Thread: EC mag in hospital after serious accident & heli evac

This is an FYI, no discussion intended. The story starts near the bottom of this page and keeps on going. Great example of TGR community working and helping out. Sad story of fellow skier now living in a world of pain and future major rehab. Sounds like a tough guy with great strength of character, I'm sure he will emerge whole. Send your healing vibes to Thin Cover.

. Thanks for the update.

Thin Cover - I never met ya, but know from everyone that has that you are a great guy.

Heal up. Be strong.

Bumping my own thread to keep Thin Cover in the news.

Thanks for starting this thread, This is an area of TGR I have not frequented much. However, after shattering my tib/fib/ankle last year in a pelan fracture and then doing this less then 11 months later, I figured it was time to search.
I have all the gory pics and story to tell and can post if you like. But my primary concern is addressing all those dear friends I have made and met here on TGR and how they came to rescue for my family. I was actually on my way home and this was supposed to be a mellow run back to the car. I was heading home to move and fulfill what has been a dream of mine and my wive's for years now, which is to move to Vt full time. Of course with this happening that whole plan changed since I was to do the brunt of the moving and driving with a few other friends. So my wife and I were beside ourselves as to how the hell were going to get this done now, and paying a mover was not an option. Well in usual fashion TGR mags came out of everywhere all along the northeast coast and drove to my house in pa and loaded the truck up there and then met in Middlebury, Vt and unloaded it there. There really should be a TR about it, as I understand great food was made, good beers were drunk, tasty herb was smoked, and legendary ski descent stories were told. I am sorry I missed it, it was a mini summit all in the name of helping a Mag in need. It gets me beyond emotional just thinking about the people that came to my rescue on the mt and off the mt. Tremendous absolutely fucking tremendous, I can only hope to offer the same level of friendship to all of you many times over.Additionally, I have had so many people at the hospital to visit they think I am some kind of skilebrity here, and I live 5 hours from this place.

Thank you all many times over and of course when I am normal again I am there for whatever you need.






me being hoisted away, rotor wash and spinning around with a mangled leg like a centrifuge= not fun.

I broke my femur two weeks ago and that picture makes me feel like I got off lightly

Is there any metalwork inside or is it all external? Wishing you all the best on the road to recovery!

^^^^ well i also tore my acl, mcl, and meniscus completely through so that external matrix is holding my leg in place until they do the rest of the surgeries, It may have to stay on for the entire 3 months non weight bearing process. But yes I have 2 screws, 3 pins, and 3 plates internally. Femur was broken in 2 places and I totally shattered the knee cap. There is more about it in the last 6 pages of the EC roll call.

Sorry to hear about your injury, but I can say I have really fucked myself up before and the human body has an amazing ability to heal itself as long as you treat it right.

Indeed it is amazing, and I will be looking after it the best I can. Just a shame we can't go into statis and wake up all healed

Originally Posted by Core Shot

Thin Cover -..................you are a great guy.

a bigger heart you will not find. So completely stoked on life and an active outdoor lifestyle.

I got a call from a Pearljam09 last night. He was telling me all the mags/magettes that were in on the move, and the list went on and on.

TC is reaping what he has sown, and would be the first guy to do for others what was done for him.

Originally Posted by thin cover

I would love to post a boot picture but need to reserve those for later.

Vibes! These I'd like to see! Heal Up!

Best wishes, Mang.

TC, you were missed in Middlebury yesterday for sure! I am pretty sure we set the bar nice and high for your neighbors. A special shout out to Snowsprite for her super duper awesome lasagna!!

Since this is gimp central and TC's thread I am going post up his GNARTASTIC x-rays for him. Sorry D, not getting all emotional and sappy here...not on the internet.

Before surgery:





After the surgery:






You let me know if you don't want these up D.

I know you are going to heal up and be back at it buddy. It will be a long road, but you've got a lot of people to love and help you.

thanks BS for doing that. Worst part is that all the effort to get it straight now has to be put on hold since they are going replace the femur/knee cap now.

I gonna go suck my thumb now

Best of luck again, TC.

Best stoke of the year to hear that you're headed for recovery. I'm sure I'll see you next winter at Magic.

Originally Posted by thin cover

Thanks for starting this thread, This is an area of TGR I have not frequented much.

No worries, every little bit helps. The story was a little buried in the EC Stoke so I thought I could raise some awareness. Your pics are wild, makes my ACL surgery look like a bruised pinkie. Good luck man, karma seems to be working for you now!

Here's hoping your next heli ride is heading UP for some pow-pow on the way down.

TC glad to hear everything is looking up

TC hang in there dude! You've got everyone's support.

So sorry, heal up.

So sorry man... I wish I was on the east coast just so I could help you out. So glad there are so many stepping up. Huge vibes man, best of luck to you and your family, keep us updated.

heal up fast. Tough deal for sure but no doubt you'll come thru all this stronger than ever.

positive vibes coming your way. that mini mag moving trip restores my faith in human kind.

enjoy VT.

Damn TC that's rough. Never met ya but I'm sending the positive vibrations your way. Keep your chin up, IT WILL BE BETTER THAN THEY SAY!

thanks everyone for the wishes!

Happy to be home now spending some time with my wife and son. Back to the rest of the surgeries next week for 2 weeks then back home, for good I hope. I will try to update as it happens.

hah wow i thought when i broke my femur eye socket nose and lower jaw(back in mid feb) was bad but i am super gratefull that i am walking now. wreaking my knees has allways been a big fear of mine right after head and spinal injuries!

Geez, dude! +++VIBES+++ I know it's just words, but I really hope the prognosis isn't as bad as it sounds at this point. Devastating injury though. Very, very sorry, mang...

TC, I just spent the better part of yesterday and this morning reading all the threads related to your injury during and between meetings. I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said, though I do want you to know that recovery will happen and your spirit will overcome anything that anyone tells you that might look like it means the end of your athletic endeavors. You know E.J. Poplowski? He suffered an injury quite like yours and lost his leg. He is back skiing in big mountain comps as an above the knee amputee -- tele.

My own experience, while not the same, is also relevant. In 1986 when I was 29 I ragdolled off the Middle St. Vrain glacier in Colorado's Indian Peaks Wilderness. I fell over 1000 feet and miraculously hit a rock band halfway down feet first. Then I flew over 100 feet in the air and when I landed I broke 17 bones and lacerated my heart. I had no way to call a rescue and walked (the fractures were all in my upper body) 9 miles out. We met a girl on horseback on the way who rode ahead and met some guys in a jeep on a 4x4 road. They were air traffic controllers and had a HAM radio so they called Air Life. I met up with them on the way out and they tried to give me a ride but with part of my clavicle poking out through the skin, I convinced them to stop and let me rest and then I got out and walked the rest of the way to Peaceful Valley. The helo was waiting for me there and 17 minutes later I was in the ER at Boulder Community.

I had surgery a week later to pin my bones back together and only found out later that my heart had been cut. The cardiologist said he has no idea how I survived it -- should have died on the mountain. You can still see the scar in echo as a dime sized dent in my heart muscle 24 years later. I also destroyed my knee playing football and have had surgeries on both shoulders in the last 12 months. I know this is not quite the same as being told that your leg will no longer work but I am here to say that the spirit that drives me to keep skiing is strong in you. One way or another, no matter what happens, you know in your heart that you will continue to do your thing on the sides of mountains. I hope to have the privilege to meet and ski with you some day.

Press on, brother.