Milestone Day

[Skunk City]

Well, today was a good day. As a few of you guys may know, 4 months ago my girlfriend had emergency surgery for a tumor that ruptured inside her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. After being told by a Neurosurgeon that she would need 6-hour surgery and a not-so-promising prognosis of being able to walk again, her first question to him was "When can I get back in my kayak?". Today was that day :D. A week in ICU, months of inpatient extensive rehabilitation at Kessler Institute learning to walk again, and now 3-a-week outpatient at Kessler, today we put that hard work to good use. With the use of her walker and very little help from me, she was able to get back into her kayak and go!

Now, considering all we've been through so far, just the fact of us being back on the water together was plenty to celebrate...but the fish gods had a little more in store for us. Within 3 casts, Meg hooked up with this chunky Pike. It absolutely smoked an HJ14 to the point where none of the lure was visible lol. After a quick photo and celebration, we continued our paddle until we came across a few huge schools of Crappie, Perch and Bluegills that we were able to sight cast for. We picked away at a few before the nerve pain and spasms were too much and called it a day.

To say I am proud would be an understatement. To go from no movement, to just a couple toes, to being able to get out of the wheelchair and upright on the walker and canes in FOUR MONTHS is crazy. Without her ridiculously hard work in rehab, there's no way this day would have happened. She has a long road back to being close to 100%, but today was a huge milestone that I am so grateful to be a witness to.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/20170225_112150-1_zpsaftxdjt3.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/20170225_112150-1_zpsaftxdjt3.jpg.html)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/20170225_123802-1_zps1grf5sbi.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/20170225_123802-1_zps1grf5sbi.jpg.html)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/QuikSilverSRT4/Fishing%20Photos/20170225_123019-1_zpsfpa1jboo.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/QuikSilverSRT4/media/Fishing%20Photos/20170225_123019-1_zpsfpa1jboo.jpg.html)

[FASTEDDIE29]

An emotional day I'm sure! Congrats to you and Megan man! Megan is one hell of a young women! Strength, perseverance, love and support made this day possible no doubt! I'm happy for the both of you! Keep up the hard work Pike Princess!!!! Hell YASSSSSSSSSSS!

GREAT REPORT!!!:D

[AndyS]

Great stuff !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jigman13]

Speechless Rob...simply speechless. Some talk of will power but her progress and accomplishment to-date is beyond typical medical outcomes. Shes a fighter man! My fiance and I will try to make it to the fundraiser event in April if we can find a sitter.

When that pike hit things must've come somewhat full circle for you both... good things man. Good things...

[msgdan]

Amazing story and pictures !!! Great day on the water that was long overdue....Congrats to both of you on a beautiful day on the water, with many more to come !!!

[NJSquatch]

Awesomeness. Positive thoughts your way!

[Capt. Lou]

Congratulation a very moving story , wish you both the very best in the future !

[Esox Luciano]

Couldn't ask for better results, on and off the water. God Bless you two for overcoming together...with pics to boot!!:D:D:D

[XXlyakattacker]

Great story. Hope there are many, many more trips like this for both you you.

[ScowardNJ]

Up and up!!!

[MudCat08]

Loss for words.. Amazing recovery! You're both very strong people. Sounds like an awesome day out!

[reely]

awesome

[Adrenalinerush]

That's the best thing I've read on this or any other forum in a long time! Simply awesome!

[JDTuna]

Simply amazing. Incredible, inspiring strength and perseverance. Congratulations on a major milestone. Best wishes!

[dakota560]

We've never met but an amazing story! A good friend of mine had a very similar situation with his wife, if your girl friends rehab was at Kessler's in West Orange on Pleasant Valley Way your paths might have crossed. It's a life altering experience to put it mildly but there's no better look into someone's character when adversity of the nature you described happens and based on your story it's safe to say both you and your girl friend have tremendous strength, courage, will and character most people would envy. The "simple" things we take for granted in life we find so valuable when taken away. Live life large every day and thank the good lord for the many great things we have and don't dwell on the things we don't. Your girlfriend is fortunate to have someone like you by her side because more than anything else right now, love and support systems matter most. And I know this goes without saying based on your story but worth saying nonetheless, you're even more lucky to have her in your life based on her appetite to live life to it's fullest regardless of personal circumstances. She seems like an amazingly strong and incredible person and the best keeper you've no doubt ever caught! Both very class acts!

Best of luck with her continued progress and thanks for sharing what might be the best post I've ever read on NJF. Nothing more powerful than the human spirit! Kudos to both of you for facing life's challenges head on!

