Lucky to be alive

On two separate occasions during the last semester, Mason Lord and Keith Surbey both suffered serious injuries. Fortunately, they were able to recover and move on with their lives.

It is both odd and unfortunate that two Green Mountain College students celebrated their birthdays in hospitals last semester. Now, after two serious but unrelated accidents, sophomores Mason Lord and Keith Surbey are back in the college community.

Mason Lord is currently living in Poultney and planning to take classes next fall. He had his final leg surgery in late January and is doing notably better since his car accident in September 2008. Lord hit a car head on, was rushed to the hospital, and thought he might lose his left leg. However, he has improved remarkably since September and can even drive a car again. He cannot fully walk on his leg, but is doing therapy in Castleton. During his recovery period, Lord received a great amount of support from the GMC community, and is very grateful for it. “I do not think I would be here if not for the support of the GMC community. I would probably be in a much worse condition. I am thankful for all the support that helped heal me,” Lord said.

Keith Surbey also returned this semester and is enrolled in classes after a 30-foot fall while rock climbing in November. Falling from such a height, Keith was given a five percent chance of survival. Doctors must be shocked to find him back in the swing of things at Green Mountain. The right side of his face is titanium, and he has minor scars to show it. “There is nothing better than to be back at good ol’ GMC,” Keith says. “I’m happy and lucky to be back.”

Mason and Keith had terrible accidents last semester and are lucky to be alive. It is comforting to see they are well and back in the GMC community. “Each community member adds [unique qualities] to Green Mountain. It is noticed and different when one leaves, but always pleasant when one returns,” says student Cliff Dornbusch.

Short URL: http://www.themountaineer.org/?p=351

Posted by Amberlee Miller on Feb 11, 2009 Filed under College, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry