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epecknold
Sport climber
Nederland
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Sep 25, 2018 - 10:02am PT
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Hi all,
I hope it will suffice, for now, to say that Bern's injuries are extensive. My (Bern's too) mother, specifically, asked me to remain vague for Bern's sake until she is aware of everything that is going on. If you would like to visit her personally to show her your support and assess the damages, please do. She needs a lot more than monetary support right now, this will be a very long road.
As far as what actually happened, Bern rapped off the end of her rope on Hemingway Buttress. She fell approx 40 feet into rocks. She had a helmet on. As far as more specific details to the accident, again, I was not there and do not feel comfortable sharing specifics.
As far as the money, every one has been so generous and my family and I are so appreciative. At this point, we do not know what this will cost. There was a helicopter, over a week in the ICU, surgeries, etc. My mother is a medical professional and she seems to think that 50k is a fair amount because Bern does have insurance, but we really do not know what this will come to. We are setting up a trust so Bern can access the money when she is able. Again, the money will not just cover medical expenses, but also, the probable home modifications, in-home care, etc.
Please feel free to reach out to me privately if you would like to know more (my personal email is further up in this thread). I am floored by the support of Bern. She's a special lady and I am so proud to know that other people feel similarly.
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Sep 25, 2018 - 11:05am PT
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Still waiting e mail response to request for Bernadette’s mailing address.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Sep 25, 2018 - 11:07am PT
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zip, as several others have mentioned lately, if you sent it via the ST system, it's likely that it didn't go through. I tried doing the same upthread, and also got no response.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Sep 25, 2018 - 12:24pm PT
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Thanks for the update on Bern.
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Lassitude 33
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Sep 25, 2018 - 02:19pm PT
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Thank you for the update.
I check this thread (and my thoughts turn to Bernadette) every day. Hope to be able to visit her in the future.
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Polebridge, Montana
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Sep 25, 2018 - 06:33pm PT
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Does it matter? She was in an accident and was badly injured. She needs our help. I'd like to respectfully suggest we let her tell her story when she's ready. Hashing over second- or third- hand info really doesn't accomplish much.
Oh Gawd Dusty. This is a Climber's forum. Stop wringing your hands trying to control the mob. Inquiring minds want to know. Doesn't mean they have ill intentions or disrespect.
Arne
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Murf
climber
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Sep 25, 2018 - 08:28pm PT
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My partners and I have a saying: "If it goes South, I hope they don't talk about us on the internet".
I'm not infallible. I'm alternately cocky, tired, pedantic, an as#@&%e, a safety Nazi, and sketchy AF( as the kids might say).
Sometimes we get lucky when we blow it, and sometimes we don't. For me, I see something like this and I feel terrible for the person ( and remember, this is a person not an abstract ) and I'm not so arrogant to feel like it could never be me.
Anyway, Bernadette has always been wonderful to me, and I wish her the best through this.
Peas,
Murf
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Sep 26, 2018 - 03:49am PT
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Confirming this is right e mail address to request Bernadette's mailing address?
elizabeth.a.regan@gmail.com
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Sep 26, 2018 - 06:05am PT
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Please let us know if Bern has spinal cord injuries,
I will give more money if she does.
I wish her the best in the recovery process.
Thanks
Ezra
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Sep 27, 2018 - 09:13am PT
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The last thing I would ever suggest is that knowing details of an accident isn't useful and I do hope Bernadette will feel good about sharing them at some point. But that's her choice.
Thing is, in most any other technical endeavor, the details of any accident are IMMEDIATELY depersonalized and objectified to the last detail - so far as is possible - in order to understand how "things went south." Aeronautics, SCUBA diving, industrial accidents, etc. all have professional organizations and protocols to try and get to the bottom of any accident with an eye toward future prevention.
Invading someone's personal space is one thing best left to family and those near and dear; understanding in general terms what went wrong, however, is the concern of all those engaged in the same activity, and "choosing" to withhold information defies both common sense and the common good, IMO.
