Em’s Cliff Fall Relief Fund

Hello All,

 

My Name is Em and i’m incredibly terrible at asking for help. (truly one of my worse characteristics) But here i am, finding myself in a position where i have to do just that.

 

On October 10th, my significant other, her pup ries (short for riesling, pronounced “rees”) and I wanted to slow down a bit, go for a little drive to clifty falls in madison indiana, and enjoy a hike in the beautiful weather. We took out the map and closed our eyes and blindly chose a trail. We landed on trail 7.

 

After getting lost once, we looped around and finally made our way to the trailhead. We were so happy to be basking in the beautiful weather and in nature, and ries was anxious to get all the sniffs! The trail was beautiful, and easy to get through. Passing a beautiful waterfall on the way, we were excited for what was to come at the end. (little did we know what was in store)

 

The end of the hike is pictured in the cover photo. there’s a small man made rock wall on the left side of you, and a large cliff hanging over you in the right. the cliff rock continues at the end of the path, letting you know to turn around. My significant other and i saw this as a perfect opportunity to take a photo together, since there was a beautiful view behind us. We never could’ve predicted what came next.

 

As the photo is being taken, Ries turns towards us, veers to the right as if he saw an animal, and jumped over the rock wall, not knowing there was nothing on the other side.

 

We were 150 ft up.

 

We look over the wall, and Ries is falling through the tree tops, yelping and barking for help. “EM my dog, EM, MY DOG” “RIES STAY RIES STAY THERE, BUDDY DONT MOVE” the more we yell the more he got frightened and continued to fall.

 

I don’t know about you, but in this moment, i had no other choice. there was no one else around. i didn’t know how to contact the rangers in time. I knew if he fell to the bottom he wouldn’t make it.

 

“Hold my stuff i’ll get him”

 

I climbed over the wall to a large rock formation that seemed like i could make my way down. It was filled with thorny bushes i was just ripping out of my way, while screaming to ries it’s gonna be okay.

 

I made it down that rock formation and made it to the next cliff down. Once there, i lost my footing and slipped. I tried to grab onto anything i could but it was just loose rocks and branches. Next thing i knew i was falling mid air, and crashed down on my right foot, instantly breaking my ankle, fell to my knees, and saw that ries was stuck in a tree on my level. I yelled up “CALL 911”

 

I rolled over to ries and grabbed both his harness, and his front paws, “HONEY i got him!! he’s okay!! i got him!!” “HES OKAY???” she thought we were both dead, and i heard so much relief in her voice. I knew how lucky we both were in that moment. Ries saw i was hurt, and helped me get to a safe place, where i laid for three hours waiting for rescue. Paramedics and Firemen were called to the scene, but with me being so close to the cliff, they were unable to get an air lift. Using drones, they pinpointed my exact location, set up a rescue team, and repelled down to me and ries to extract us.

 

Ries is okay! He did not suffer any major injuries. Although, it got too dark and he was too scared to be repelled up, so he had to stay the night in the woods, while i was rushed to the hospital, where i was told i fell 60 feet, and broke my ankle in all three places, as well as two broken discs in my low back. I was then rushed to U OF L hospital for surgery.

 

Now, two weeks later, i’m still at home recovering, and the financial stress is really starting to sink in. Back surgery isn’t a priority, so it’s later to come. Unfortunately, this was not something i was prepared for. (who could be, but ya know) Multiple surgeries, Fire Department Recovery Bills, Months-Years of Physical Therapy, PTSD Therapy ALL ON TOP OF monthly bills and being UNABLE to work.

 

So please, if you have the means, any and i mean ANY thing helps. I am looking at a long road to recovery, any relief is extremely appreciated!

 

Thanks for Listening,

 

Em