Daniels 4/18 and/or 4/19

[pink_albatross]

correction: surgery on legs and wrist was not today. Not sure when it will be. Sallie hopes tomorrow.
-- ellis

[John Anderson]

Message to Hugh:
Best wishes for speedy recovery! Empathy on the compression fracture (?)-- I am a once-upon-a-time tall guy, reduced by a half-inch in height by a compression of the thoracic-12 vertebra, from a PG hard hit way back when! You will adapt to your lesser stature, Hugh! Gawd knows we are all shrinking unmerecifully...

Message to Hugh, Sallie & others:
I am also very available (semi-retired!?) to join for any help-out, in any way, and am NoVA-based! (703/ 938-0735)
John Anderson

[uplandann]

Visited Hugh today and he was in very good spirits. He truly looked stable and was enjoying being taken care of so well by the staff. His energy seemed very good, although he looked ready for a nap. They won't let him eat or drink anything, probably until all the surgeries are finished. He was scheduled to have a titanium"filter" put in to prevent blood clots from the broken bones.
I believe also that Sallie was taking dictation from him for his facebook page(??).
His wrist and both legs were well braced up awaiting surgery. The one leg that I saw that he had broken on site (an open (compound) fracture just above his boot) was wrapped up and braced very well and he could wiggle his toes! It was amazing considering what I saw the day before. And he hadn't even had surgery yet. So, I am very optimistic that the surgeons will do their best and he will recover well. I have a lot of faith in the competency of the surgeons there. When my husband smashed his finger, the hand specialist there did amazing work. We followed their post-op directions to a T and he didn't even loose the nail.
There was talk that Hugh may post as soon is feeling up to it after the surgeries. He can still use his left hand to write and type. Soon he will be able to take your calls. He will love to hear from you.

As for visitation, check with the hospital about available hours and which unit he is on. When you check in at the main info. center and get your visitor pass they will tell you what room he is in, then you will still need to get the okay from the unit to enter. In general visiting hours are from 9am-9pm.

~Ann

[Dave Proctor]

Damn....Hoping you have a full and speedy recovery Hugh. I'll echo the sentiments of everyone else. Please let me know if you need anything.

DaveP

[hang_pilot]

Visited Hugh today and he was in very good spirits. ... The one leg that I saw that he had broken on site (an open (compound) fracture just above his boot) was wrapped up and braced very well and he could wiggle his toes! It was amazing considering what I saw the day before.

Ann,

Thanks for visiting Hugh and for taking such good care of him at the accident scene! Is his car still at the LZ?

~Daniel

[Matthew]

Sallie and son picked up Hugh's car on Monday on the way to the hospital. Noah Merritt has been helping out and is providing a guest room to Sallie while she's down at the hospital with Hugh.

Spoke to Hugh today-- he's in good spirits.

Matthew

[rasmussenv]

Whoa ... just returned from an out-of-country scuba dive trip and logged in hoping to get re-oriented to what has been happening in the mountains and am so sad to find this news. Darn, I'm sorry you are having to go through this, Hugh. And glad your spirits are good - that will help in healing!

[g.sessa]

Sorry to hear the news, Hugh. Wishing you all the best and a fast recovery!

[mikel]

Damn !
Hang in there Hugh, and get well soon.

With best wishes,
Mike

[XCanytime]

Heal well Hugh. Wishing you the best. Best Regards, Bacil

[lbunner]

Hugh, I am so saddened to hear of your mishap. Your positive attitude and free spirit are a welcome sight in this group. I am hopeful that you will be back at it again when the time is right. I once had someone tell me that when the pain is unbearable to soak it in cider. It will give immediate relief.

[huddlec]

Just heard about Hugh's pounding at Daniels. Jesus.
Hugh, I'm sure glad to here about the toes. And the hospital you're in is great. I believe Marc Fink gave it good ratings when he was there long ago. Heal fast!!

Christy

[Flying Lobster]

Yes indeed--spent a week there in 1995 in intensive care after crashing going xc from Daniels. The best part I remember was the self-serve morphine IV. The docs really are great there--top neurosurgeons as I recall.

marc

[stevek]

The morphine drip probably explains why Hugh is in good spirits. How is Sallie holding up? No morphine drip for Sallie

[uplandann]

Yeah, Sallie could use some too, Amen to that. A close female friend of hers was also in a very bad accident only days before. She's got a lot on her plate. --Ann