A Pennsylvania family is expressing their gratitude and relief as their 22-year-old son has made a remarkable recovery after being hit by a falling tree during a hike near Porcupine Falls in Wyoming earlier this summer.
Will Dusinberre found himself in a harrowing situation while exploring Porcupine Falls during his day off from working at a Wyoming ranch. What was supposed to be a tranquil summer hike quickly turned into a nightmare when a tree unexpectedly toppled over, striking Dusinberre and his friends.
“I can’t recall much from that day or even the day before, to be honest,” Dusinberre reminisced on a Monday afternoon. “All I can remember is hiking out with my friends and taking a break to swim and unwind for a while.”
Dusinberre doesn’t have a clear memory of the events of that day, but he has gathered more information about the timeline from witnesses and his friends who were present.
According to Dusinberre, he was caught off guard when someone shouted “Tree” and suddenly he was struck before he could react.
One of Dusinberre’s friends, who was unharmed, dashed to the top of the trail seeking assistance. He covered a distance of approximately seven-tenths of a mile, shouting for help throughout his run.
Luckily, he was able to intercept Michelle and Jesse Rystrom just as they were about to leave. Michelle works as an emergency nurse, while Jesse is a firefighter paramedic.
“We heard someone shout for help,” Michelle recounted. “A young child came rushing up the trail, explaining that a tree had fallen and one of his friends was bleeding from their head.”
Without hesitation, the Rystroms immediately sprang into action, dashing down the trail to assist the victims.
Michelle described how her instincts as a mother took over in the face of danger, causing her adrenaline to surge and her focus to shift towards protecting her children.
The Rystroms mentioned that they were fortunate to be in the perfect position to offer their assistance at exactly the right time.
“We were the only ones in the parking lot at that time, so everything seemed to fall into place to assist them,” Jesse explained. “Interestingly enough, we almost didn’t plan on being there that day, but the chilly weather prompted us to make a stop.”
Michelle expressed her certainty, saying, “You have arrived at the perfect moment and location.”
Louise expressed that her emotions were temporarily suppressed during the intense situation, as one tends to be fully engaged in the fight or flight response. She described the past month and a half as the most significant battle she had ever faced.
Throughout his journey, Will has faced numerous challenges, including multiple surgeries, countless hours of rehabilitation, and numerous moments of despair. Remarkably, he has managed to maintain a positive outlook throughout it all.
Will expressed his gratitude for the ability to cherish the present and look forward to future possibilities.
One of the things Will has been able to do early in his rehab is playing the guitar and singing. Despite wearing an eye patch and having missing teeth from the incident, his mother is grateful for the sight and sound.
Louise expressed that there were numerous heroes and angels present exactly where they were required.
Will is on track for a complete recovery and is looking forward to resuming his senior year of college in the spring. He acknowledges how lucky he is to have had the support and assistance of the Rystroms and other individuals during this time.
