20-something year old male. Life will never be the same for him.

    • Chetzemoka@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      This is an internal decapitation. Spinal cord completely severed at that disjunction. Best case scenario is quadriplegia. Much higher than this would have been fatal.

    • Genericusername@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Wait, how isn’t he dead? Aren’t the nerves that make the heart and lungs do their thing get severed if the spine breaks at that point?

      • flucksy_bango@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Organs can do a surprising amount on their own. Your heart will beat even without impulses from the brain, it just does much differently.

        Not sure about the lungs, though. The diagram diaphragm does most of the work there. I don’t know how it would act without impulses.

  • SomeoneElse@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Probably a stupid question; would they fuse the vertebrae together to avoid further damage or just leave it?

    • KittybeerOP
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      1 year ago

      Yes, the patient went straight to surgery to stabilize the neck. However, the damage was already done and he will remain paralyzed.

      • SomeoneElse@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Thank you! Yeah, I didn’t expect there was any way the damage could be reversed, but left in that state the guy looks one jolt or bump away from death.

        • KittybeerOP
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          1 year ago

          That I don’t know. My hunch says I doubt it.

  • Shou@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I don’t wish this shit on anyone. But I’m glad it was the driver and not an innocent person.

    • KittybeerOP
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      1 year ago

      The driver. No one else was involved, thank goodness.

      • wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Well then why is everyone saying how sad it is?

        This is how every drunk driving episode should end.

            • wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              Guaranteed OP has driven drunk before but as usual for these types of folks when they use bad judgement they had a damn good reason but when others do it they are subhuman who deserve death and suffering.

              Incorrect. I only ever got drunk a very small number of times, and never drove. And I’m way past drinking now. But if that assumption makes you feel better then go off I guess.

            • UnhingedFridge@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              There are also people who have lost too many family members or friends, and have lost all empathy for others who would get behind the wheel while smashed.

              But that’s cool, go off about how they aren’t allowed to feel comfort from seeing someone so reckless as to risk the lives of others for the privilege of driving around while smashed get their existence wiped instead.

              Maybe before coining them as a monster, try to figure out how much pain and loss it takes for most people to reach such a point.

              • wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
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                1 year ago

                Somebody gets it.

                Honestly I haven’t personally lost anyone to this specific thing, but I know plenty that have, and even one I don’t know are heartbreaking enough to feel this way.

                And given that there is never an excuse or reason they do it, I have zero sympathy for them. Nobody cries when a pedophile out murderer dies. So got the same reason, this isn’t sad.

                At least not directly. I feel bad for their family and friends, but I’m totally ok with people getting what they deserve. And yes, driving drunk always means you deserve it. Unless there’s a gun on you, you always deserve it.

                Especially in this case where he didn’t hit an innocent. That would be a reason to be sad.

          • wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            Sad they made the decision that caused it.

            Not sad they got the punishment.

            Glad it was only themselves.