Carah
Hagan
Kennewick, Washington
Carah Hagan likes to play volleyball and
tennis, but her real love is riding a board—a snowboard
or a skateboard. When she developed some soreness in her right
thigh, she thought it was due to a pulled muscle. Then the
leg began swelling and became inflamed. A biopsy at University
of Washington Medical Center revealed an infection, the leg
was treated and Carah returned home to Kennewick a few days
later. Within a week, Carah’s leg pain became worse,
and she spiked a fever. Unfortunately, it was February 2008,
and the mountain passes were closed because of avalanche risk.
Airlift Northwest’s Learjet was called to transport
her from Kadlec Medical Center to University of Washington.
“I don’t remember much about the flight,”
she recalls. “I know there were two nurses, and they
were great—very professional.” Carah had another
surgery and then several weeks of physical therapy to walk
again. “I was stuck in bed for a good three months,”
she says. Today she’s fully recovered with plans to
learn a new sport—surfing. Carah moved to Honolulu in
August 2008 and is already trying out her new board.
From Kadlec Medical Center (Richland,
WA) to University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle, WA)
(More
patient and partner stories here)
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