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Russel Metlitzky hurt himself on a night bridge jump and is currently at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. I went to visit him today and his injuries are one broken ankle, one broken femur, and one broken hip.

He's scheduled for a mechanical hip replacement this coming Monday evening.

Of course he feels no pain and is in good spirits. I also met his parents and they are very cool people. His Dad joked that since Russel is on the 7th floor of the hospital he might get his "B" while there . . .

I'll leave it to those there at the time of the jump to fill in the details but Russel said after a two second slider down delay his legs came up and hit him in the face. He didn't fully realize how badly he was hurt and actually went to work for two days after his return home.

If by chance you don’t know Russel he has a web site here: http://zerop.net/base/

You can leave your best wishes here, or send a card or note to:

Russel Metlitzky
Room 7129
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048

NickD
BASE 194

Damn, Russell, I wish I could be half as cool as you are man. Get well fast, dude. . Heres a little hint. Nurses are WAY kinky, man...

all the best dude............

One on hand it's kind of funny that Russell can go through this latest incident and not have any pain. I'm sort of envious at the moment. But then he can't jump again until he heals and we know he wants to jump again soon. So I'd like to send some "Get well" vibes out to Russell.

Get well man, Try to keep your feet away from your face for a while. That sucks, you look like I did in the hospital. How's that morphine?

Russell,

Heal well brother. We'll figure this thing out.

There's a system we can create that will help you make cleaner freefalls. We need to get together and brainstorm over a few drinks.

Until then though, just focus on getting better.

Two second delay... Russel, you're a fuc**ing animal Dude! Love your work, can't wait to jump with you again.

---Chad

Russel,
Its good 2 C yur face is OK!
Looks like you will have some time to plan the next 'big adventure'
Heal fast bro!

Josh Morell
http://www.imagethisphoto.com

W0w I just read your site, Very cool.

get well s00n

Russel, sorry ya got busted up, get well soon.

Le Roy

Get well soon, bro!!!

Dear Russel,

We wish you a quick recovery.

from

Kenya

Dear Russel,

Wish you a speedy recovery.

Kris.

Get well soon Russell. Injury is just plain boring but you'll be back before you know it.

ian

Hey Russel.... **hugs**... heal up quick! Sorry to hear about this.

heal fast russel

Wait, so did he break his leg on his own face? Or was it just the inertia from the hard opening?

Sorry to hear about the injuries.

I believe Russel is scheduled to leave the hospital and head home sometime this week, so if you want his home address to send a card, drop me a PM.

The crazy thing here is that his injuries were apparently sustained as a result of opening shock. With weaker bones and no muscle tone, his lower body just doesn't seem to be able to take the openings after slider down delays. He's really inventing a whole new sport from the ground up here, which means learning everything, with no one else to help share out the learning experiences.

Heal well, Russel. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

And we think we have to deal with hard openings--when was the last time an opening broke your femur?

Hey Russel,

Keep your smile on! Even though you feel a little low sometimes, you're an inspiration to us all - a piece of human spirit so rich we can taste it. If more people went for their dreams with such gusto, the world would be a much different place - BASE jumping might even be normal!

If they won't give you the drugs because they think you can't feel it - just tell them when phantom pain mixes with boredom it hurts worse than they can imagine!

Hey Russel
You really are an inspiration , heal fast.
Best wishes from México

Gabo

[reply How's that morphine?
I'm guessing that he isn't needing any morphine--I wonder if they'll still try to charge him out the ya-ya for drugs? curious...
get well russel

I wish you all the best, my friend.
Heal soon

That's cool.. very cool.

Get well soon Russel, I'm sure everyones rooting for you.

Damn, that's serious tolerance for pain.

Russel, some advice - even if it doesn't hurt...press the button anyway.

Heal fast.

The pain meds discussion is kind of funny.

When you have a spinal cord injury, and can't feel your body's pain, your body still has the pain, and it generally ends up in a condition called dysreflexia. Which means that even if you can't feel the pain, you still have to take the pain meds.

 

 

aaarrgghh f#ck Russel.I really hope you get well soon.
I know your really working hard to make your adventure run,theese batels must be hard for you.
Keep fighting in there,and let me know if i can do anything..
Now HEAL fast im hoping you still can do the jump we talked about,in the summer.

Keep up the good spirit bro

Attached are some pix of Russel...

Josh Morell
www.imagethisphoto.com

That is just classic man, looks like Russell is surrounded by the right people. Wishing Russell all the best, he is proof of the power of a positive mind in the face of adversity.

heal fast

Hang in there Russell! You're an inspiration to us all.

On another note, is there any substantial chance of blood clotting? Also, has Russell thought about doing electromuscular stimulation to build up muscle tone and bone strength in his legs to prevent such dangerous accidents from happening again?

take care,
Chris

Went to see him during lunch break.
He is doing ok, waiting for surgery to fix his leg.
He was happy to feel all the positive vibration from the community.

Was glad to meet you Russel!

Jul.

Russel, you crazy man. Actually I don't think you're crazy, you're just living it up a bit more than most of us. Heal up quickly!

Dang Russel, I thought all you had was a tweaked knee.

<soup Nazi voice>

No slider down for you!!!!

</soup Nazi voice>



Seriously though, I hope you heal quickly. Don't get discouraged, you're blazing a trail no one else has. And of course our A is always here for ya!

 

Let me know when you go, I´ll join.

Jul.

Tell him he needs to stay in the hospital at least two more days, because his get-well-carrot is on its way. Not a very manly gift, but I'm not the guy to mess with traditions.

Also, ask the doctors if they can install some rings directly onto his new hip so we can attach some three-rings and risers. That will make landing on land a lot easier.

See you in May, Russel!

Cheers,

Jaap

guess its more easy to say "hello from us all,whishes for a speedy recovery" if not then please pass it on from me atleast

While they're at it they should install a metal plate for upcoming butt-slide landings.

Just to echo what "C" said, I also talked to Russel's parents this morning and it seems the doctors did a bit more metal work than first planned.

But, as of now, he says, Russel came through the surgery just fine.

Papa pBASE also asked me to pass on his warmest regards to the BASE community for showing so much love and support for his son . . .

NickD
BASE 194

Been followin this thread and all I can come up with to say is... Russel you're as hard core as they come. Heal up well and fast, lookin forward to seeing you at an exit point some time again soon

You better heal up fast because I can't wait to see you back at the potato bridge again!

 
The Russinator ! Keep on rockin Russel and show em how it's done. You're just a swinger. Get well soon.

hi all from the hospital. just wanted to say thanks for all the support and the get wells. I think i'm going home tomorrow. i'll write more when I get home and stop typing on a tiny hand held thingy

Russel, only you would be strong enough to be posting from the hospital bed! Dude, you frig'n rock...

Heal well brother, you inspire us all!

Ganja

get well soon russel hope to see you again soon