Unexcused Absences

Kent in his Race Dept Uniform

The Injury

On March 4th while Kent carried a large, metal box containing a race timing display to the finish of the Bear Trap race course at Beaver Creek, his feet (in only his ski boots) punched through the snow, trapping his legs and pitching him onto the box. His left shoulder took the full impact and promptly dislocated, damaging most of the soft tissues of his shoulder.

The Doctor

Because Kent’s injury happened at work and in uniform, his medical bills will be covered by workman’s comp thanks to Vail Resorts. We saw lots of concern in friends’ eyes when we mentioned Kent would be treated by a workman’s comp doctor. As soon as we mentioned Dr. William Sterett’s name, their faces would light up. “He did my shoulder, my knee, my friend’s ACL” we heard over and over again. Many thanks to the kind folks at Avon Occupational Health, especially Rochelle, who used her connections to set Kent up with the surgical “A” team of the Valley.

Not only is Dr. Sterett a beloved local doctor (folks say it’s difficult for him to make it through the grocery store in a timely fashion since he runs into pleased patients in nearly every aisle), he also happens to be the head doctor for the US Women’s Alpine Ski Team and the team doctor for the US Olympic Team. Kent couldn’t help but notice (and photograph) the 2010 Olympic bibs from Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso in his office!

Olympic Bibs

The Surgery

So when it came time for his surgery on March 20th at Vail Valley Surgery Center, we knew he’d be in expert hands. The procedure went well, although Kent did such an excellent job tearing up his shoulder that Dr. Sterett invited several colleagues come around to gawk at the extent of the damage. The surgery center staff took wonderful care of Kent, seamlessly integrating his treatment with Vail Summit Orthopaedics. The entire staff there are absolutely at the top of their game.

The Recovery

Sadly, Kent’s ski season is officially over, as is his golf season, and his windsurfing season. For the next six months, he will need to limit his activities to snapping his fingers to summon me to peel and feed him grapes! He now works in the offices of the Race Department rather than out on the hill and spends his time sorting through the archives digging out, preserving and digitizing the official FIS (International Ski Federation) plans for every official race held here since the 1960’s in preparation for the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships. His daily routine includes physical therapy, an uncomfortable [Kent’s note: painful] process, although with Mary and Shannon at the Howard Head Rehab Center in charge of his PT, he couldn’t be in better hands. He takes some sort of medicine every few hours throughout the day and night. His schedule involves waking at 2 am, eating a snack, taking pills, and returning to bed only to have the pill alarm awaken him again at 6 am.

The Support

A few local friends have been through shoulder surgery, and they have been advising him as well as loaning him some clever devices which made the ordeal easier. Thanks for the loans from our friends Elizabeth for the LaFuma Recliner and Susan for the Ossur Cold Rush!  We can’t recommend these devices enough if you have shoulder surgery.