Welcome to a Laptop Battery specialist of the Sony Laptop Battery
I'm out of the sky for at least 15 weeks, and off my feet for at least 3 weeks.
Several PM's asking what happened, so I'll try my best to explain for those that don't skydive.
We use "toggles" to steer and brake our canopy/parachute. During a landing setup, I "dropped" or lost a toggle.
Imagine driving down the freeway next to the freeway divider/barricade with one hand at 10 o'clock and the other hand at 2 o'clock, and both hands have equal pressure on the steering wheel, Remove your right hand so the left hand (10 o'clock) hand now has all the weight on it. You're going to turn into that barricade. No way can you prevent it.
I was approximately 12" (inches) off the ground when I lost my toggle, and the low turn put me into the ground, right knee first, then my abdomen struck, followed by my face/helmet. My helmet is very heavy, carrying a 5dMkII, a CX12, two RRS mounts, and a LitePanels MiniLite, plus a battery like Sony PCGA-BP1N Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2EA Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2NX Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2NY Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2R Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2S Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2SA Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2T Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP2V Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP4V Battery
, Sony PCGA-BP71 Battery
, Sony PCGA-BPZ51 Battery
, Sony PCGA-BPZ52 Battery
pack that holds 8 AA batteries. Curiously enough, all camera gear survived without any injury at all. Had I not been wearing the helmet, I'd not be here today.
Lifeflight crew told my family they'd do all they could, but that it looks fairly bleak. Pelvic injuries that involve perforated parts have an extremely high mortality rate (around 65%)
The easiest way to explain it is to simply say "Stupid hurts!" It was 100% my error.
I was in critical condition for four days, in the ICU for eight days, and then in a trauma ward for another three days before they moved me to a rehab facility.
I'm a stubborn SOB and my expected 3 week stay at the rehab was shortened to four days. I'm semimobile with a walker and crutches and expect to be in front of an editing system Monday morning for at least a short period of time.
Regardless, I'm still here, and very grateful for the outpouring of support from this community. I have no doubt that the positive energy flowing my way has a lot to do with an unusually accelerated recovery. I was told by the orthopedic surgeon that I should expect to be walking with crutches and braces by July 1. I've been on crutches and braces for four days.
So with that, all I can really say is "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. I'm exceptionally grateful for the Vegas community around the world and overwhelmed at the support that has flowed our way during this very difficult time.
In the meantime, I'm putting the finishing touches on the Vegas Pro 9 Workshop book that also includes a new training DVD.
And yes, I will be skydiving again. My goal is to be healed enough to film the 100 way world record wingsuit skydive in November of 2009 at Lake Elsinore, California. And of course, using Vegas Pro 9 and Production Assistant to deliver the content to ESPN, EXPN, and other broadcast supporters of the event.