Jordan Ostlund - Trampoline Accident 2004

[rainbowgirl28]

I totally missed this story when it happened, and nothing was ever posted on here. I don't know the latest, this is all pretty dated.



http://www.umary.edu/UM/News/Injuredpolevaulter.htm

Injured U-Mary Pole-Vaulter Receives Support From Community and Athletes

On Tuesday, September 14, 2004, Jordan Ostlund's life changed forever. The senior pole-vaulter from Gillette, WY, was doing drills at a Bismarck gymnastics facility when he landed wrong and snapped two vertebrae in his neck. Paralyzed from the neck down, Ostlund was later transported to Wyoming to be near family for his rehabilitation and therapy. The close-knit University of Mary track and field community quickly banded together to support their injured teammate.

Within a few weeks, teammates distributed empty water cooler jugs on campus to collect donations. A Web site dedicated to Ostlund went live shortly after, complete with photos, updates and a message board. As Ostlund's condition improved, the U-Mary track and field team grew increasingly more involved in helping him recover.

"When the accident happened and he left, we couldn't stop thinking about what we could do to help," says Brad Cook, a fellow Marauder track and field athlete from Hazen, ND, and former roommate of Ostlund.

A few months later, royal blue rubber bracelets imprinted with http://www.jordanostlund.com were sold on campus and in Ostlund's hometown in Wyoming. Selling out in only 60 days, the bracelets quickly became a necessary fashion accessory on the U-Mary campus.

"More importantly than raising money, the bracelets remind us of Jordan, and they remind us to pray," says Cook. "Since the accident, we make a point to pray before every practice."

In the past six months, Ostlund has come from being paralyzed from the neck down to being paralyzed from the chest down. He is able to move two of his fingers and has partial control over his arms. His condition improves by the day, through occupational and physical therapy and the support of family and friends.

"As big of a tragedy as it is, it's also a success story," says Jared Miller, friend of Ostlund, U-Mary pole vault coach and former Marauder athlete. "Jordan has taught us that no matter what, you'll be fine."

To date, the U-Mary track and field team has raised over $3,000 (before bracelet manufacturing costs). But the fundraising hasn't ended there, 1,000 more bracelets have been ordered, and are currently being sold on campus and via Ostlund's Web site at http://www.jordanostlund.com for $5 each. Nor has support been limited to the U-Mary campus, the track and field coach at Doane College (Lincoln, NE) has contacted Miller about purchasing a bracelet for every athlete on his team. The Bismarck Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant has inquired about displaying a pole vault pole and photo of Ostlund. The Bismarck Scheels Sports store has also been contacted about selling the bracelets.

"We know that if one of us were in his position, he would be doing the same thing for us," says Cook.




http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=46202

Wyoming residents rally to aid paralyzed Mary pole vaulter

Associated Press


GILLETTE, Wyo. - Residents are stepping forward to help an athlete paralyzed in a track and field accident.

Jordan Ostlund, 22, suffered a spinal-cord injury after landing on his head while practicing pole vaulting Sept. 14 for the University of Mary. The 2001 graduate of Campbell County High School was studying at the North Dakota school to be a teacher and a coach.

He was expected to be released soon this month a rehabilitation center in Colorado, three weeks earlier than expected because he has progressed so well. However, he will remain unable to walk.

About 100 friends and family members recently crowded into Gillette's Sports Bar for a charity auction. Money raised will help cover costs of items like a power wheelchair, which wasn't covered by insurance.

Auctioned items included a set of Colt Derringer pistols, Jordan's 1997 convertible and paintings by local artists. About $10,000 in raffle tickets were also sold.

The amount raised wasn't available.

http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandf...e/10503236.htm

Helping University of Mary athlete paralyzed in accident

Residents of Gillette, Wyoming are helping an athlete paralyzed in a track and field accident in North Dakota.

Twenty-two-year-old Jordan Ostlund suffered the spinal-cord injury after landing on his head in September. He was practicing pole vaulting for the University of Mary at the time, and was studying to be a teacher and a coach.

Ostlund will probably be released this month from a rehabilitation center in Colorado, three weeks earlier than expected. But he will remain unable to walk.

Recently, about 100 friends and family members recently crowded into Gillette's Sports Bar for a charity auction. The money they raised will help pay for items like a power wheelchair, which wasn't covered by insurance.
http://www.kxma.com/news/local.asp?ID=4679

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.p ... glance.inc

Gillette pole vaulter injured
BISMARCK, N.D. - A University of Mary pole vaulter underwent surgery after landing on his head while training on a floor trampoline earlier this week, the school's athletic director says.

Jordan Ostlund, from Gillette, Wyo., underwent surgery late Thursday. His condition was not immediately known.

"It's always a shock when something like this happens," athletic director Al Bortke said. "I don't know how severe the injury is, but when you're talking about vertebrae, it's obviously pretty serious."

