Missteps and Miracles | An Ocean Lakes Memory

One step can be a doozy, bur miracles happen every day, which is exactly what one guest proved in 2018 while camping at Ocean Lakes. 

Meet Craig | Craig is a high school environmental science teacher from Airville, Pennsylvania. Craig and his wife, Brenda, along with their two sons, have been camping at Ocean Lakes for five years. While on their annual summer vacation in 2018, tragedy struck in their camper… On the first night.  

Pop Goes Craig | While tucking in his two sons for bed, Craig tripped over the pull-out bed and fell on his head. He recalls doing “a sort of somersault,” which led to a “pop, pop, pop” noise. After much pacing and deliberation, he rode his bike (yes, he rode his bike) to the local Urgent Care the next morning. Upon x-rays, seeking an experienced orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery, going to the hospital, and having more tests run, it was determined that Craig had a fracture and dislocation of his neck with a ruptured disc. 

The Deadly Triad | The surgeon noted that this injury was as close as someone can get to being paralyzed. Craig had almost broken his spinal cord. His surgical team performed two surgeries – One in which they entered the front of Craig’s neck to remove the ruptured disc and stabilize the neck with a graft and a plate, and the second surgery to the back of Craig’s neck to further stabilize his neck with rods and screws in the C6 and C7 vertebrae.

Recovery | After two successful surgeries, Craig spent the next week in the hospital, while his family continued to camp with us. After their departure, Craig began physical therapy and adjusting to the changes in his movement. Fortunately, he was able to return to teaching and leading a normal life.  

“I am about 95% of where I was before the accident. I still have pain and I get more tired than I used to, but I started running the following Spring, and have actually finished a few races since!”

Comments From Craig | “I broke my neck tripping over my motorhome couch (that’s not a favorite memory), but while I was healing at Waccamaw Hospital for two weeks, YOU folks took such great care of my family. My two boys and my wife had a beautiful extended vacation. You even moved our motorhome to a new campsite for my wife, and you did our laundry for us. And, when we come back to visit, Teammates still remember us. AMAZING people.”

Thankful Thanksgiving | This holiday season, remember to give thanks for all you have and the many blessings in your life. Craig’s story is a gentle reminder that life can change in the blink of an eye or in his case, one misstep. 

Until Next Time | We love reading stories of our guests’ experiences at Ocean Lakes. Stay tuned for more wonderful memories and trips down memory lane.