TOWER, Minn. (KBJR/Gray News) – A first responder was paralyzed in a dunk tank accident at a community picnic in Soudan, Minnesota, this past summer.
Tower Ambulance Director Dena Suihkonen was taking a shift in a dunk tank fundraiser when the seat malfunctioned, flinging her backwards. The fall severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed.
“I just remembered telling them, call for ALS, call for Life Link,” Suihkonen said. “And he, Stephen, who’s one of the EMTs, said, ‘Can I ask why?’ And I said, because I can’t feel my legs. And then everything got crazy.”
Suihkonen’s EMT coworkers at the picnic jumped into action to provide emergency care before a helicopter arrived to fly her to Duluth for treatment.
After more than a month in rehabilitation, Suihkonen returned home, where her family has been stepping up to serve as her caretakers. Suihkonen said it’s a dramatic shift in her life after working for over 15 years as an EMT.
“I enjoyed doing what I did, and I think the hardest part for me was knowing that that’s over,” Suihkonen said. “Now I’m cared for. I’m not the one doing the caring.”
Suihkonen added she’s had to relearn most everyday activities with the help of her daughters and husband.
“She has a new way of life here, and we’ve all had to learn how to adapt to that,” Suihkonen’s daughter, Ari Picard, said.
While being a mom and grandma looks different now, Suihkonen continues to lead her family in her own way, maintaining a positive attitude through all the challenges.
“She has been super strong and supportive through this and has a positive attitude that helps us all to feel the same, but we have days where we miss out on the life that was,” Picard said.
Suihkonen said she feels lucky to have avoided damage to her upper body, retaining full function of her arms.
“Not being able to walk was a big hit, but I guess to me, I could either sit there and cry, or I could work and try and do things the best that I can,” she said.
Suihkonen has health insurance through her husband’s employment, which has been covering most medical bills, but it does not cover adjustments to their home, such as a ramp her husband built so she can enter in her wheelchair.
They’ve hired an attorney, but must wait until medical costs are closer to finalized before pursuing legal action.
Suihkonen and her family will be hosting a benefit at the Tower Civic Center on Nov. 22 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to help raise funds for costs not covered by insurance. The event will include a meal and a silent auction.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with expenses.
