Page 22 - SMH 2017 2nd edition

The Smokies: Human Interest by Dewey Slusher

When Debra Ferrell asked me to write an article for this publication, I was reluctant; I'm not at all a writer. I
chose to wage an effort, given free reign on subject matter. I began thinking of my own interests and exploits,
then I thought better of it. I wanted to deal with subject matter that had substance, meaning and heart. What I do
put to pen on occasion are stories of people that I meet on the trail. Their stories of happiness, sadness, struggle,
redemption and achievement provide strength and motivation for me and hopefully many others. What follows
are brief accounts of a couple of people that deserve their own books.

Shortly after midnight on December 23, 2011 Bridget Clapp was riding with her fiancé as they drove along
Mt. Hope Church Road, near Whitsett, North Carolina; her mother and son followed in the car behind them. It
was the Christmas season, plans had been made, short term for the holidays, long term for a happy life. All of
those plans changed in a horrific moment. An oncoming vehicle approached the truck Bridgett was riding in, as it
did, a deer ran in front of the other car. The deer was struck, sending it flying through the air until it hit the wind-
shield of Bridget's transportation. The cervid came crashing through the windshield, instantly killing Bridget's
fiancé. Bridget was struck by one of the deer's hooves which connected at her eye, cutting deeply and causing
brain trauma. The animal's movement continued through the back window, finally landing in the truck's bed.

Bridget was taken to the hospital where an initial medical evaluation rendered by the trauma unit indicated that
she was in a physical state from which there was no recovery. The medical team faced a paradox, normally they
would remove a section of the skull to reduce swelling and pressure on the brain. This injury precluded that op-
tion, they could only wait and let the circumstances run their course. Massive expansion of the brain ensued,
causing more damage than the initial injury. Bridget spent two months in a coma in I.C.U. She regained con-
sciousness and was moved to a containment bed and then spent six months in a rehab facility before being sent
home. The recovery had only begun.

Kenny Clapp is an outdoorsman in every sense of the word, he owns a lawn care business, he's a hiker, explor-
er and adventurer. His greatest challenge however came in the form of figure heading his daughter's recovery
from her tragic circumstance. It was a team effort between the two though, despite being told she would never
walk again, Bridget began to walk again in the rehab phase of her hospitalization. Kenny who was accustomed to
spending huge quantities of time outside was now relegated to being at home, working on physical renewal with
Bridget, making sure she ate, taking her to doctor visits and helping her shower. In short, he was her metaphorical
life blood.

Most of us who frequent the outdoors, communing with nature if
you will, understand how difficult it is not to be a part of all that.
Kenny's focus was strengthened by a sermon that he heard in which
his pastor made the statement, “The narrower the wedge, the deeper
the impact.” He used this as a tool to focus 100 percent on getting
his beloved daughter back to where she needed to be. There was no
'easy'. The two persevered, worked, had setbacks and moved forward.
Someone who was told that they would not live, did. Someone who
was told that they would never walk, did. Someone who was told that
they would never be able to work again, started their first post-
accident job five years afterward. Someone who would never drive
again, got a car on June 28th, 2017.

22 Smoky Mountain Hiker