All the best Spot. Get well soon, you are needed by many.

Ralph Nelson

i just saw/read this topic... wow... that's gotta be a lot of experience-points... anyway, hope the therapy goes well and things mend quickly.

looking forward to checking out ur Vegas9 book.

and on the subject: u/Glenn should do another CC tutorial... that first one u2 did is still the best video on color correcting i've seen.

take care (or better care maybe!)
rob

(sorry for double-posting, it glitched on me while editing)

Such a relief to hear you're at the point where they're talking about letting you out.
I had a serious motorcycle accident decades ago, I didn't start feeling better until I hobbled outside the hospital doors. Sure it was hard and painful having to do things for myself but the loss of independance that goes with being in hospital can hurt the human spirit more than any pain.

Bob.

Spot --- great news you are going HOME .. GREAT !!! .. I like that line about the brick walls ---- be sure to put that into the Vegas 9 book.

TIP
If you want speeds of greater than three times normal speed, right click the event and select Properties. Input the additional speed in the Playback Rate window. Files can be sped up to 12 times normal -- but -- avoid hitting brick walls at 25 mph.

Just a suggestion.

Not that I post here very often... I had an L1 burst fracture about three years and had T11-L3 fused with two 10 inch rods, 4 plates, and 8qty 2" screws put in.

No sweat.

Time does heal all wounds and to be honest, taken a step back and looking at life is something that no one really gets in today society. You will come out of this a better man with more focus and insight than you could have ever imagined. Albeit with an amazing ability to determine the weather.

I am not religious in anyway, but the good of man coupled with belief in a greater good can go a long way. Take care.

Get well Spot!

Man, that is an Evil Knievel list of injuries.

Thanks again for all the kind and encouraging words and thoughts. It seems that what started as a pelvic fracture keeps blooming; we discovered yesterday that the swelling in my left ankle wasn't just blood and tissue settling from being in bed; my left ankle is broken as well...I guess you could say I don't have a leg to stand on. :-)
The good news is that for all the pounding my body took, all three cameras on my helmet came through unscathed. My LitePanel MicroLite didn't fare quite as well, but it'll be fine with a new face plate. Wish it was that fast/easy/cheap to repair me.

"I guess you could say I don't have a leg to stand on. :-)"

Good to hear your funny bone is OK - :)

Bob.

So, you think you'll ever jump again?

Already planning my slot in the world record in November, yes.
Of course I'll jump again.

Make sure that the doctors use the extra heavy hardware while they're patching you up then. Maybe something with a little flex just in case...

It's funny to me reading these posts. A little like when my dad got sick,
in the sense that I've been with Vegas since V3, have a couple of books and 2 sets of training DVD's. You have been a part of my video and Vegas life on a monthly basis with answers and help on a constant reliable basis.
Great to hear you are on the mend.
And you thought you hated TSA in the past.
Good Luck, see you soon. J Mac

Sorry to hear about the accident, but hope you heal up quick!

I have learned an incredibly amount from your knowledge - our prayers are with you for a speedy recovery!!

Spot,

Just returned from Switzerland where we watched skydivers jumping from the high Alps to land in the low meadows. Can see what the appeal is but the risks are equally obvious. Anyone who does that sort of thing has my admiration and envy so it's good to see you are being so positive after such a rough time.

You have helped so many people, many of whom you will not know, and we all owe you such a huge debt of gratitude. Get well soon and know that the thoughts and best wishes of so many people are with you.

