Daniel Madison grew up in Rock Creek from Grade 8 on, and chose to make it his home after high school. He was very involved in drama at Boundary Central Secondary School, and continued enjoying this pursuit after graduating, participating in community theatre.
He was very involved in sports and other extracurricular activities, was the rugby captain, and was valedictorian of his graduating class and won athletic and mathematics awards as well.
Daniel was in a single motor vehicle accident on an icy road in March 2008. It happened around 11:30 p.m., he was thrown from the vehicle and wasn’t discovered until 7:15 a.m. the next day.
He suffered a head trauma and multiple bodily injuries, including two broken femurs, a broken hip, sacral bone and a smashed pelvis. It was about -10 C that night, his body temperature had dropped to 22 C, and he was barely alive.
He remembers being out of his body and looking down at himself during the night. We were told that he died four times in the helicopter on the way to the hospital.
He wasn’t expected to survive and when we received the police report a few weeks later, the officer said that she “was looking for a timeline for the tombstone.” After a week and a half and two CT scans, the doctors said 75 per cent of his brain was black and if he did survive, he would be a vegetable. He suffered pneumonia and remained in a coma for close to three months but slowly came out of it for many months after that.
He spent 10 months in hospitals, 17 months in Alberta Brain Injury rehab and returned to B.C. to spend one year in rehab transition. He has now been home with his family for the last year, continuing his medical and other treatment, including water therapy, physiotherapy, and Lokomat, which is walking on a treadmill in a harness with robotic legs.
Daniel will need ongoing therapy but his prognosis is excellent. We are happy to say that Daniel’s memory, intellect, and personality are completely intact.
Due to the hospital staff not expecting him to survive, there was a lack of appropriate intervention, leading to Daniel’s arms being crippled, and he suffered a second stroke when given too much blood thinner.
His recovery had been long and slow, due to these and other circumstances. He has just reached the four-year mark in his recovery and is making steady progress. Daniel has remained positive and happy throughout this journey.
One of his favourite quotes is that, “Character is gained in the valley not on top of the mountain” and he knows his recovery is a mountain that he will have to climb, but he has faith that God will see him through.
Daniel is honoured to be chosen and excited about coming to Rock Creek to be a medal bearer for the 25th anniversary Rick Hansen Man in Motion Tour on Saturday, April 28. He is working very hard with his physiotherapist to be able to walk the 250 metres with assistance.
Daniel and his family would like to take this opportunity to thank our family, friends and community of the West Boundary for all of the love and support they have shown us, and continue to show us, throughout this journey.
– Submitted by Debbie Madison