Ricardo Ortiz went jet skiing with his family on Prior Lake, MN. It was a sunny summer day. He had an accident and later received an unexpected diagnosis.
He decided to go for one last ride on the lake with his son when he lost his balance and hit the water very hard on his left side. He started to feel the water coming into his mouth and nose and all of a sudden, everything was dark. When he woke up, he was in an ambulance. (more…)
Increased public awareness of the potential consequences of concussion has raised concern about the safety of youth sports. While football, hockey and other predominantly male contact sports capture much of the media attention about concussion, females are uniquely at risk and report a higher duration and severity of concussion symptoms after an injury. Recent studies indicate that when boys and girls play the same sport – such as hockey or soccer, girls have a higher incidence of concussion. (more…)
Shannon Kerr was driving, with her two girls secured in the back seat. They were on their way to get a puppy. It was a beautiful sunny day but for a moment, the sunshine was so intense that Shannon couldn’t see the road and she missed a stop sign. Upon crossing the intersection her car was struck by a semi-truck.
From the moment of impact to 12 weeks later, Shannon was in critical condition from her injuries and in a deep coma. Her two girls were also hospitalized for a few weeks. (more…)
Charlene Barron was born in Chicago where she trained as a nurse, riding her bike to school even through snowy winters. While she was still young, her mother developed breast cancer. Inspired by her mother’s care, Charlene subsequently took a position at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, where she met her husband, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steve Barron, on a blind date. They would be married for 41 years and raise three children – and multiple dogs – together in Medina. Their son Adam died tragically at the age of 29 while kayaking in Colorado. (more…)
Spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries can happen in an instant and may significantly change a person’s life. This was the case for Nick Maestas, who ended up with a spinal fracture after a diving accident in rural Minnesota.
Fortunately for Nick, he was taken to Cambridge Hospital where he was immediately evaluated. The medical staff at Cambridge transferred Nick via helicopter to one of Minnesota’s Level 1 trauma centers, Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). At HCMC, Nick’s family was met by the trauma team in the emergency department. At this point, Nick was stabilized and several tests were done to determine the full extent of his injuries. (more…)
