Overwhelming generosity Supporters rally to family after Senior Deputy Daniel McSkimming severely injures his neck By RYAN BROWN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT ________________________________________ Share Story ________________________________________ Senior Deputy Daniel McSkimming, seen with a close friend, injured an artery in his neck while on duty in his patrol car and later had a stroke. He is undergoing rehabilitation and therapy that may take a year. COURTESY PHOTO October 29, 2014 6:09 AM Senior Deputy Daniel McSkimming hurt his neck while turning his body in his patrol car in early August, leading to an astounding chain of events that have left him hospitalized and facing a year of therapy. Senior Deputy McSkimming has been a member of the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department for 16 years and has worked in SWAT, forensics, and gang suppression, in addition to working at the Ventura County law enforcement academy. His wife, Staci McSkimming, said her husband filed a report after his injury and went to see a chiropractor because of persistent pain. When the chiropractor found Senior Deputy McSkimmings neck too stiff to adjust, he told him to come back in a few days. Senior Deputy McSkimming did, but as soon as the chiropractic manipulation occurred he had a stroke and went unconscious. Its a story so unbelievable that even Mrs. McSkimming has trouble comprehending how a simple neck injury could progress so far. Its so unreal. Its just crazy, she said. When Senior Deputy McSkimming injured his neck, he had unknowingly partially dissected his vertebral artery, a major artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. In the few days separating the injury from the chiropractic visit, a natural clot had built up around the artery. When the chiropractic adjustment occurred that clot went straight to his brain. In the weeks that followed, Senior Deputy McSkimming entered a medically induced coma and stayed in the Intensive Care Unit at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for five weeks. He eventually recovered enough to be moved to Mission Terrace Convalescent Hospital, but he has a shunt in his head to help fluids drain and remains unable to communicate except through hand squeezing or a quick shake of the head. Though the family faces the prospect of a year or longer on the road to recovery, Mrs. McSkimming said the situation has been hardest for her children, Logan,12, and Alexa, 7, who are still adjusting to seeing their father in the hospital. For my kids, hes this big strong SWAT guy whos our protector, she said. And hes helpless now and its really hard for them to see him in this position. They cant communicate with him anymore and this was my sons hero. Hes not dad right now. Additionally, because the McSkimming family lives in Camarillo but Senior Deputy McSkimming is recovering in Santa Barbara, Mrs. McSkimming had to take a leave of absence from work to be with her husband and help with his therapy and care. Despite such huge difficulties, Mrs. McSkimming and the family is succeeding in doing the incredible - remaining positive and hopeful. You have to find the positive, and I think its taught my children to find the positive, she said. My son recently said, I feel like were a lot closer, and they feel like the Sheriffs Department has really taken them in as their own. The generosity of others has been constant, she said, and has required her to practice the art of receiving. Not a day goes by that someones not sending a card. Everyone who knows me knows that Im much better at giving than receiving; this has been a hard fight for me. You find that people want to do it and you have to let down your guard. The actions of the other members of the SWAT team were especially impressive to Mrs. McSkimming and her family. Members of the team came together and made a schedule to keep watch over Senior Deputy McSkimming, his wife, and their children. They stood watch in pairs for the first three nights. I dont even have the words to describe how much its meant to us. You never want someone to go through this, but when you are in it, it makes you realize how good people are. Sheriff Bill Brown seconded those sentiments and commended those who have rallied to help the McSkimmings. He is being supported by two families right now - his loving wife, Staci, and his two children, and by his second family at the Sheriffs Office, Sheriff Brown said. I am immensely proud of how everyone here has rallied to support Dan through hospital visits, leaving donations, contributing financially, and keeping him in their thoughts and prayers. Financial contributions are being organized by the Santa Barbara Special Enforcement Team Support Foundation, which has raised almost $22,000 of a $50,000 goal. Those wishing to donate can do so online at GoFundMe/BenefitForDan. For the McSkimmings, the support has been overwhelming. Im always trying to tell my children to look at how much good is in the world, Mrs. McSkimming said. Im overwhelmed by the generosity, and its all for my husband. I know that when he can speak that there will not be enough thank-yous. email: rbrown@newspress
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:52:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015