Every Best Wish,

Richard

Hey Gang,
Thanks again to all for the prayers, kind words, cards, emails, gift baskets, pie, etc. that have been pouring in.
The final tally is now over and all injuries have been accounted for and addressed. I've learned more about anatomy than I ever could have cared to know.
-Split pelvis (now has a long bolt that crosses the illium and sacroilliac joint, and a plate that spans the pubis and symphisis pubis with 8 screws)
-Perforated bladder (mesh plate sewn in place)
-Broken transverse process on L1
-Broken spinus process on L5
-Broken coccyx (screwed back on)
-Broken sacrum (screwed back on)
-ACL/MCL on right knee are destroyed
-Fibula on left leg broken at tib/fib joint
-Displaced peroneal nerve
-Broken talus on left ankle

Saturday XRay

I'm out of the sky for at least 15 weeks, and off my feet for at least 3 weeks.
Several PM's asking what happened, so I'll try my best to explain for those that don't skydive.
We use "toggles" to steer and brake our canopy/parachute. During a landing setup, I "dropped" or lost a toggle.
Imagine driving down the freeway next to the freeway divider/barricade with one hand at 10 o'clock and the other hand at 2 o'clock, and both hands have equal pressure on the steering wheel, Remove your right hand so the left hand (10 o'clock) hand now has all the weight on it. You're going to turn into that barricade. No way can you prevent it.
I was approximately 12" (inches) off the ground when I lost my toggle, and the low turn put me into the ground, right knee first, then my abdomen struck, followed by my face/helmet. My helmet is very heavy, carrying a 5dMkII, a CX12, two RRS mounts, and a LitePanels MiniLite, plus a battery pack that holds 8 AA batteries. Curiously enough, all camera gear survived without any injury at all. Had I not been wearing the helmet, I'd not be here today.
Lifeflight crew told my family they'd do all they could, but that it looks fairly bleak. Pelvic injuries that involve perforated parts have an extremely high mortality rate (around 65%)
The easiest way to explain it is to simply say "Stupid hurts!" It was 100% my error.

Arriving at hospital

I was in critical condition for four days, in the ICU for eight days, and then in a trauma ward for another three days before they moved me to a rehab facility.

Leaving hospital

I'm a stubborn SOB and my expected 3 week stay at the rehab was shortened to four days. I'm semimobile with a walker and crutches and expect to be in front of an editing system Monday morning for at least a short period of time.

Leaving hospital

Regardless, I'm still here, and very grateful for the outpouring of support from this community. I have no doubt that the positive energy flowing my way has a lot to do with an unusually accelerated recovery. I was told by the orthopedic surgeon that I should expect to be walking with crutches and braces by July 1. I've been on crutches and braces for four days.
So with that, all I can really say is "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. I'm exceptionally grateful for the Vegas community around the world and overwhelmed at the support that has flowed our way during this very difficult time.

In the meantime, I'm putting the finishing touches on the Vegas Pro 9 Workshop book that also includes a new training DVD.

And yes, I will be skydiving again. My goal is to be healed enough to film the 100 way world record wingsuit skydive in November of 2009 at Lake Elsinore, California. And of course, using Vegas Pro 9 and Production Assistant to deliver the content to ESPN, EXPN, and other broadcast supporters of the event. ;-)

Glad to hear you're recovering, and nice to see the pics, but I think we all expected a video! :)

slainte...

Woooaahh . . . we just back from a 2 week Corsican holiday . . . just NOW switched on my INTERNET and got this news . . . I sped-read most of the posts and repeat ALL of the above and too add my wishes for your full recovery.

What did happen while we were away was that we went on an excursion to the wild Corsican mountains interior. We climbed high up till I was able to "spot" and catch an oustetched bird of prey ( a "Milano Royale") floating on the up-lifts. I really did think of you then - that was last Friday . . so my thoughts were with you too.

Douglas: May the Eagle Soar again!

Best regards

Graham "Grazie" Bernard

Thanks for the report and the pics. The last picture sure is the best. On that you have the same sort of exitement look as in your training videos I think, and that is sure pointing in the right direction :-)

Again all the best...

/Ulf

Good on you Spot. You look better already. But you're going to ring alarms going through metal detectors!

Very good to see you on your feet (mostly) Spot !! The only thing missing in those X-Rays was some baling wire !!

mikey

The Xrays don't show the gaffer tape either. :-)