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Grandma Paralyzed After Freak Dunk Tank Launch
27 Nov
Summary
- EMT grandmother suffered spinal cord injury from dunk tank accident.
- She was launched airborne, hitting the ground hard, bursting T12.
- Now paraplegic, she faces medical bills and home accessibility challenges.
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.
Suihkonen expresses distress over her inability to serve her community as a first responder and faces financial burdens, including unpaid work furlough and the need for extensive home modifications. Her family has launched a GoFundMe to assist with these costs, with the community rallying in support.
