Three months ago, a snowboarding accident forever changed the life of 24-year-old Ocean Beach resident Alan Henderson.
“I was flying down the hill enjoying the little bit of fresh powder we had gotten over night [at June Mountain],” Henderson said via email. “At the bottom of the run it split two ways and when I went to turn I hit a patch of ice.”
He woke up a few days after colliding with a pole the morning of Feb. 19 to discover that his spinal cord had been severed and displaced 6 inches, the jagged edges of the spine had torn through his internal organs and caused major damage, one lung had collapsed, the other had filled with blood, both sides of his pelvis were shattered and his femur was broken, as well as all of his ribs.
Henderson left the hospital on May 1 after spending more than two months in intensive care and inpatient rehabilitation. He is paralyzed from the waist down and currently undergoing outpatient treatment as his spinal cord slowly fuses back together. Doctors say that his injuries were so severe that walking will never be possible.
“It’s been very hard to deal with since I was so active before,” Henderson said. “I would surf every day no matter how good or bad it was, bang on the drums for an hour or so, and go on walks every night with my girlfriend.”
Henderson’s back still causes him pain and his recovery remains the family’s top priority, although an increasingly expensive one.
The financial burden of the accident is immense and has no foreseeable end. Henderson is unable to work, as his former job as a crewmember on the sportfishing boat Condor is no longer feasible. He now lives with his mother, Gaile Larkman, who has remodeled her home to accommodate the equipment necessary for mobility and day-to-day tasks, much of which is not covered by Henderson’s insurance.
According to Larkman, her son’s policy does not pay for durable medical expenses, such as wheel chairs that can cost thousands of dollars each. And though insurance has footed the major medical bills for surgeries and rehabilitation, the secondary expenses are great. Larkman has spent $20,000 just on modifications to her home, which is on a hill and was previously accessible only by stairs.
To lend a helping hand, Henderson’s former employer and co-workers have organized a benefit fishing trip and auction on Friday, May 26. Scott Meisel, captain and owner of the Condor, was the first to volunteer his boat and services for the event. The owners of the Grande and Gallilean followed suit.
According to Meisel, more than 30 people have signed up to date, but the three vessels have a combined capacity of 100 individuals.
“We’re trying to spread it out on boats to make it an annual thing to try to help him out,” Meisel said of the collective effort. “It’s an awful good cause “” he’s got a daughter to take care of and he’s a pretty young guy.”
The cost per person is $90 and all proceeds after fuel and permits will go to a fund in Henderson’s name. Meisel said that he is sacrificing the $6,300 typically generated by a Friday trip for his former employee, and hopes that the community comes out to fish for yellowtail, bonita and barracuda.
Following the excursion, a variety of donated prizes will be auctioned off, including free sportfishing trips, equipment and accessories. Though Henderson cannot join the Condor crew at sea, he hopes to attend the auction.
“I’ve worked on the Condor for the last two fishing seasons and have made more friends than I realized in this little time,” he said.
Both Henderson and his family have been buoyed by the support of friends and community. Acquaintances have come forward to help, including a friend’s father who plans to purchase Henderson an electric drum kit, guitar, keyboard and laptop with recording software so he can keep his mind occupied.
“It’s amazing how people have rallied,” Larkman said. “You expect to lean on family, but you don’t expect strangers to do things.”
Henderson has also received emails and online donations from people all over the country who heard about his accident through the snowboarding grapevine.
The three-quarter-day trip leaves at 6 a.m. and returns at 3 p.m. to Fisherman’s Landing, 2838 Garrison St. To reserve a spot, call (619) 221-8500. For more information about Henderson or to make a donation, visit www.alanhendersonfund.org.