Well after 1 year and 10 months, I thought it was time to speak out about the broken ribs and the damage it caused.
I was talking to someone at NABX and had to apologize to them for running off and not getting back to them. It was one of those days and I was not able to be sociable.

If you think you are man enough to not get hurt and it will never happen to you and you don't want to hear the ugly side of the sport we hold dear to our hearts, THAN STOP READING AND LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR YOUR INTEREST TO BE PEAKED.

Today has not been a good day and it is only now that I feel up to writing this.
First off, my wife has seen the ugly side of my accident as a few on the beach that day, but my wife has endured the pain, the screaming, the trips to the hospital, the doctors reports and the words that are still hard to hear,"Jeff should not have made it through this, but for some reason he did. I know others with much less damage than he has that didn't make it out of ICU." And all the rest of the days that have come to pass.

I was talking to a father the other day and his son was listening to our conversation and the father said to his son, "did you hear this?"
If he didn't , let me go into a bit of detail with you. This is the short version.
My day starts with 7 pills, Morphine, a nerve blocking agent, a couple of pills that are to correct the side affects of the Morphine, a pill to keep me awake and a couple off pills to correct the side affects of the pills I take at night.
If it is a good day, I put on my winter cloths because I am freezing in 70 degrees(side affects) and then in a split second I am soaked with sweat (side affects), and this goes on all day. If it is a bad day I feal like I have the flu (side affects), and it lasts for most of the day. Some days a better than others but It always involves loosing my cookies even when I have none to loose. Today was by far the worst with driving home and taking care of things that need to be addressed at home, but unable to.
I take 6 pills at night, my second dose of the day, minus the sleep pill.
I get about 3 to 4 hours of sleep(side affects) before I wake up and move to the recliner where I lived for the 1st 11 months of my recovery. I hope for a little more sleep but it normally ends there.

Now the part that is a bit to graphic for the week stomached people but should be a big laugh for those who who don't care.
The morphine does not allow the brain to know it has to go #2 until it is so plugged up and backed up that something has to give(side affects). I go once every 5 to 9 days, and I scream for about an hour and a half till it is over. My wife says it's like going into labor but with no breathing between contractions. Strait though till it's done and out.
I loose track of my thoughts a bit more than I like. Ever drive down the road and forget where you are going(side affects)? Than drive home cause you couldn't figure it out and the next day you remember you missed a very important meeting that will cost you for ever more? Happens a lot, even when I write things down I forget and loose the list.
The surgery I had to fix the ribs and put in the titanium brackets has left me with out the use of my left pectoral muscle. When I flex my chest there is a hole that will hold about 2 cups when I lay on my back. I have to ask for help to open a jar of mayo.

I have to take a pee test every month to be tested for other drugs so I can keep getting more for the pain. This is for the state and the doctor to keep me out of trouble because of the large amount of Opiates that are in the public.
I am better by a million miles from where I was but I am not anywhere back to normal. My pain and discomfort is something I will live with for ever more, it is greatly reduced if I do nothing all day, but when I go out and play as I did last week, it will cost me dearly.

This is my life, this is now normal for me.

I am in no way looking for sympathy or want to be treated special or have anyone say "Poor Baby". My wife hears my moaning and groaning every day and night from the pain, and there is nothing she can do about it. There is nothing she can do about it, but I know every time I get out a kite or buggy or what ever, she dies a bit inside.

I saw 2 guys come very close this last week to what might have been, it made me think even more to what I have lost.
If I ever sound like an A$$ in any of these posts, I respond to the possibilities that I hope never happen. I hope this never happens to anyone of you, but if it happened to me, well....

Thanks for letting me vent.

forgive me, but may i ask more about the accident? .... what happened?

I was pulled out of my buggy with a 2m kite in winds of 20 to 25mph in a freak gust that only I got. Everyone else was flying 2 and 3m kites that day.
Went up 20 to 30 feet and came down on my left shoulder than the kite powered up and took me for a tumble down the beach for a few hundred yards before it wrapped me up in the lines.

I am ...... I am very thankful for you story ...... since I think there is not enough talk about what is the risk .... I have few friends who try to convince me that they don't need trainer kite ..... and try to buy 14m depower ..... every time I get out from bad "situation" I am glad to be fine ..... After story about AJ I have very hard time going out on water ...... and thinking what can happen ..... and then ..... same thing can happen when you driving, biking, waking ...... Its just happen ..... I know what I am risking ..... sometimes its scare me ........ but I will never know how my life will change or end until it happens ... I never met you ..... but it feels like you are part of my family ..... somehow .....