[Taxman]

Awesome
👍👍👍👍🍾🥂

[Inishmore3]

Awesome story. God bless both of you and continued success with the road back to normalcy.

[JohnnyRingo]

Yeeehaaaaaw. You girls rock! I can't catch a cold.

[Chrisper4694]

That's quite awesome bro :)

[Anthony]

that's great!

[bunker dunker]

God bless ya both and congrats on a great day out

[bassnblues]

Great to hear! Here's to many more trips and memories to come.

[Mikey topaz]

Toughest girl i know!!!! good job meg! Rob where are your pics at🤗Lol

[Rich196]

WOW, What a awesome story, very cool to see everything working out, and catching fish is always a extra plus.... Rich

[Eskimo]

.


That's really awesome. I wish her well on her road to full recovery.

.

[icebadger]

wow what a story.god bless your girlfriend.i hope she has a full recovery.nice fish as well:cool:

[antgogz]

An amazing story Rob. I had no idea that had happened to her. God bless you both and many more years of nice fish to come for the both of you! I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a pic of you holding a fish though as well lol.....

[yumasdad]

Hey Rob,

Been a while since I last saw you when you told about the tumor situation and I am so happy to hear of her almost total recovery. Awesome stuff bro! It is those kind of problems that put your life's priorities in place and illustrates the importance of enjoying life's simple pleasures that we all take for granted.

I did include her in prayers, appears a lot of prayers were sent her way & he listened!

Been out of fishing commission since the last time I went out in OCTOBER with my own health emergencies-a week in Valley for diverticulitis starting on THANKSGIVING (no turkey flavored barium though) then home for a week then my gallbladder went. On the bright side I was off from work for a month so I got to repair a few poles and sort out my tackle.


Great news and look forward to seeing you out on the SKUNK soon!

[The Birdman]

I saw you guys on the snapchat, I'm really happy for you and your girl, god bless! incredible story and recovery, wish you both the best in the future:D. get that state rec pike:rolleyes: !

[Skunk City]

Thank you the the kind words EVERYONE! Texts, facebook messages, phone calls, cards and visits are what got her through the darkest days post-surgery. Without them, who knows where we would be!

While we won't be able to throw on the waders and hit our usual early season spots this year, we will adapt and get as much time in the yaks as possible. Hope to see you guys out there!! The Pike Princess is back in business :p:p.

[CadiShackFishing]

Great story of dedication. Kessler has a good reputation as I can say from personal experience. A little early for my wife and I to get into the kayaks but soon I hope.

[JimmyL]

Awesome, man. Best wishes to you both

[shrimpman steve]

First I heard of this. Congratulations. Keep working hard.

[NorthJerzyG]

Congrats on the fast recovery! Great story, and, NICE PIKE!!!

[Skunk City]

Great story of dedication. Kessler has a good reputation as I can say from personal experience. A little early for my wife and I to get into the kayaks but soon I hope.

Our experience with Kessler West Orange has been nothing short of fantastic. From the super caring nursing aides, compassionate nurses, to their awesome physical therapists that know when to push and when to ease up, they no doubt have played a huge role in her progress thus far. I would recommend them in a second to anyone recovering from a spinal injury, stroke, etc.

[kcritch]

Phenomenal Rob! That's is some great news. Really happy for you both. Strong little lady ya got there my friend. It is not easy to keep fighting through something like that. Inspirational for sure.

[Skunk City]

Phenomenal Rob! That's is some great news. Really happy for you both. Strong little lady ya got there my friend. It is not easy to keep fighting through something like that. Inspirational for sure.

Thanks Ken!

[fishingbuddies]

Inspirational story. My buddies and I just got our Yaks in. Old Town predators. See you and the lady on the river sometime. Looking to target Pike this year. Any pointers? We would be launching in the Fairfield area. Should we go upstream or down stream say Pine brook being the middle ground?

[Skunk City]

Inspirational story. My buddies and I just got our Yaks in. Old Town predators. See you and the lady on the river sometime. Looking to target Pike this year. Any pointers? We would be launching in the Fairfield area. Should we go upstream or down stream say Pine brook being the middle ground?

That area is ground zero for pike. Upstream, downstream, it doesn't matter. The state stocks in like 9 different locations over there, so every laydown, rock pile or weed bed could hold fish. I prefer float trips through the wooded secluded sections of river, better chance at a virgin fish that hasn't seen a spinnerbait thrown at them 50 times already.