A Quesnel man is recuperating at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre after being seriously injured while cutting limbs off a tree.
Herb Roodenburg has worked with trees for years. He is employed by the province's ministry of forests and for over 30 years he's been helping people get rid of danger trees by climbing the trees with safety gear and falling them. He also is an avid outdoorsman, a hunter, father of two and a grandfather.
On Nov. 14, Roodenburg was working on a tree on Jones Street for a friend's family member.
"The only thing he remembers is a big thud on the top of his head and being knocked unconscious," his daughter Megan Connors explained to The Observer. She said after he came to, he realized he was hanging upside down, still attached to some of his equipment. Connors said the best word to describe Roodenburg is selfless.
Roodenburg was upside down for 20 minutes before the Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department was able to get him down. It is not known exactly how long he was hanging from the tree before 911 was called. He was then transported to G.R. Baker.
"He was unable to move anything below his neck," Connors said. The doctors at Baker said there were no broken bones and no brain injuries. They spoke to specialists in Vancouver and came to the conclusion that he had severe spinal damage. "They brought him up to Prince George and airlifted him from Prince George in the middle of the night down to Vancouver, where he was at the Vancouver General Hospital."
The hospital observed Roodenburg for secondary injuries, which Connors explained could be things like pneumonia, infections or heart issues. Connors said those secondary injuries can appear later down the line over the next year or so.
Since the accident, Roodenburg has been transferred to G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre.
"Just sort of waiting to see what comes back and what does not. His left side at this point has improved significantly, he can move his leg pretty much in every direction. He thinks if he had to gauge he'd say he has about 50 per cent strength back in his entire left leg," Connors said. "His right side is not good now. But it's not to say that it will be like that forever."
One of the reasons Connors started the GoFundMe is because she knew misinformation was floating around the city. She said it was distressing for people in the community and coworkers to hear about his injury, especially with the misinformation.
"I just wanted to create a space where those that wanted to help could and to get all the information," Connors said. "I'll be posting weekly updates with pictures as things move along."
So far the GoFundMe has raised over $17k, that money is going to be extremely helpful for Roodenburg and his family.
"There's going to be tons and tons of physio and massage therapy that will be required," Connors said. She estimates he'll run out of extended medical through work within two weeks of therapy and the money donated will help fund his continued rehabilitation. "If he ever does have the opportunity to drive again, it (may) involve a modified vehicle which are hefty in price." She added there may also need to be renovations to the Roodenburgs' home.
She said she can't thank people enough for the amount of support the family has received since launching the GoFundMe and it will be incredibly helpful with his recovery.
Connors and her family are trying to stay positive throughout Roodenburg's recovery.
"It really sucks that this happened," she said, adding there are some things that hurt to see. "When you see the frustration of him trying to move his hand or something like that and it's just not happening."
Roodenburg's recovery remains uncertain. Despite the challenges ahead, Roodenburg is setting new goals for himself each day. People who would like to support Roodenburg and get updates from the GoFundMe can find it at: www.gofundme.com/f/herb-spinal-cord-journey.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated Roodenburg was upside down for 40 minutes before the fire department was able to get him down. It has been clarified, as the department's rescue of Roodenburg only took 20 minutes. Connors estimates it was around 40 minutes total, including the time before the department was called.
