My Ordeal - A firsthand lesson in Treestand safety...

Final Chapter..........

I'm going to update this thread one last time for 2 things:

First of all, last weekend one of my nephews finally got around to taking his hunter's safety course. During the section on treestand safety, guess who they talked about.......... :o . Yep, they told the story of the guy who broke his back falling out of a tree in Orange Co.... Of course, my nephew spoke up and said proudly, "Hey that's my uncle." Then the Wildlife Officer (who was one of the ones who came to see me in the hospital) asked about my condition, to which my nephew replied, "Oh he's back to normal, well as normal as he started anyway" :).

Second, and more importantly, I went for my three month checkup yesterday. Though it was really four months post accident. The holidays threw off the scheduling some. My Xrays were great. Everything is healing nicely. My neurosurgeon said my recovery thus far has been remarkable and he no longer needs to see me. Usually they follow fusion patients for a year, but he's satisfied with my progress and is releasing me. When I asked about any restrictions to my activities or precautions, he said "Live your life like you never hurt your back".

That all being said, I'm still wearing a harness :). Be safe folks.....
 
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So glad to hear about your recovery. Your one of the lucky ones that will be able to hunt and do normal activities. I think sometimes we all take life for granted and don't realize how easy we can get hurt until something does happen. Good luck to you and lets look forward to deer season 2008...:)
 
RR - Thanks for starting this thread and keeping it up. Glad everything is going well.

Sometimes we get lax on things. I got my first ticket in over 20 years this weekend. $97 for not having my 6-year-old in a booster seat. He was in the back seat, with a seat belt, but no booster. I was ticked off at first, but rereading your thread reminded me that something can happen in the blink of an eye and there is no going back to un-do a lapse in judgement.

Good hunting!
 
Scary stuff buddy, I'm glad it looks like you'll be ok.

Falling out of trees is one of the most common form of hunting injury.
 
Came down from one 5 or 6 years ago (12-14 ft., Top rail on newly built ladder stand was only secured with one 6 penny nail). I had a M94 Winchester slung diagonally across my back, and I landed flat on my back. To make it short, I only had soft-tissue damage, no breakage. I was almost scared to try to move my legs. They did work fine, and as soon as I could, I got on my knees. My friend, we are both truly blessed! :)
 
I know I said the last update was the LAST update, but....

..............I contacted the hunter's education coordinator for this area the other day. I've volunteered to start speaking at hunter's education classes on the dangers associated with treestands. The local instructors all have my contact info now and I'll probably start speaking in March/April. I've also signed up for instructor certification this summer and will then be a volunteer instructor.

Hopefully I can use this story to prevent others from doing something like I did..........or worse.
 
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