Vancouver Olympics 2010 | Tragedy over Triumph

Nodar Kumaritashvili , a Georgian luger, has suffered what sounds like one of the most horrible accidents imaginable just hours before the official start of the Olympics. According to the Associated Press, Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over a wall, and slammed into a metal pole. » Full Story on sports.yahoo.com

We watched in awe at the spectacle that was the Vancouver Opening Ceremonies. The show was awesome, digital technology at it's finest. It was a beautiful celebration of the pride of Vancouver and all of Canada. We were captured by the displays; I can only imagine the high that each participant felt at just being there, in the glory of the moment; what a feeling that must have been!!!

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Tonight we got a phone call from one of our neighbors, learning of a near tragic accident that took place in our neck'o the woods last night at approximately 2:00am. I was up and down having a restless night, but I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Apparently one of our own, the drummer for Carry Nation Band was out on a snowmobile with a group for an evening of snowmobiling around the local area. They had stopped at the Blue Overall for a bit of warming-up and snacks, before heading back out again. As everyone left, Jim headed toward home-just across the highway and through the woods, past Wandawega, and he's there, right? not last night....

Somewhere in the darkness, his sled hit (something)a bump in the trail, causing the sudden impact to catapult him over the top of his sled and into a tree. After laying there for 30 minutes or more, he was able to call out for help on his cellphone, and after several failed attempts, was able to reach a neighbor down the street. He said he was in trouble, had wrecked and wasn't doing so well. By the time the neighbors got to the scene, other snowmobilers had arrived and were in rescue mode, covering him to prevent shock. His boots were knocked off his feet during the impact, so they put his boots back on in an attempt to protect his already frozen feet from the cold.

Two people from the rescue party brought him back home on a sled, but by the time they got back, it was evident that he was in worse shape than they first believed, so an ambulance was called for. He was later taken by Lifeline helicopter to Froedert Hospital Milwaukee, where he was placed in CCU. He was conscious and heard to say, "just stupid".

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim and his family during the days and weeks ahead, and for his swift recovery. We're there for you, dude.