Grandma Paralyzed After Freak Dunk Tank Launch

A fun family gathering at a community picnic turned tragic for Dena Suihkonen, a 59-year-old EMT and ambulance director. While participating in a dunk tank event, a malfunction caused her to be ejected into the air, resulting in a severe spinal cord injury upon landing. She experienced a burst T12, leading to paralysis.

As a trained medical professional, Suihkonen immediately recognized the severity of her condition. She was airlifted to a Level 1 trauma center, where doctors confirmed a T11 complete spinal cord injury. Following extensive surgery and over 40 days of rehabilitation, she is now permanently paralyzed and dealing with ongoing medical issues, including unrelated brain aneurysms.