I had one guy come up to me at NABX during the one of the meals and made the statement about the titanium in my chest and I told him it was for real and showed him the scare of the top one. and he responded that not everything in the siggys at the bottom of our posts are the truth.
Well mine is.

Kober, one day we will meet and it will be as if we were long lost friends, I think.

Then there's me - sat in an office chair for several years, doing nothing dangerous except eating donuts... and then my back exploded.
Risks can be managed and enjoyed I think... life would be dull without a challenge. And freak accidents - well, what can you do?

Situation sucks, dude is there no more surgery that can be done? Man I hate surgery though...

Mike, thanks for sharing your story. Not an easy journey and not easy to share, I am sure.

Two things...

If a few more pilots take proper precautions when flying because of your post, GOOD! I have seen some pretty stupid stuff from people that just don't seem to listen to reason. Maybe this finally gets through and will spare them personally and spare the reputation of the sport.

Second, considering all your challenges, man you sure do manage well. I admire the energy and enthusiasm you brought to NABX. It was a pleasure meet you and hang. You made it a better place.

Thanks for the story. I've had some close calls, which is why i keep my speeds low and myself underpowered for the most part. I enjoy watching the 'daredevils' go by me and am having fun. We are glad you are here to tell us the story...and hopefully there is an end in sight to the agony. I had a bigfoot wheel (rim actually) blow up on me over a year ago and I still cannot bend my left ring finger very well. I know it isn't near what you have been through, but just some advice on how many different portions of this (or many) hobby(ies) can seriously hurt you.

Similar to motorcross / ATV riders who get a 'little crazy' having fun, it can turn bad quickly which i have seen first hand.

Thanks for the post bud... Self reflection is a good thing... Daredeveling is fun, but man, you gotta take a step back sometimes and evaluate you actions... Hopefully your post did that for a few people today

I have more to say, but I hate typing on my phone lol!

So for now... Thanks for sharing, it means a lot

i rememebr about two years ago i read about a guy that was setting up for a race in pretty light winds (under 20 i believe)... he had his kite parked at zenith and was waiting to get into his buggy...

similar thing for him... freak gust, he was the only one it affected... lofted, spun him, dropped him on his head ... hes no longer with us... sad story...

sorry you are in pain bigkid, its a terrible thing... hopefully you find some peace and get better....

Thanks for sharing all this Jeff. I really enjoyed our conversations at nabx. You have an unbelievably bright spirit about you considering what you've been through and are going through. This all goes to show that bad stuff doesn't always happen to the ones who deserve it. I hope you have some breakthroughs that improve the things that bother you the most.

Jeff ... hope things do get better with time. Thanks for sharing your story .... I think we should all bookmark it and when one of us noobs makes a post such as " tips on how to make a fall as safe as possible" ... they get sent a link to this post with a P.S. somewhere along the lines of "Give your head a shake".

Glad you were able to vent my Titanium Brother from another mother. Hard core truth that accidents can and will happen. I'll give you a call soon as soon as I get back on the road.

I really hope some noobs are reading this post!

Jeff, I know we have talked at length on the phone, but I still look forward to meeting you and shaking your hand.

This is obviously an extreme sport, some may not think so but it is. Most of us accept the responsibility that comes with this sport and that includes you. Chances are that if we fly long enough some freak accident may happen to any of us. It comes with the territory. We can all do our best to be as safe as we can but Mother Nature is one that can not be tamed. She always has a suprise up her sleeve!

I am glad that you have made the comeback that you have and I continue to hope every day gets a little bit better in the future. I remember reading all your post when you were on your recovery road. I respect you and thank you for sharing your story and may it be an example and reminder of the every day danger that is faced when any one of us put up a kite and jump into our respective rides.

Ride on!

You've been an invaluable resource to me and I appreciate you sharing the story of the results of your accident. Illustrative examples like you are why I go out fully armored every time, no excuses. Why I constantly refer people to lessons, taking time out of my own kite sessions to try to prevent newbie kitemares.

I've been amazed by your ability to keep going at what you love, I've known several people with a passion for sport that has nearly ended their lives, but you're the first one I've ever known who didn't let such a serious injury force them out of the sport. It's incredibly motivating.

real strength there jeff, having the patience and strenght in recovery is a real mountain climb , daily! everyday! your doing great. getting out on the playa even a little is victory. you chased me alot last week! thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the write up. It gives those of us thinking about the getting started on the sport more to think about. ( better prepared)
And your pain puts what little I have into perspective. (threw back out while lifting a lawnmower)
Wives should always be thanked for all that they help/ put-up with.
Get well/ better.

