal up and be OK
some times the little thing catch you of guard and you cant do anything about it

phebus
12-27-2004, 06:32 AM
Kahn family, this is your next door neighbor in Havasu, Rick. I will be coming out there tomorrow, if there is anything I can do, or anything I can bring out with me, please let me know.

BoatPI
12-27-2004, 06:53 AM
If the Dr will OK it rent a van from Hertz etc, put a matress in the back and take the smooth road 95 to I-10. That might work. Good luck, that is really painfull.

Sane Asylum
12-27-2004, 07:14 AM
Hey all, I don't mean to dump my badness on anyone else, I just need to vent a little. My whole family came up to Havasu for the christmas/new year holiday, and we've basically been spending the last few days relaxing, eating, watching movies and boating. Today we took my dad's 32' Spectra out on the lake for a litte cruising. It was really really cold on the water, so my mom and sister were in the cabin staying warm, and I was driving while dad rode shotgun. The lake was as flat as a plate of glass, and I had the plates trimmed up and was cruising at 3800rpm at about 45mph. We hit a roller that I saw out of the corner of my eye, but didn't really think about since it wasn't huge and my dad's boat is a very deep-V. Next thing I know both the girls in the cabin are screaming so I pulled off the power. Apparently my mom was sleeping on the sideways facing bench seat in the boat, and when we hit the wake she rolled out onto the floor, hitting her back on the edge of the bench on the way down. She couldn't breathe and was white as a ghost, and her hands were shaking.
To make a long story short we rushed her to the hospital and they called in a spine specialist. It turns out she got a compression fracture of her L1 vertebrae. One bump in the boat and she broke her back. I can't believe it. The docs are pretty confident that she didn't do any nerve damage, which means she'll be able to walk and move ok, she's just in A LOT of pain. They say she'll need to be in the hospital a few days as they get things stabilized and have a fiberglass body cast/brace made for her. The next two months will be strict bed rest, and they figure after three months she might be able to go back to work and hopefully she'll be feeling good after six months. Talk about going from a great day to a terrible one. I'm glad that the damage wasn't worse, but I feel absolutely aweful. I broke my back weightlifting when I was in high school, and I remember how horrible all those months of bedrest were... and I just cursed her to the same fate. The wierdest thing is, that stupid wake didn't even look very big, it wasn't even a whitecap. The whole thing was just a freak accident.
I guess all I can say is, as this christmas weekend winds to a close hug your loved ones and be thankful if everyone is healthy and happy. Tommorow she's going in a for a cat scan, and we're going to investigate ways of getting her back to L.A. once she's stable. Thanks for the chance to vent.
Dan
Dan..........Man that SUCKS............Sorry to hear about your day. A family member getting hurt is the absolute worst guilt trip. Not your fault.
It's happened to me (probably to all of us with an enclosed deck). I've bounced my kids around pretty good and almost broke my wife's tailbone. I am almost 100% "You're out here with me while we're underway" now.
Their thing is.............."I thought that's why we bought this big boat.......So we could ride under here......." It's a 32 footer also........
Hang in there.............

RACER52
12-27-2004, 09:58 AM
That is a real bummer way to end the holiday. My wife had almost the same scenario a few years back and she is back to boating with me. She broke 3 vertibrea from sitting down in the cabin and being bounced over a roller. Now we own a cat without a cabin.....
I wish your mother a speedy recovery.
Racer