Ostlund came to the school two years ago and competed as a freshman before going to Hawaii for a year. He returned to Mary this fall, Bortke said.

"We've been up at (the Bismarck Gymnastics Academy) for years practicing here and there, but nothing like this has happened," Bortke said. "It's just an accident that turned very serious."

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/artic ... news07.txt

Tree burn will benefit family facing double tragedy

A big bonfire. Money to help a family with mounting medical bills. And a place to discard the drying Christmas tree once the ornaments have been put back in their boxes.

Why wouldn't you take advantage of the Campbell County Fire Department's tree burn?

Firefighters will again collect this year's trees and donations, beginning the week after Christmas. The trees will be burned in a giant bonfire at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at Cam-plex Park.

It's the same drill as in years past. If you put up a real Christmas tree this year, put it outside on Jan. 1-2 or on Jan. 8 where firefighters can see it. Firefighters will pick it up and knock on your door for a donation.

Money raised will benefit the Mary Ostlund family which has suffered two tragedies in the last four months, said Steve Rydquist, a firefighter and chairman of the tree burn committee.

Her son, 22-year-old Jordan Ostlund, broke his neck in September during a trampoline training exercise. Ostlund was a star pole vaulter at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.

Then, Mary Ostlund's significant other, Gillette Police Sgt. Paul Konrad, suffered extensive injuries in a car crash on Dec. 3.

Jordan Ostlund was expected to return to Gillette today after spending the last three months at the Craig Rehabilitation Center in Englewood, Colo.

Konrad is still recovering at Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Hospital.

"That was a terrible double tragedy these folks have had to go through," Rydquist said.

In a change from past years, the department will not collect trees at Fire Station One. They prefer picking up the trees.

"It is a source of department pride and camaraderie to jump in the vehicle and be out in the community," Rydquist said.

Maybe it's the number of fake trees people are putting up nowadays, but Rydquist said donations and tree pick-ups have been down the last few years. But people can make donations whether or not they have a tree to burn, he said.

Drop donations off at Fire Station One. Or call 682-5319 to donate.

By The News-Record staff

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/artic ... news01.txt

The Giving Season

Even lying in the hospital paralyzed, Jordan Ostlund didn't lose his sense of humor, according to his father, Tom Ostlund of Cheyenne.

They were watching a football game and someone had taken a nasty hit on the field. The player laid still. Someone in the Jordan's room said, "Oh. He isn't moving."

"That would suck," Jordan said.

"He's always been up. He just uplifts the people around him," Tom Ostlund told The News-Record.

It's likely one reason Ostlund, 22, will be released from Craig Rehabilitation Center in Englewood, Colo., three weeks early. Ostlund was paralyzed Sept. 14 while doing a pole-vaulting training exercise on a trampoline. He suffered a spinal-cord injury after landing on his head.

He's been recovering since. On Friday, strangers, friends and family crowded into the Sports Bar for a charity auction for Jordan's care.

Auctioned items included a set of Colt .22 derringer pistols, Jordan's 1997 convertible, paintings donated by local artists and other items. Many of the people who bid on the items or who donated them were strangers, said Scott Ostlund, Jordan's uncle and owner of the Sports Bar.

It was unclear just how much money the benefit raised, but they sold about $10,000 in tickets for the Bronco-ticket raffle alone.

"We're still counting, to tell you the truth. It's quite a bit. The whole thing was just a success," said Scott Ostlund.

He helped set up 80 chairs for the raffle, but it wasn't enough. He figures about 100 people came, some he knew, some he did not.

"It's just the fine Gillette community. If you speak to people who are from around here, one of the things that comes up in discussion is just how great the community of Gillette is," he said.

Tom Ostlund was overwhelmed by the reception.

"I think it's one of the hardest things to receive. Giving is a good feeling and a lot of people just opened up," he said.

"It was a very emotional day."

Ostlund will return to Gillette on Thursday and move into an apartment here. He graduated from Campbell County High School in 2001 and was attending the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. He was studying to be a teacher and a coach.

Money raised will help pay for things that insurance won't cover fully. And it surprised Tom Ostlund how expensive things are. A power wheel chair is $18,000. A manual one is more than $6,000. The apartment will need remodeling.

Ostlund was originally supposed to be released on Jan. 14. But he progressed so well on his rehabilitation, that doctors decided to release him this week.

"If you look at the three months since his accident, he's come so far. It's absolutely amazing," Tom Ostlund said.

By KRISTY GRAY

News-Record Writer

[SkyHigh]

I'm from Wyoming. Even on the western side of the state we felt the ripple effect from this accident. There was a moment of silence at Star Valley High School, which I attended when I was younger. When the football team traveled to Gillette to play a playoff game it was rumored that quotes from Jordan were inscribed on the ankle braces of the Gillette football players. This event was so tragic, but remains so motivational.