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46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 30, 2004 Curtright recovering from serious accident Prep Notebook By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Jonathan Curtright is one of those kids that makes all of his role models — parents, teachers, coaches — as proud as punch. He’s a straight-A student at North Medford High. He carries a 5 handicap in golf and played on the Black Tornado varsity team last spring as a freshman. He plays lead guitar in a rock band that recently performed in its first concert. Curtright is also somewhat of a thrill seeker — 16-year-old boys tend to be that way — and that’s what got him into trouble on the evening of Jan. 16. He and a handful of his buddies took their skateboards to the new section of East McAndrews Road that night, eager to speed down a half-mile hill. Curtright estimates he was going a little over 30 mph when he lost his balance and went head over heels on the pavement. Advertisement The good news was that he didn’t suffer a serious head injury — just a mild concussion and laceration that required nine stitches. The bad news was a broken bone in his left leg near his knee, a broken clavicle, a broken left arm and a shattered left elbow. "Jonathan has always been a fairly cautious kid, but he just had one of those whimsical moments," says his mother, Sheri Curtright. "I guess everyone’s entitled to one, but he paid a pretty heavy price. "We’re just so thankful his head didn’t take the brunt of that fall." Young Curtright was bound to a wheelchair for seven weeks and spent another 2½ weeks on crutches while his injuries healed. He also missed 2½ weeks of school. "I hated not being able to walk and basically having to have someone look after me 24 hours a day," he says. "You take for granted the little things. I never realized what a luxury it is just to be able to walk to the bathroom." Curtright doesn’t remember too much in the moments before or after the accident. He recalls his board gathering a lot of speed and then inexplicably beginning to wobble. After that, the rest of the night was a blur. "I remember them cutting off my shirt at the hospital," he says. "I could feel some pain in my knee and elbow but the only thing I thought I’d broken was my collarbone. "I found out the next day what the deal was — and that was tough." Curtright has healed more quickly than his doctors expected, but his elbow — which required surgery — has been slow to come around. He can no longer swing a golf club with the force needed to play competitively, and doesn’t know when that day will come. "The pressure of the swing seems to go right where the elbow is," says Curtright, who had two pins and a wire implanted in that area during surgery. "I tried to swing the other day and it popped. It’s not ready." Curtright and Tornado golf coach Kevin Klabunde had hoped he could return to the team for a big invitational tournament on April 16 at Rogue Valley Country Club. But Curtright admits that’s probably wishful thinking, and he’s preparing himself mentally to miss the rest of the season. But while Curtright’s golf game has suffered, his guitar playing has improved. He learned to strum while still wearing a splint and has been practicing almost daily. Curtright and his band are scheduled to play in a concert at Music Head in Medford on April 15. "I felt like I was in a little bit of a rut before the accident but now that I’m playing more, I’m getting better, and that’s encouraging," he says. "I guess there’s always a bright side to things, if you stop and think about it." Curtright has stopped and thought about a lot of things lately. He no longer takes his health for granted, and he’s developed a deep respect for those who are physically challenged. "I’m definitely thinking about doing volunteer work now," he says. "My friends and family have helped me so much to get through this, and when I look at people in wheelchairs who will never leave them, I realize how lucky I am. "I think maybe God intended for this to happen to me so that I could get another viewpoint." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times