Fallen hiker still unconscious, undergoes surgery

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A hiker who was rescued after falling more than 15 feet down the Lake Constance trail in Jefferson County is still unconscious after being at Harborview Medical Center for more than a week. Aaron Brengle, from Seattle, was hiking with his fiancée, Caitlin Ford, on Sept. 21 when, according to Ford, he leaned against a tree that uprooted, tumbling him 15 feet through the air before hitting and sliding to a stop on the rocky grade. Brengle was rescued by Jefferson County Search and Rescue and airlifted by Whidbey Naval Air Station’s search and rescue helicopter to Harborview. Doctors found he had fractured facial bones, a broken jaw, a broken shoulder blade, fractured vertebrae in his back, four broken ribs, a fractured wrist and was still unconscious. An update from his fiancee, Caitlin Ford, stated that he has had facial reconstructive surgery and wrist surgery. Despite the success of the two surgeries, he has not yet woken up. “While not opening his eyes on his own, he does move his eyeballs and focus on people when his eyelids are opened for him,” Ford wrote. “The next goal is to get the breathing tube out. He is capable of breathing on his own, he’s just breathing faster than they would like without the support, and don’t want him to be working that hard to breathe.” Ford and Brengle’s family are raising money on GoFundMe to help pay for his medical bills. So far, they have raised $13,430 of their $20,000 goal. The fundraiser was organized by Ford’s friends, to help her with the financial burden so she can focus on Brengle’s health and on their baby, Liam. Doctors have been doing neurological tests, according to Brengle’s sister, Angie Hobbs, who posted an update on Facebook. “He’s been responding to neuro tests more positively than the last few days,” she wrote. “Still not awake yet but definitely getting there. We decided we’ll have cake when he pops his eyes open.” The GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/f/support-for-aaron-brengle-and-family.