Thanks to all…

Jul 12

By: Dave Goldstein, Visitor

---------- Forwarded message ---------
Date: Mon, Jun 26, 2023 at 9:39 PM
Subject: Please share the thanks with all involved
To: parksoffice@co.larimer.co.us <parksoffice@co.larimer.co.us>

Friends,

I had an incident on Saturday, June 24, 2023 in Horsetooth, and because of you I am able to type this note today.

I don’t know all the teams, and unfortunately can’t recall the names, but I am so grateful to share my deepest appreciation and thanks to all involved. Rangers, EMSs, Poudre Fire (I remember the hats)… others? I hope they all see this.

My morning went like this… I was riding my mountain bike early and went up Southridge (making great time). At the top, I was more fatigued than usual, and got off my bike to walk those jumble of rocks. Little did I know this was the beginning of something worse than I thought. I got back on and started to ride down Wathan. Something that felt like indigestion started, and I resisted throwing up. Soon, both my arms felt like they had fallen asleep and I was getting dizzy. Wathan has a way of inflicting those symptoms, but not to this degree. Two-thirds of the way down, I knew it was time to stop (so much for my good time).

This was a low point. I was on the side of the trail alone, in the fetal position, sweating profusely, throwing up and couldn’t catch my breath. I had one reception bar on my phone, so I called my wife. I laid the phone by me and could only say “something’s wrong” and “I’m on Wathan.” I still thought this was indigestion (I’m stubborn) so when she said she’s calling 911 I thought it was ridiculous. I would soon find out I was wrong.

Sharing my location was a challenge, so I stopped my Strava ride, saved it, and my brother took a screen shot of it after it uploaded, which was shared. But a link was also sent to my cell from 911 and appeared to have some tracking ability. Whatever worked, I am grateful for… another 100 yards down the trail and I wouldn’t have had reception.

My breathing stabilized, and before I knew it, a Ranger appeared, an EMS team and more Rangers. A helicopter started swirling and I asked, “what’s with the helicopter?” “It’s protocol for calls like this,” I was told. My blood sugar was checked, my chest shaved, and a portable EKG started. The gal running the test read the info on the thin paper printout, looked up at me, and said, “It’s your heart, and you’re getting on that helicopter.” She gave me four chewable Aspirin, and Heparin in an IV that was started. A surgeon the next day would tell me that her action changed my story. I can’t even remember her name, and she saved my life. The whole team did.

Now it was time to figure out how to get me to the helicopter, or how to get the helicopter to me. I don’t know how that decision was made, but carting me to a truck and then to the helicopter was the plan. Anyone familiar with Wathan and Spring Creek trails would respect this greatly. Rangers and EMS worked together as one team, working to keep me level, sweating in the heat, and rotating positions. The company was determined but light-hearted… exactly who I would want to be with in that moment. “At least we’re not getting shot at” made me laugh.

The truck finished my transport to the helicopter on Towers, and with each hand-off I was wished well, encouraged, and felt genuine care from these complete strangers rescuing me. How can I begin to thank them?

Fast-forward (via helicopter) to MCR where the surgeon put in a stent. I had 10% plaque in my LAD, which is apparently not that bad. But when I was riding that morning up Southridge, a little piece of plaque must have broken off and created a bleed that formed a clot. That clot grew to block 95% of my LAD by the time I was feeling my worst on Wathan. There are many “what ifs” but I’ll choose to focus on what did happen rather than what didn’t.

Thank you to every individual who touched my story on Saturday and helped get me to safety, to healing, to life. From the 911 dispatch team to the EMS team to the Rangers, to the air crew… you chose a profession and serve boldly to help others you don’t even know. You helped me, you saved my life, and I thank you with the greatest sincerity possible.

Key takeaways for my mountain-biking community… Be findable (beacon your ride if you're alone), pay attention to your body (don't blow off indigestion, fatigue, or excessive breathing and sweating), pocket some Aspirin (4 chewables), and don’t be afraid to call 911 (if you may need help).

Forever grateful,

Dave Goldfain

P.S. Enjoy the few pics I took attached, and feel free to share any of this with anyone you’d like.