Doug Larson is sitting in an ICU bed at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, fighting his way back after a severe ATV accident in Ortonville, Minnesota. What started as an ordinary day turned upside down in an instant, leaving Doug with injuries that shocked his closest friends and family.
The physical damage to his body was heavy. Doctors found multiple skull fractures, a broken collarbone, several broken ribs, and a fractured shoulder blade. Every part of his upper body took a hard hit during the wreck, forcing him into immediate emergency medical care.
Beyond the broken bones, Doug suffered a lacerated spleen. His medical team in Sioux Falls decided to watch him closely in intensive care rather than rush him into surgery. They are holding out hope that his spleen will mend on its own with enough rest and monitoring.
Even with such heavy trauma, Doug has already shown small signs of turning the corner. Family members staying by his side reported that his skin color looked much better as the day went on. He managed to get some rest, and the hospital staff got his pain under control.
The road ahead will take plenty of patience. Doug has to keep his left arm locked in a sling for about six weeks. On top of that, he will have strict limits on what he can lift while his bones and internal organs heal up.
His family credits the fast work of local emergency crews for giving Doug a fighting chance. The Ortonville Ambulance team, local first responders, and staff at Ortonville Area Health Services stepped up right away before he was moved to Sanford Health.
People across the community are leaning in to support the family. Messages, prayers, and positive words keep flowing in on his CaringBridge page, where his relatives continue to post updates as Doug works through his recovery.
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