Ken

I think the fact that you go thru all of this and still have a desire to fly says a lot about your character. i know if i could, i would, and will always fly.

we have to look at what our mentors say, and weigh our own feelings in the matter. we all see brutal accidents, and sometimes brutal outcomes.... as bad as Jeff's accident was (and continues to be) he still can see his family every morning, and fly a kite if he so chooses.... as an extreme sport, accidents are a very real possibilty.... and sadly the brutal accidents dont always have outcomes like this.

I read your post, and first and foremost... Im thankful for my luck. God knows ive pushed the envelope, and been spanked for it, but ive still walked away every time... just with a little more respect for what we do. What this post does for me, is it gives me the same "lesson in respect" that Jeff's accident wouldve given me, had i been in his shoes... thankfully i can learn from this, take something meaningful away, without the pain of a hard lesson... Im not saying jeff was in the wrong, or there was anything he couldve done to avert this situation, but to read his words, and glimpse his life... it makes me more mindful of my choices when flying.

I dont think we need to bash new fliers when they make mistakes, or simply ask questions.... but rather educate them (hopefully) before some accident happens.... and not berate them for something we all do at some point... why not show them something we learned thru broken, bruised, and bloodied bodies... so they dont repeat our mistakes, and can make their own advancements in our sport, hopefully with fewer setbacks/injuries. I take Jeff's post as that.... a reflection on the very real possibility of damage, that is hiding in every mellow breeze out there... a gentle poke on the shoulder that says "remember."

I really do want to thank you Jeff for this post. I tend to get into a fog in most of my hobbies... of top end tricks, pushing myself to the edge, and go go going... and the deeper i get in, the more im focussed on the now, and not what hides in the fog of tomorrow... a post like this clears the fog for me... yeah i may make that wicked jump and punk out Kami ... but i may botch it, and snap a limb.... or my neck... and what next?

Thank you again Jeff... I take your words, and your experiences to heart. I am truly sorry for the quality of life you have lost... But i am so amazed at the quality you have retained. You are very much a Kiter to be admired, and sound like a very stand up guy despite life's curveballs.

Awesome post.... i doubt i'll ever forget it

Quote:

Originally posted by Drewculous why not show them something we learned thru broken, bruised, and bloodied bodies...

QFT

It was great sharing camp with you at NABX this year Jeff . Like others I am amazed that you have managed to keep your passion up through all the pain.
It was clear you had your good days and bad. I'm not so sure I'm man enough that I could have done it. While I am sure you will have issues for a long long time I still hope for the best . Even being able to get by without the " side effects " will improve your life greatly.
Thanks for sharing.

Slowed my ass down a tad...

Thanks everyone for the positive responses.
I wasn't sure I should post it but after I got it written out I wasn't going to erase it.
As I stated, that was the short version, there is much more that I have to deal with and most of it is the side effects of the drugs. My kids keep asking my wife if the crap I go through with the drugs is worth the hassle, and my wife reminds them of the way I was before the Pain Doctor got involved.

Today was a good day. Made it home a few minutes ago after driving almost strait through. I felt so crappy that we left the Blokart World Cup before the finals and before the dinner and the presentation party. I gave up 2 $100.00 meals at the banquet cause I didn't want to deal with the loss of my cookies and the meal. Yesterday I was only able to drive 130 miles, today, a world record.

I should mention that we all have 26 ribs and I broke 19, with a few of them in multiple pieces. The term for what I had is "Flail Chest", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flail_chest
the punctured and collapsed lung was even harder to deal with. Not able to take in a breath and if you do, you scream out any air that you were able to get in. Dammed if you do and Dammed if you don't.

With all of this on my plate, and life with a disability that will not go away, I am on a few programs for a few drug studies. Mostly for the side effect of the Morphine, and a pilot program for using a cayenne pepper patch that is so hot that the nerves in the skin and under the skin overload and short out, thus stopping the pain. For how long and to what degree is the part I help with. Sometimes it is to much and life is worse than before, or it is not enough and releaf is only a fleeting moment.

So today when you get up, think of how you feel, and then imagine how it would feel to have a fork stabbed in your chest just above your nipple, and every once in a while or when you expect it least, give the fork a twist and wobble it a bit. Never being able to remove the fork is my day. The twisting and wobbling of the fork is what the drugs take away. My hope with all the testing and the different drugs is that at some point in my life a solution to the problem will be found.

