Last weekend (Saturday, Jan. 6, 2008), while out riding his bike, Mark Sorenson (Deaf North American) had an accident and was thrown off his bike hitting his head very hard on the ground.
For 15-30 minutes he laid on the ground unable to move. All he could do was pray!
Finally, someone saw him, and he was rushed to a local clinic. By the time he arrived, he was, thankfully, starting to have some feeling and movement in his arms and legs.
After X-rays, MRI and examination by a spine specialist in Chiang Mai, and a couple days in the hospital, it was determined Mark has a herniated disk between C 5 & 6.
For now he has made the decision not to have surgery, but try a neck brace and rest. Mark had been scheduled to go to Kenya, but due to recovery time was forced to cancel.
Continue to pray for Mark and his family!
UPDATE Feb. 2008
Mark went to Bangkok to get a 2nd opinion. After reviewing Mark's MRI and X-rays the doctor said, "You are very lucky. Very, very lucky." Of course, we know that it's not luck. God's hand of protection was on Mark.
The doctor agreed that the problem was not a herniated disk at C5-C6, but a spinal cord contusion at C3. He said that he would not recommend surgery at this time, and did not expect that there would be any need for it in the future, either. He agreed that Mark should be doing physical therapy, although he should not be extending his neck backwards.
Below, view pictures of Mark's broken helmet and site of the accident.