That much said, the need to immediately gratify our desire to "know" can also work against sober and measured evaulations, but eventually the facts are better known than not. Fact is, someone was seriously injured here, and that has to remain our first concern. It's also, strictly speaking, nobodies business but Bern's per her exact physical condition. Her sister clarified that she is seriously injured, including a traumatic brain injury, so those donating to her fund know this is no sprained ankle we are talking about. But that, IMO, is a different affair than the technical issues surrounding her accident, the importance of which transcend any individual.
Hope to visit Bern soon.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Sep 27, 2018 - 09:19am PT
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All true enough, but this is the SuperTopo Forum, where history hasn't consistently stuck to those principles. And a little more elapsed time from the event would be helpful, too.
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Polebridge, Montana
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Sep 27, 2018 - 09:44am PT
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Sorry Dusty,
Hope your friend manages as best as possible. Sounds like an incredible person who has touched many lives.
Arne
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Sep 27, 2018 - 10:49am PT
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"choosing" to withhold information defies both common sense and the common good, IMO. Agree.
However, adding up 2+2 in this case, gri gri raps are moderately complicated to set up, which is why they're not popular, nor as safe. Her partner may not have seen or understood or could with 100% certainty say what happened. With a head injury, Bern may never remember nor be able to tell either. We're left waiting to see what SAR found out. It might also be embarrassing to talk about what many may perceive as a simple error for a climbing professional to make, so those close may be withholding out of respect for her dignity before giving her a chance to say for herself.
That said, I'm going to pencil in the gri gri thing in my head for what might have happened and await a SAR report.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Sep 27, 2018 - 12:42pm PT
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Happy to hear Bern is making progress.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Sep 27, 2018 - 06:34pm PT
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hey there say, zip...
yep... you got it right...
i got a reply... so it is posted correctly...
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Skywonger32
Trad climber
Long Beach, Ca
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Sep 27, 2018 - 11:53pm PT
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Hi Liz,
Glad to hear your sister is stable. Thank you for sharing updates with our climbing community. Hoping for the best with Bernadette's recovery --she was always super pleasant to chat with at the park. We are all rooting for her!
As a healthcare professional involved in Rehab I would advocate for her to get situated at an Acute Rehab center vs. a SNF or Extended Care Facility to maximize her recovery. The two local facilities I would recommend would be:
1) Casa Colina Hospital & Centers for Healthcare - Located in Pomona, an excellent Acute Rehab Center with a Transitional Living Center on campus for patients with neurologic conditions such as TBI, SCI, etc. Incredible PT/OT/SLP Rehab teams and facilities.
2) Hoag Hospital Acute Rehab Unit - Located in Newport Beach, a brand new Rehab Unit (Summer 2018) also specializing in patients with neurological and orthopedic conditions with state of the art equipment and excellent team.
I don't post on Supertopo often so please feel free to message me if you have any questions I can help with.
Best wishes,
Laura Wong, PT, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
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Rudder
Trad climber
Costa Mesa, CA
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Sep 28, 2018 - 02:20am PT
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Sometimes we get lucky when we blow it, and sometimes we don't.
So true!
I would take it a step further and say, most of the time we get lucky when we blow it. I've always thought we are oftentimes not setup for a catastrophic situations. And uplift on lead pro or anchors with trad gear. An injured partner. A fall when it would be factor 2. And, rappels, mostly rappels. Reading the north american climbing accidents for decades now, it's always rappels. They get the most climbers, for sure.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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Sep 28, 2018 - 09:52am PT
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what-impact-will-moderate-or-severe-tbi-have-persons-life Everyone is unique and will take a different path to a different place. I would highly recommend anyone associated with the victim to stay off Google looking for answers to the unknowable, it will create a hell of loneliness and expectation. Put the focus instead on getting evaluated by different professionals. No single one of them knows everything, none of them have ever before seen Bern's unique case. Become an expert on the common denominators. It's an individual journey.
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