Re: Ain't Dead Yet

["Cora" <bandc@teknett.com>]

Glad your back...Cora
----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 2:46 PM
Subject: RC: Ain't Dead Yet


> K S SWIGART   katswig@earthlink.net (or swigart@bigbear.com)
>
>
>
>
> I wish to thank everybody at the GC XP Ride who realistically
> speaking saved my life in my accident/s where I got to meet the
> trees of the Kaibab Plateau upclose and personal.
>
> And to clear up a few misunderstandings (with the understanding that
> even _I_ don't know everything that happened).
>
> To start with.  I am not dead.  I have sustained NO neurological damage
(either to my head or my spine) and the facial damage is
> healing nicely and I should be having my last appointment with a
> plastic surgeon next week.  I am out of the Flagstaff Hosptial
> (thank you to EVERYBODY who sent flowers, cards, and made phone
> calls wishing me well) and am "convalescing at my parent's house
> in Big Bear Lake, California.
>
> There were two accidents.  My horse spooked and bolted through the
> trees.  Attempts to stop the horse were futile (can't turn a horse
> in a forest with the trees only a few feet apart)...and I missed
> one "turn" that the horse made and met the TRUNK of a tree with
> my face.  The facial injuries were not attractive (to say the
> least).  I also had some "abdominal bleeding" and it was determined
> that moving me off the Plateau over the ground was not in my best
> interests and a "life flight" helicopter was called in to take me
> to the hospital.
>
> Shortly after this helicopter took off (accident still under
> investigation) and cleared the trees, it crashed.  So I got to
> see one tree up close and personal in the horse accident, and
> got to see the whole forest up close and personal as the helicopter came
down through it (I have more
> recollection of the helicopter crash than I do of the horse
> accident...and more "night mares" about it too :)).  Fortunately
> nobody was killed in the helicopter crash, but this, apparently, is
> a VERY unusual thing.  By all rights, everybody on that helicopter
> should have died in that crash ("nobody ever survives a helicopter
> accident like that" is what I was told by the Director of the
> Life Flight company).  The pilot and the two technicians, however,
> are also alive and well, so it is indeed a fortunate thing.
>
> I am told that I was shot full of Valium for the second helicopter
> flight (because I DO remember being absolutely insistent that there
> was NO WAY I was going to get on another helicopter after THAT
> experience...and I STILL feel that way :)).
>
> There were a great number of people who participated in saving my
> life after the helicopter crash and I want to thank them all...but
> I don't want to name them here because I don't want to leave anybody
> out, and I am sure there are more than I know the names of.  And
> it is certainly the case that I owe my life to XP Riders and to
> the some of the Turkey hunters of the Kaibab Plateau (as well as
> the wonderful staff of the Flagstaff medical center who also did
> everything right).
>
> I was not wearing a helmet and many of you know why I choose not
> to wear a helmet when riding endurance.  Certainly a helmet would
> not have protected my face (unless they start making equestrian
> helmets with face masks :)), and it would not have protected my
> liver (which is where the life threatenting injury lay).  I am,
> with retrospect, now considering riding endurance in a body
> protection vest as is required of eventing riders (a horse sport
> that I also participate in) :).
>
> I appreciate the support that I have had from everybody (I have
> not really had a chance to catch up on my RideCamp reading so
> I don't know everything that is being said).  The XP 2001 Calendars
> should be delivered from the printers tomorrow (don't know if I am
> going to be able to pick them up, but I hope to). And then will be
> ready for shipment.
>
> I expect to be back at my desk job...in a week or so.
>
> And I have a multitude of friends who are caring for my own horses
> in my absence (I am hoping to be seeing them, the horses, tomorrow
> too).
>
> Marla, the horse that I was riding, "does not have a scratch on her"
> and was taken home by my driver on Saturday night (the day of the
> accident....not Friday).  And she is happy as a duck getting to
> reacquaint herself with her mother (my driver owns Marla's mother).  This
is one of the most relieving things for me to hear
> that my horse did not suffer any ill effects or injuries from
> the ordeal.
>
> My parents, of course, have been great support, as have all my
> clients in Southern California (who have rallied around to take
> care of my horses...and theirs...in my absence).  And I am
> overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from all over the endurance
> and horse community at this time.
>
> I know there is more to say, but words cannot express it all.  When
> I have had a chance to actually sit down and thoughtfully write
> I am sure there will be more.
>
> I am anxiously awaiting the return of my cameras (s/b coming from
> the Duck soon) and will better be able to tell if any of my photos
> survived the broken camera...the first thing to hit the tree :).
>
> I hope my accidents did not ruin the GC ride for too many people
> (I know it was very traumatic for more than just ME but many of
> the riders too).  And hope that the GC riders could find peace and
> solace in the beauty of the Kaibab Plateau (and that they didn't
> get the see the forest quite as close up as I did :).
>
> Regards,
>
> kat
> Orange County, Calif.
>
> p.s.  I am sorry I did not get to mark the trail for the Casper's
> Park Ride this weekend (I was supposed to), but may be able to
> make an appearance at Sunland.
>
>
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