MY BEST WISHES GO OUT TO MY FRIEND KEVIN PEARCE AND HIS FAMILY !
Snowboarder Kevin Pearce remained in stable but critical condition Friday, the day after suffering a serious head injury when he slammed into the edge of the halfpipe while training at Park City Mountain Resort.
The 22-year-old Vermont native is being treated at University Hospital in Salt Lake City, and a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association official said his condition has not changed since he had surgery to drain a build-up of fluid on his brain.
Pearce was injured while attempting a difficult “double cork” aerial maneuver that features a twisting, double back flip. U.S. coach Mike Jankowski told The New York Times that Pearce “over-rotated” his second flip and slammed into the pipe, striking the edge just above his eye.
Pearce was considered a strong contender to qualify for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics next month, but his injury means he will not compete in an event next week that will serve as part of the U.S. Olympic trials.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (January 6, 2010) Although snowboarder Kevin Pearce has a long recovery ahead of him, his doctors are “cautiously” optimistic given his current progress. Kevin has been upgraded from critical to serious condition according to his doctors at at the University of Utah Hospital and this is a very big step in Kevin’s recovery process.
One of Kevin’s doctors, Holly Ledyard, M.D., a Neurointensivist (a physician with specialized education and training in critical neurological conditions) at University of Utah Health Care remains positive about Kevin’s condition, “Kevin is in serious condition and remains in intensive care at University of Utah Hospital. We’ve been able to remove his breathing tube, and he is slowly regaining consciousness and able to follow commands. While we’re pleased that he’s improving faster than anticipated, he still has a long recovery ahead of him.”
With this news Kevin’s family remains optimistic and grateful for all of the support being shown by his doctors, nurses, friends, family and fans from all over the world. Kevin’s Facebook Fan page, Well Wishes to our Frend Kevin Pearce, is still the preferred site for people posting their get-well wishes and for getting the most current and reliable information.
Family members have established the “Well Wishes to Our Frend Kevin Pearce” page on Facebook — the missing “i” in “Frend” is intentional — where supporters are urged to send cards to his management agency and check back for updates on his condition.
Friends and Fans of U.S. Snowboarder Kevin Pearce (Norwich, VT) can follow updates and share their notes of support through a fan site started by family and friends on Facebook Fan Page. Pearce remains in critical but stable condition in a Salt Lake City hospital following an accident in Park City on Thursday, December 31, 2009. The Facebook Fan Page, Well Wishes to our Frend Kevin Pearce (click to visit the page), will be updated by family and friends with news as soon as it is available allowing well wishers to stay in tune with his recovery progress.
Well-wishers are encouraged to send cards to Kevin. The hospital will not accept flowers, gifts or other packages. Please send all cards to:
Mosaic Sports Management c/o Kevin Pearce
829 Second Street Ste B
Encinitas, CA 92024.
Click to see full story:
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14108349
Click to see daily Facebook updates on Kevin: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Well-Wishes-to-our-Frend-Kevin-Pearce/232366118918?v=wall#/pages/Well-Wishes-to-our-Frend-Kevin-Pearce/232366118918?v=app_2347471856
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