Many of you know Pat and Walt Radney. They open their home to AT hikers and have often assisted PCT & CDT hikers with the ‘PCT Express’
I received this note from Pat last evening:
Walt was hit by another driver at an intersection on Monday. The accident was serious! Walt had to be cut out of the Jeep and helicoptered to UVA where he was seen by neurosurgeions and orthopedic surgeons. When I got to the hospital he was scheduled for brain surgery to put shunts in to drain away blood and built up fluid. His neck is broken at the C2 - this controls breathing, speech, etc. and if severed
leaves him a quadroplegic! He did NOT require either surgery - his body is SLOWLY repairing itself and the blood and excess fluid is being absorbed. They did not fuse, or pin, his C2 fracture but are trying to
let it heal naturally. I WILL NEVER TAKE HIS PRESENCE AND LOVE FOREGRANTED!
MIRACULOUSLY he is now home BUT is still in grave danger if he falls or removes his cervical collar. He is using a walker and has great strength in his hands and legs, eats and is now aware of events leading up to the accident but not after he went through the green light… I can’t believe he made it out of the accident alive! I will keep you updated. Pat
If you want to send a note to Pat & Walt and do not have their current email simply respond to the email on this post. It should go directly to them.
TC