The Navy veteran whose jaw was ripped off by a grizzly bear last month is ready to return to the Montana camp where he faced the beast, so he can win the “second round.”
Survivor Rudy Noorlander, 61, returns home after undergoing a complete jaw reconstruction, an arduous feat accomplished with three major surgeries during his five-week stay at University of Utah Health.
“That first root beer release is going to be awesome,” Rudy wrote on a whiteboard at a news conference Friday.
“Soon I will be a free-range chicken and I will not be hooked on anything.”
He was airlifted to Salt Lake City Hospital after his initial emergency surgery to overcome his devastating injuries.
Noorlander came face to face with the bear while deer hunting within the Custer Gallatin National Forest outside of Big Sky on September 8.
The animal left scratches on his chest, as well as bites on his arms and legs, although the most traumatic injury was what Noorlander described as “the most disgusting French kiss of his life” that left him without his lower jaw.
Dr. Hilary McCrary, a head and neck surgeon and specialist, was able to reconstruct Noorlander’s jaw using a portion of her fibula.
Rudy Noorlander is accompanied by his daughters, Ashley Noorlander, third from left, and KateLynn Noorlander Davis, second from right, his grandchildren and surgeon Hilary McCrary.AP
Her recovery has been slow: Noorlander still can’t eat solid food and finds it too painful to talk, so she has relied on her daughters and her handy whiteboard to communicate until she can use her new jaw.
The limited ability to use her new mouth has made her fear that she will choke on her own blood and spit, her daughter said.
However, his positive outlook on life has not wavered despite surviving a terrifying near-death experience and a harrowing medical journey.
“The things that give me hope and have motivated me to get through this are my family,” Noorlander wrote on a whiteboard.
Noorlander lost his lower jaw when he was attacked by a grizzly bear last month. AP’s surgical team made models of his jaw defect to better plan his reconstruction. AP Surgeons were able to reconstruct Noorlander’s jaw using a portion of his fibula bone. AP
“My work shows that most people are good and I can’t wait to do it again. I will win the second round.”
His daughter KateLynn quickly shot down the idea: “I wish he wouldn’t do that… The fact that we’ve healed enough to make it to this day is pretty remarkable.”
Noorlander told a crowd of reporters that he hopes to return to the Montana countryside as soon as December, and that he’s not afraid of encountering grizzly bears.
The experienced outdoorsmen had been adequately prepared in the moments before the attack, carrying bear spray and a gun, but it was not enough to protect themselves from the 10-foot bear.
His family and surgical team said Noorlander’s constant positive attitude throughout his journey was inspiring. Kary Noorlander-Lyman
He tried to drive the beast away with the weapon, but failed and was forced to use his hands.
The hunters he was with managed to scare the bears away and quickly called for a rescue helicopter, but they had to wait fully conscious for two hours before help arrived.
“The first thing that was amazing to see was how positive Rudy was. Even after being attacked by a grizzly bear, he was adamant that he was going to get through it… That was very comforting as a doctor,” McCrary praised Noorlander.
The veteran shared his admirable ideas with the crowd: “Even when it seems like there is no hope, keep fighting.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn