Gent suffers serious neck injury
Prognosis unclear, but coach says player's condition improving
By Tim Mutrie
July 19, 2005
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An Aspen Old Boys rugby player suffered a serious neck injury during a home match against Boulder Saturday at Wagner Park.
John Lassalette, an Aspen attorney, husband and father, lost all feeling below his neck after going in for a tackle during the first half Saturday morning, according to a Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club official. However, since the accident, Lassalett has regained significant feeling and movement throughout his body.
Lassalette, who is about 39, remained at Aspen Valley Hospital Monday. He is awaiting transfer to a specialized spinal cord injury center near Denver.
“He had no feeling straight after the accident,” longtime Gents player and coach Mark Williams said Monday afternoon. Williams visited with Lassalette, who has been unable to walk under his own power, at AVH earlier in the day. “But now he’s got feeling and movement everywhere, except for his wrists and hands.”
Lassalette’s prognosis, concerning the extent and permanence of his symptoms of paralysis, remained unclear Monday, Williams said. The injury occurred at the C-3 vertebrae in Lassalette’s neck. It did not appear to require surgery, Williams said, but rather rehabilitation.
“Medically speaking, they’re not 100 percent sure to say [the prognosis]. It’s a C-3 injury — that’s where he did some damage, and that’s what’s so scary. The doctors are very happy with his progress, but obviously it’s very scary for him and his family and everyone involved.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20...NEWS/107190015
Prognosis unclear, but coach says player's condition improving
By Tim Mutrie
July 19, 2005
Print Email</SPAN>An Aspen Old Boys rugby player suffered a serious neck injury during a home match against Boulder Saturday at Wagner Park.
John Lassalette, an Aspen attorney, husband and father, lost all feeling below his neck after going in for a tackle during the first half Saturday morning, according to a Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club official. However, since the accident, Lassalett has regained significant feeling and movement throughout his body.
Lassalette, who is about 39, remained at Aspen Valley Hospital Monday. He is awaiting transfer to a specialized spinal cord injury center near Denver.
“He had no feeling straight after the accident,” longtime Gents player and coach Mark Williams said Monday afternoon. Williams visited with Lassalette, who has been unable to walk under his own power, at AVH earlier in the day. “But now he’s got feeling and movement everywhere, except for his wrists and hands.”
Lassalette’s prognosis, concerning the extent and permanence of his symptoms of paralysis, remained unclear Monday, Williams said. The injury occurred at the C-3 vertebrae in Lassalette’s neck. It did not appear to require surgery, Williams said, but rather rehabilitation.
“Medically speaking, they’re not 100 percent sure to say [the prognosis]. It’s a C-3 injury — that’s where he did some damage, and that’s what’s so scary. The doctors are very happy with his progress, but obviously it’s very scary for him and his family and everyone involved.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20...NEWS/107190015
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