Teens Recover After Tug-Of-War Game Nearly Severs Hands
1 Released From Hospital
Lane Lyon, 7NEWS Reporter
POSTED: 12:45 am MDT October 19, 2007
UPDATED: 5:58 am MDT October 19, 2007
PARKER, Colo. -- One teenager has been released from the hospital and another remained in serious condition after their hands were severely injured during a game of tug-of-war at school.
Henry Bennett and classmate Mitch Helfer were participating in a team-building activity at Lutheran High School in Parker on Oct. 12 when the accident happened.
Bennett's doctor told 7NEWS that the 16-year-old wrapped the rope around the palm of his right hand for a better grip.
"At some point a bunch of the kids let go, creating an imbalance in the tugging, and it pulled his hand off. The medical term is avulsed," said Dr. Lewis Oster, Microsurgeon with Hand Surgery Associates in Denver.
Bennett underwent a 10-hour surgery to save his hand. He was released from the hospital Wednesday. Helfer, who suffered a very similar injury, remained in the hospital, according to Oster.
A representative for Denver Health told 7NEWS Helfer was listed in serious condition Thursday evening.
Oster performed the delicate surgery on Bennett's hand, first repairing bones with titanium plates. Then, muscles and microscopic veins and arteries were reattached.
While it could be several weeks before it's known how much movement Bennett will regain in his hand, Oster is optimistic.
"Based on the condition of the tissue, I'll think he'll have a good outcome and a fully functional hand," Oster said while adding that 40 percent of avulsion injuries are successfully repaired.
Henry's mother told 7NEWS her son remains upbeat.
"He says it's brought people together," Reggie Barrett said and shared a portion of poem her son recently wrote, "I may have been injured, but my eyes have been opened," Barrett read. "The future has a mind of its own."
Mitch Helfer's family has declined requests for interviews at the hospital.
Friends and classmates at Parker's Lutheran High School are planning an upcoming fundraiser to offset medical bills.
Signs posted around the private, Christian school read, "Their hands are in His hands."
that is the ugliest hair ever. It is blonde insanely frizzy and just parted to the sides and way too long. Mine looks nothing like that! It's not that long, its not blonde, and its not frizzy, and I would never part hair to the side like that lol.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e86/PhoenixDark1/LOL.jpg)
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l22/Zamorro/hands_off.jpg)
PD mocks me for how expensive my hair cuts are.
PD mocks me for how expensive my hair cuts are.
I get it cut at a hair salon for like $60 lolPD mocks me for how expensive my hair cuts are.
SuperCuts isn't expensive.
I didn't know barbers still existed till PD mentioned one before. I've never seen a barbershop in all my life.
That's not very manly.I get it cut at a hair salon for like $60 lolPD mocks me for how expensive my hair cuts are.
SuperCuts isn't expensive.
I don't get my haircut anymore, but I know they're like $10 around here.
Jesus Christ Cheebs you are REALLY sheltered.I've lived in upper-middle class whitesville suburbs my whole life, sue me.
All hair cut places are either super cuts type places or up scale places.
Jesus Christ Cheebs you are REALLY sheltered.I've lived in upper-middle class whitesville suburbs my whole life, sue me.
where the hell would one find one. It's not just that city. I grew up thinking barbershops were something from the 50's or whatever long dead and I've lived in a bunch of places. I no clue they existed till PD said he went to one in a topic here like a year agoJesus Christ Cheebs you are REALLY sheltered.I've lived in upper-middle class whitesville suburbs my whole life, sue me.
Your city doesn't have a fucking BARBER shop though?
I lived in Ann Arbor longer than Cheebs and saw barbershops all the time. :lolYpsi is not ann arbor. Ypsi is shitsville. I used google to find barbers in ann arbor out of curiosity. Not in areas I would venture into.
Notice the past tense structure? I lived in AA for like 7 or 8 years son
But no one has yet to answer me, where the fuck is one supposed to even FIND a barbershop in a town. They don't put those things in strip malls with all the other chains.
I definitely see the resemblance between Cheebs and the kid, but they're not twins or anything.
About the article though, can you imagine your hand getting torn off? Holy shit!
I definitely see the resemblance between Cheebs and the kid, but they're not twins or anything.
About the article though, can you imagine your hand getting torn off? Holy shit!
The technical term is "avulsed." :tophat