Hi Sarah,

I went to the doctor yesterday and he said he'd have to operate. So, on Monday I'll be in surgery. He has to put in a plate to reattach my fibula(sp) and some screws to fix my ankle. 6 to 8 weeks of recovery.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and concern. I told ya'll we are like a family. I'll be back in the Otter as soon as possible. 

I sent another note asking how he hit the fence. Here's his reply:

Hey Sarah,

Free fall was EXCELLENT! I was flipping, rolling, on my back for a second or two and watching the sun go down.  When I opened up, I spent too much time playing under canopy and when I realized it I was too far away from the DZ to make it back so no big deal I just picked another landing area.

Well as I got down closer I realized that the field I picked has cattle (and not knowing how they would react) I had the mind to just go one field over. A 6 foot wooden fence separating the two.

Thought I had enough height to clear the fence and almost did, but my left foot hit the top of it and got turned around. That's the whole story.

So, I'm on the ground (no pain) for whatever reason, but I know I cannot walk. So I just wait. After about 20 minutes, I tried to hop around to see if there is a way to get back to the DZ, but I'm completely cut off. This was about two fields over from the DZ. Might as well been 10 miles. 

I'm calling for anybody "HELP, but after a while I realize nobody can hear me.

Now, it's getting dark. I figure I gotta do something. So, I start hopping again along the tree line. I got about 50 yards from where I landed and I am out of steam. So I fall down and start to crawl (this is sounding more dramatic than it actually was).

I'm laughing at the turn of events. Then I hear "Nate" "Nate. Where are you?" It's Dennis, Ike, and Josh looking for me. "Over here," I say. So they had to chop their way though the brush and thicket across a small creek, and God knows what else to come get me. They put a splint on my leg and carried me out.

What a story huh???

Unbelievable! What a great story! I just couldn't help but wonder how he can sound so upbeat? He had a serious injury! For some, this incident would have completely broken their spirit - not Nate!