I can only hope Until then I will buggy, fly kites, be a pain in a few peoples butts, and make the best of the life that has been given to me.

Thanks for sharing Jeff. I'm one of the lucky who've had the pleasure of meeting you and your wife for however brief an exchange on the Playa in '10. How quickly and drastically things change. Prayers of strength for you, her and the entire family.

Nobody really ever speaks much of the aftermath. We hear the stories of injury and drama but never the long term affects and suffering. Seems to carry a lot more weight IMO. Everybody's been hurt, healed and moved on and so perhaps can't relate that there can be real serious long term effects. Especially young kiters getting into the sport who maybe haven't had too many serious scares yet. So, although they hear of the incidents - which should be enough to scare them safe - perhaps they don't FULLY get it and still take stupid chances?

Like Todd's story of conquer and now yours (I'm sure there are more just tired at the moment...no disprespect intended).....seem so much more resounding knowing the full story and ongoing struggles. It's like the difference between "Holy crap!" and "Dear God"? Is that oversimplifying? Hope not 'cuz I don't think so.

Thanks for sharing. Some personal stuff for sure and not many men out there would open up like that. We're a special lot at PKF - the Power Kite Family.

:peace:

thanks macboy,
my wife has been reading the forum as I have been typing and she reminded me(we have been together for over 42 years) that as a kid and up until my bout with the beach, I was one of those kids that did everything at "mach 10 with my hair on fire" as my wife puts it. At the age of 13, I had climbed Mt. Rainier twice, and had been Mountain climbing/rock climbing for 3 years. Along with a bunch of other stuff. Ever drive through Seattle during rush hour in a 63 Corvette at 140mph just to see if it could be done? I understand the mind of the young and restless who can do anything, and the "it will never happen to me" attitude, heck, we have all been there. With our mind in control we can reason anything our direction and justify the stupid things we do. The problem comes with the people we know and the ones who love us. The pain and suffering they go through is by far greater than what I have to deal with. I see the look in my wife's eyes every time I say the word "kite". Why do you think SHE bought the RV to go to NABX this year? It wasn't to sit in the dust and enjoy a bunch of Testosterone brag about Kiting. No it was to be there if and when it was needed to make plans for the burial. (It has taken me a bit to to long to figure out my wife.)

I didn't want this to become a downer for people and don't want it to become an anchor for those that have a dream, just the opposite.
Go out and bust the Speed record by a mile, do things that have yet to be thought of, get the recognition that you are seeking for the hard work you have put into the sport. I tell my grand sons who are light years beyond my Kiteboarding skills, "for each and every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction". In other words, (like Goofball can agree with, sorry bro, you came to mind as I typed this.):embarrased: your not the only one who is hurt by your crash.

ENJOY THE SPORT AND TAKE IT TO A NEW LEVEL. And if and when you end up like me, give me a shout, and after I'm done laughing at you, I mean with you, we can share our stories.:bigok:

On the upside you are still alive.
I'm a noob and see some of the stories of injuries, including one of my friends I met at El Mirage.
I am also a motorcycle rider, my dad and I go out for rides and take road trips together, he is 84 by the way.
We were on one of our morning rides for breakfast when I was hit by a woman who ran a red light and broadsided me at 50 mph. After I came to I jumped up scaring the hell out of the people coming to me cause they thought I was dead. I unlike you only had one huge bruise on my ass and cuts and scrapes. The slightest difference in a number of factors and I would either not be here or be a cripple. Many sports have inherent dangers that the participants are aware of and continue to do. Dad and I still ride as I will continue to participate in kite-buggying.
By the way, the woman who hit me was texting on her cell phone when she went into the intersection, to this day I am an advocate against using a cell phone in the car.
Glad you are still with us bigkid.

Jeff your telling this story can only have possitive results, for you and every one who reads it. I tell my story not becouse I like to bragg about cheating death but becouse it is good thearapy for me. Sandy (my new wife) knows to well the side effects of severe injuries. I was the way I am when we met. Although she did not know me before my brain trauma my family was very carefull to tell her all about me!!
You are a very lucky man as am I that we found strong women to support us. I was told 12 years ago to buy a good chair and order cable tv. I didn't do it. And I'm glad you didn't either. I have been following your posts all along and find insperation in your journey. Keep up the hard work and take it easy when you need to. And hugg your wife every day.

