Good wishes to island resident injured while hiking

carolonline

According to her site established by the family on the caringbridge.org website, Carol lost her footing and slid down a steep embankment of grass and rock while hiking near Grindlewald, Switzerland with three other couples from Florida. It happened very quickly, but luckily a man on the trail below witnessed the incident and immediately called mountain rescue airlift.

Preliminary tests showed a neck fracture and dislocation of the disc, a couple of broken ribs, a stable fracture in the pelvis, a dislocated right shoulder and head wounds and an unstable right knee. The doctors immediately induced a coma.

Carol is currently in Bern, Switzerland at Inselspital, one of the top hospitals in the country, which is known for excellent healthcare.

Carol has been removed from the respirator, and is breathing on her own; though she still has a tube in her windpipe to regulate the pressure. They are treating her for a mild fever due to an infection resulting from fluid in her lungs. She is not ready for transport to the U.S for that reason, among others.

“At this point the doctors are encouraged by her response and progress,” said one family member. “We explained that it is due to many hundreds of people back home praying and sending good karma her way.”

On Monday, Aug. 20, Carol opened her eyes on request, and acknowledged the family’s presence by blinking for “yes,” and nodded her head when asked if she understood everything they were saying. She knows she is in a hospital after an accident, but did not seem clear about why or being in Switzerland.

“The outpouring of love and affection to Carol and our family from all of you is so overwhelming that it is difficult to put into words,” said her husband, Dave. “I have always known I am married to an angel. I hope there are some watching over her now.”

You can sign Carol’s guestbook at caringbridge.org by typing in the site name “carollindenbaum.”