A Navy veteran whose jaw was ripped off by a grizzly bear last month is ready to return to the Montana backcountry where he confronted the beast — so he can win “round two.”
Survivor Rudy Noorlander, 61, returned home after undergoing a complete jaw reconstruction, a difficult feat accomplished with three major surgeries during a five-week stay at University of Utah Health.
“That first root beer float is going to be amazing,” Rudy wrote on the whiteboard at Friday’s press conference.
“Soon I will be a village chicken and will not be tied to anything.”
He was flown to Salt Lake City Hospital after initial emergency surgery to address the devastating injuries.
Noorlander came face-to-face with the bear while hunting elk inside the Custer Gallatin National Forest, just outside Big Sky on September 8.
The animal left scratches on Noorlander’s chest, as well as bites on his arms and legs, although the most traumatic injury was what Noorlander described as “the most disgusting French kiss of his life” that left him without a lower jaw.
Dr. Hilary McCrary, a head and neck surgeon and specialist, was able to reconstruct Noorlander’s jaw using part of her fibula bone.
Rudy Noorlander is joined by his daughters, Ashley Noorlander, third left, and KateLynn Noorlander Davis, second right, granddaughter and surgeon Hilary McCrary.AP
His recovery has been slow — Noorlander still can’t eat solid food and feels too sick to speak, so he relies on his daughter and a handy dry erase board to communicate until he can use his new jaw.
The limited ability to use his new mouth left him afraid of choking on his own blood and spitting, his daughter said.
His positive outlook on life, however, did not waver despite surviving a terrifying near-death experience and a harrowing medical journey.
“The thing that gives me hope and gives me the motivation to get through this is my family,” Noorlander wrote on the dry erase board.
Noorlander lost his lower jaw when he was attacked by a grizzly bear last month. AP His surgical team created a model of his jaw deformity to better map out its reconstruction. AP Surgeons were able to rebuild Noorlander’s jaw using part of his fibula bone. AP
“My work proves that most people are good, and I can’t wait to get back to it. I will win the second round.”
His daughter KateLynn was quick to dismiss the idea: “I wish he hadn’t done that … The fact that we’ve recovered enough to make it today, is just incredible.”
Noorlander told a crowd of reporters that he hopes to return to backcountry Montana as soon as December — and he’s not afraid of any grizzlies.
Experienced outdoorsmen were adequately prepared in the moments before the attack, carrying bear spray and a gun, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the 10-foot bear.
His family and surgical team say Noorlander’s consistent positive attitude throughout his journey is inspiring. Kary Noorlander-Lyman
He tried to scare the beast with the weapon, but missed and had to use his hands.
The hunter who was with him managed to scare the bear away and immediately called for helicopter help, but had to wait fully awake for two hours before help arrived.
“The first thing that was amazing to watch was how positive Rudy was. Even after being attacked by a grizzly bear, he was very adamant that he was going to get through it… That’s very rewarding as a doctor,” McCrary praised Noorlander.
The veteran shared his impressive view with the crowd: “Even if it seems hopeless, keep fighting.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