Jeff, forgive me for asking, but can you also share why ware you going out in a wind as strong as 20-25mph ?
PLEASE, don't get me wrong, I'm trying to understand if you ware new to this sport or had a new kite etc' ?
I'm in this sport for only about three years (..almost) and still learning, I'm ashamed to admit, but after all this time, I finally got my helmet.... .... I know right, talk about been smart....
I think that the highlight in your story was the fact that you're still kiting and as everyone else here said, your spirit and will to share that story, says a lot about you...
My personal "wet" dream is to come one day to NABX, meet all of you guys and now I know who I want to meet first and shake his hand......
Thanks for a gr8 post, I hope your pain will go away as soon as possible.

AviN,
I've been doing this for a while now, not a newbie by far. 20 to 25 is nothing compared to 35 to 40.
Just a regular day flying a 2m with a bunch of others out on the beach with there 2 and 3m kites. Believe me, not a day goes by that I don't think about that split second and "what if". I didn't do anything wrong, was well below the limit of the kite, the buggy was more than enough to handle the circumstances. Just one of those moments that everything goes wrong, and there was nothing I or anyone else could do different that would change the outcome.
I have talked to some of the older guys and some of the kids (anyone younger than 58 is a kid), and the popular answer is I should have practiced using my quick release more, cause it is obvious that I wasn't quick enough to deploy it. Well that is a great answer for superman but after you think about it and you answer the question with out your ego in charge, everyone will agree that there are times that no way do you have time to react, let along grasp for a little ball hanging off the harness.
And for those that think you can fly the kite and land on your feet, you can't fly a 2m and land like you can a 10m.
So after some work and making my son the guinea pig, I designed a QR that works by itself. It has done it's thing a number of times so I will have to say it works, haven't been airborn in a long time so you decide for your self.

As far as the getting back on the horse thing, and back to buggying, I have lost a lot of the desire and the need to go play, hell it still scares the crap out of me, but if you got an ich-scratch. I do enjoy the sport, and the teaching aspect, R and D of new ideas. The blokart has made life a bit easier but the buggy still has the hair on fire appeal for me. Once thought of the word record and worked at it but now it is good enough to just make it back to the truck under my own power. I will never give up the kites or the boardz or the buggy, but I will let the others get the records and the notoriety of the sport. I will be the one in the background cheering them on, with the knowledge of who to call and what to do if things screw up.

I am working on my next years plans to go to NABX, WWBB, Jibe, and than go home. Only problem is the time off for the wife to go with. But the Airlines is more than happy to fly her back and forth. Got to start sweet talking the wife now, it's a tall order to ask for all 3 events at once. Got to work on my sweet talk. :D

Jeff,
First of all, I am truly sorry if I made you think for a second that I was judging you or even hinting that you ware doing something wrong, as I was mentioning, I'm still considering myself as a noob in this field, so up till now, I didn't even thought someone will go out at this strong winds...and trust me, I will never do so.....scary and I have my kid's life to enjoy with .
You mention the quick release, I had a 18mph wind blowing my kite (a 9m LE while I was on the beach doing kitesurfing), got me air lifted for a "cool" 9 feet up and side wise, dropping me on the send chin first...never did liked the taste of the send :tumble: .... when I was trying to stand up, another gust blow me again in the air, but this time I was releasing the safety, "luckily" when I was 'only' 4 feet up....but happy to say I ended on the send while the kite ended on a tree with a really nice tare along the wing. My point is, like you said, no matter what, when the shi@$# hit the fan, hold on and hope for the best.

Happy you got out in one piece and like you, I also like to take my ride slowly and cheer the other from the back, safe and makes my ride fun....

Hope I'll be able to make it to the next event and meet in person, till then, stay safe and happy ride to all

Jeff, thanks for sharing your story, I will pray for some relief for you. I suppose there will always be those who will not take your experience serious because they get their thrill from the risk of injury or death, I am not that type, I love everything about this sport except the risk of injury or death. The NABX was my first buggy experience and I didn’t use a harness, I had a great time and felt like I got to experience some great speeds (my main interest in buggying). However I did stress some muscles in my ribcage area and I have been contemplating what to do to prevent or minimize that issue for next time, get a harness and/or get in better shape. When I think about how I can prevent being lofted from my buggy the only thing that comes to mind is to not use a harness, is my thinking right on this? Would you have had your accident if you were not hooked in? You mentioned a quick release that works by itself? I would be interested in this idea if you would like to share? I also plan to invest in some body armor, were you wearing any? If so, do you feel it did its job? And if not, at what level do you feel it would have helped. So here I am, a new guy, asking for any and all advice on how to stay alive and in one piece while enjoying my new passion. Thanks Jeff and to anyone else with some constructive feedback.