Derek Poole

[stillbre]

Fellow railfan Derek Poole was involved in a serious automobile accident in the wee hours of the morning Sunday (3/25).  He is a volunteer firefighter and was responding to an emergency call when he was T-boned on the driver's side of his car.  Early reports said he has broken several disks in his back and at current is paralized from the waist down.  Its not know yet if paralasis will be permanent or not.  He was to have undergone surgery this afternoon.
I'm sure the couple of us on the list from central NC know Derek.  Most the rest of you have probably seen his photos on RP.net.
Please keep Derek and his family in your prayers.

[JCagle]

Josh,
Is there any further word on Derek since the surgery. I'm assuming he is at CMC, and if so I would like to stop by for a min while on lunch or something after he's a little more stabilized since I'm on their campus for the next several weeks off and on for work related matters. Any info you can pass along would be great.

[stillbre]

I haven't heard anything since he surgery.  He was flown to Winston-Salem for treatment.  I've heard both Wake Forest and Baptist Medical Center in Winston but I'm not sure which.  I was hoping to head up there this weekend maybe to see him.  Maybe Saturday after the train show in Hickory.

[JCagle]

I ran into a mutial friend of Derek's and mine tonight. Details have been sketchy over the last few weeks, but Derek has been in Charlotte for several weeks now at a therapy and rehabilitation facility. He has regained mobility in his arms, and has feeling in his legs and feet but no movement. He is in good spirits and has his usual sarcastic attitude. In fact he was joking that had he been hit in another fire district he would have got to take a helicoptor ride, but instead he was transported by ambulance till he was stabilized.