Sally Long
On Saturday, June 28, 1997 we had a get together for my grandaughter Taylor's 4th birthday party. Lots of family and friends and little ones running around. It was a warm and sunny day. We have a huge yard and both my husband and son Troy are parachuters. Troy had not planned to parachute into the party but decided to at the last minute. His dad has a Cessna 172 and in Troy went. He jumped from his dad's plane like usual but his chute did not open. He cut it away and opened his reserve. This was a new reserve and Troy had not used it before. He came screaming down. I remember the intense look on his face as he concentrated on the ground and pushed down the breaks on the chute. I yelled to him so slow down. He crashed so hard and bounced a few times and ended up face down and unconscious. I yelled to the others to call 911 and to get the kids into the house. Everyone was in shock. Luckily Troy's uncle and cousin are with the fire department and while one held Troy's head completely still the other removed his helmet. Troy's dad didn't know what happened until he drove back to the house and saw that Troy had been air lifted to Harborview Trauma Center. After a long and horrible night we found that Troy was severly injured and wasn't sure if he would make it. He suffered 3 different areas of the brain injured, his neck was broken at the C2 vertebra and was hanging on by a thread, lower spine was injured, his right leg from the hip to the knee was like grains of sand and a rod was inserted. Troy was in a coma for a month, did not recognize us for another month and in 3 hospitals for many months. (He didn't know me - his mom but he sure knew his favorite baseball player Ken Griffey Jr) We went through heck for months. Troy would become angry and frustrated. He couldn't walk for months. Then when it was time for him to come home the hospital found his right hand had been broken and is completely disabled. It's been 2 years now and Troy has come a long way. He drives his own truck, is renting his own home for the past 2 weeks, can walk but has a horrible limp, can't run or be the jock he use to be. He was 210 lbs (and still is) and the center of all activites with friends. He parachuted, used a muzzle loader to hunt deer and elk, snow and water skiied, fished, was on a dart team and did all of the fun things young kids like to do. He is all alone now. His friends were at the hospital 24 hours a day but now they have left him. They continue to party and do the things Troy use to be able to do but without Troy, I feel so bad for him. I wish there were support groups for kids his age in our local area. So far I haven't found any. We are blessed that Troy is alive but it's been a tough road. I would love to hear from any survivors or caregivers. If you need to have any help with social security disability paperwork I am a "pro". Thanks for being such good listeners.
Take Care as I Care
Sal
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