Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HAWAII — What was supposed to be a dream vacation, turned into the Edgington family's worst nightmare.
Todd Edgington, a 49-year-old mailman from South Jordan, his wife, two children and three grandchildren were on the Big Island of Hawaii for a week-long trip when just hours into it, rough surf took Edgington down.
"He just went down and he didn't come back up. My husband saw him, we rushed down there and we were able to flip him over," said Todd Edgington's daughter, Tristen Gatzemeier. "He was alert and awake but he couldn't talk and he was having a hard time breathing."
The Utah father was taken from the Big Island to Oahu where doctors determined he had broken his C-2 vertebra in his neck and fractured his C-3 vertebra. They told his family he would most likely be paralyzed for life.
"Our lives were changed forever that day on the beach and everything washed away that day," Gatzemeier said.
After 72 hours, family members said his condition slowly improved. He was able to communicate through small movements.
"At least now he can mouth words. You can hear him a little bit so that right there is so much easier to communicate and see his face and feel like it's him still," said Todd Edgington's son, Cruz Edgington.
Family members said it would cost them $100,000 to fly him back to Utah, a number thousands of people have helped raise through a gofundme page.
The family was supposed to be back in Utah January 22. They expect it will be months until they can return back home because of Todd Edgington's upcoming rehabilitation.
"We are trying to stay positive. You always read the stories that people are told they are never going to walk again, talk again and they are walking and talking now," Cruz Edgington said.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
