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Jim Ryan Maui Vacation Accident

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Aloha to all my friends,

Two days ago my life took an unpredictable turn. I have asked my best friend and loving wife to help me tell you the story.

Wednesday March 30, 2016 was as I always say: "another perfect day in paradise" in beautiful Maui. Isabelle and I woke up early to the sounds of crashing waves and birds singing. We made wild passionate love, ate breakfast on the Lanaii and talked about our retirement plans. Then we packed up to go to Little Beach. We set up our sun tent and soaked in the sunshine. We decided to cool off in the water. And this is the part of the story that I have to hand over to Isabelle as she is the one who knows how it went.

We had finished cooling off and were making our way back to the shore. Standing in water at waist level, as always we were both facing the water and close together. As the waves approached, Jim said to me "You have to dive under this one...Ready?" And this is where life changed forever. I came up to the surface and as we always do, I looked for Jim. That was always the deal. I look for him, he looks for me. Except that he never came up. I found him quickly floating face down. I grabbed him, turned him around best I could and started calling for help. The response on the beach restored my faith in humanity. Guys on the beach came running, people were on their phones calling for help, life guards from Big Beach climbed over the rock cliffs that separate the two beaches and somehow were there - but time stood still. CPR applied. I will skip over the traumatic details. It was nothing short of miraculous to watch rescue crews do what they excel at. Jim was carried over the cliffs to a waiting ambulance. We have been in ICU in Wailuku, Maui ever since.

Status? Prognosis? Rather hold off on those for now, but I do want to say this: life changes in an instant. We all know it yet we let our hectic lifestyles overshadow what is truly important. Have you hugged your loved ones today and told them what they mean to you? And if Jim could speak he would say "happy wife, happy life". And ALWAYS fly westjet because that is what he plans to do to get home.

Keep the love coming our way.
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My Husband, James and I are close friends with Jim and Isabelle and we live in the same community (Chilliwack, British Columbia.)
- the funds are needed to help to bring Jim home and when he is home - Isabelle is going to need as much help as possible - they have 3 kids in university, and it is exam time this month - hoping to keep stresses at a minimum.... when Jim is home, there will be driving, bridge tolls, and parking and local housing rental costs (to be close to Jim, as Chilliwack is a 3 hour return trip , without traffic) ; huge costs on their own; setting up a room for Jim when he is home.....and many other unexpected costs.
The funds will be deposited directly to Isabelle.
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Donations 

  • caroline west
    • $75 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Lisa Denenfeld
Organizer
Chilliwack East, BC

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