The Scariest Night of our Lives
Our oldest son Riley (16) had a scary accident Monday evening. While hiking with a neighbour-friend on the mountain behind our farm, he slipped and fell down a nearly-dry waterfall feet first. On the way down the 30ft drop, he hit his head and tailbone and injured his knee.
Riley’s friend kept a remarkably clear head and immediately called his parents and then 911. We all rushed up the mountain to the scene. That was probably the scariest 30 minutes of my life as we scrambled up the steep terrain with really no idea what had happened or how badly he was injured. Thankfully, he was alert and talking (even joking a bit) when we reached him so that helped to allay some of our biggest fears.
Within 10 minutes of us reaching Riley, Agassiz Fire Department was on scene with Riley’s boss (he works in a mechanic shop when he’s not doing chores on the farm) first to appear and the rest of the crew right behind him. Search and Rescue and a paramedic team arrived soon after. They got Riley’s neck stabilized in case of spinal trauma and then tried to figure out how to get him off the mountain. Because of the difficult terrain and night falling, a SAR Cormorant helicopter was eventually called and they safely extricated Riley and his amazing paramedic team.
At the hospital we received a much better prognosis than we could have imagined: head good, spine good, abdomen good, pelvis good. But he does have a broken knee cap and a very sore tail bone. Knee needs a brace for the next weeks, but other than that he is only bruised and scraped. An incredible outcome. We are so very very thankful.
And this mama is drained. Two young people we knew passed in accidents in the last few weeks. When I sprinted up that mountain, I was imagining the very worst. And I just prayed and begged God to spare my baby (even though he’s several inches taller than me, he’ll always be my baby!) as I scrambled up and up and then waited with him to be rescued. And where others had to lose their precious ones, we got to take our boy home from the hospital. Bruised and broken, but alive. Words cannot describe that relief, that thankfulness.
Our deepest thanks also to the amazing rescue crews: Agassiz Fire Department, Agassiz Harrison SAR, Chilliwack SAR, BC Ambulance Service and the crew on the SAR Cormorant and BCEHS ambulance. And thanks to Mike for driving Johannes home from the hay ranch in Ashcroft, getting him home safely to us just as Riley was being extricated. A special shout out to Brant, Becci, and Ethan; John P, Rene V, Colin K, Art N, and Gary B. It was definitely reassuring to have familiar faces around us during this ordeal. And also Tony and Rachel: you two are rockstars. Thank you all for your dedication, hard work, compassion, and putting the patient first. You made an incredibly scary situation just that much easier to bear. Much love to you all!