Man recovers from bodysurfing accident after complex neck reconstruction surgery at Morristown Medical Center

For 10 years, Bill and his wife Sue spent family vacations with their kids and grandkids in Long Beach Island. It was a cherished tradition filled with laughter, bodysurfing and building sandcastles. But in the summer of 2023, their beloved beach getaway took an unexpected and life-altering turn.

While riding the waves with his grandson, Bill caught a powerful wave that forced him into the ocean floor. Everything went dark. When he regained consciousness, he was face down in the water, unable to move and struggling to breathe. It was a terrifying moment for the entire family.

Turning fear into action

Thanks to the quick-thinking of family and friends, Bill was pulled safely from the water. They stabilized his head and neck until paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital. While Bill’smemory of the event is hazy, Sue’s instincts as a retired nurse kicked into high gear.

“Bill’s CT scan revealed a fractured C2 vertebra—he had broken his neck,” Sue explains. “When the emergency doctor requested a transfer, I requested that Bill go to Morristown Medical Center. We knew their reputation and the caliber of doctors there, so we insisted on it.”

Finding the road to recovery

When Bill arrived at Morristown Medical Center by helicopter, he was in severe pain and struggling to breathe. The ICU team quickly stabilized him, easing his pain with an IV drip while the surgical team prepared for his complex neck reconstruction surgery.

“I was so grateful for the incredible care, compassion, and kindness from the trauma doctors, nurses, and the entire staff,” says Bill. He also appreciated how the staff welcomed Sue’s nursing expertise as part of his care team.

Complex neck reconstruction surgery

Atlantic Health System spine surgeons Nikhil Sahai, MD, and Kumar Sinha, MD, performed the intricate surgery to repair Bill’s spinal cord injury. 

“Bill had a severe spinal injury that caused paralysis,” explains Dr. Sahai. “He had a displaced hangman’s fracture with an associated disc injury. He needed a complex neck reconstruction, then an anterior spinal fusion to reduce the fracture at C2-3. The two procedures stabilized and strengthened Bill’s neck and helped return sensation and movement to his arms.”

Starting the road to recovery

Two surgeries and four weeks later, Bill was ready to begin rehabilitation. It was a daunting start—he couldn’t walk on his own, his hands and fingers were numb and his balance was unsteady, But Bill pushed through.

“I was in the best shape of my life when this injury happened, so I knew I could rebuild myself in rehab,” says Bill. “I started my physical therapy with a walker, with a goal to walk on my own again—and I did it.”

A homecoming focused on gaining function

Bill returned home with a cervical collar and months of physical therapy ahead. But his steady progress kept him focused on the physical and mental work of healing.

Today, Bill is back to doing what he loves—fishing, working on his car, tackling house projects, and spending quality time with his family. He and Sue have kept their cherished family beach tradition alive and continue to create new summertime memories.

“Life has changed, and I continue to improve,” says Bill with gratitude. “Drs. Sahai, Sinha, and the incredible team of caregivers at Morristown Medical Center gave me the foundation to rebuild my life. Thanks to them, I got my life back.”