On the annual Lions workday 4/14/18, Denver Den Lion Joe Beagler fell about 5 feet, landing on his back and left shoulder. He and 3 other Denver Lions (Jim Hannifin, Russ Lynn and Flossie O’Leary) were dismantling the upper of two wooden staircases that allow you to walk down the retaining walls on the south side of the main lodge, from the parking lot to the covered picnic area. He was reaching for something and took a misstep on, I think, the extension cord, which he then stepped back off of, but that area sloped above the retaining wall, and he lost his balance and fell.
The group working on the lower steps got to Joe first, and Jim Hannifin dropped down. he was coherent and mobile. They touched him for pain and he seemed ok so they helped him stand. Joe was wabbly so a bench was brought over for him to sit on and catch his breath. Seeing he appeared OK, Flossie went to the lodge to alert Jodi Franke, the camp’s executive director, about the fall. Given his age (94), she asked about calling an ambulance, but given the time for them to arrive Jodi suggested taking him to Pike’s Peak medical center in Woodland Park.
Joe at first was hesitant to go, but agreed to go get checked out, especially given we could see a laceration on the back of his head. Flossie and Jim took him. His oxygen levels were low upon arrival, so he was given oxygen. It was discovered that Joe fractured his pelvis, and his ribs which led to the partial collapse of his left lung. The head injury seemed minor. They were planning to ambulance him down to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. When they went to put in a chest tube to assist with collapsed lung, there was a lot of blood and so that required he be helicoptered down to Memorial Hospital. During this time, Flossie had been in touch with Joe’s son Steve and daughter-in-law Helen, a retired nurse.
Jim and Flossie returned to the camp and finished with the project. They, along with Russ, then stopped at Memorial Hospital to see Joe on their way back to Denver, and met Steve and Helen Beagler. By that point the neurologist had visited and confirmed the head injury wasn’t of concern. Helen said that once the lung stopped bleeding they’d find a rehab facility to transfer Joe to so that his pelvis could heal, he wouldn’t be able to return to independent living for awhile.
I got a text back from Steve Beagler on Tuesday saying nothing new to report. I called Joe today to wish him a happy birthday (he turned 95 yesterday). He’s still at Memorial Hospital and hasn’t heard about a final decision yet on a rehab facility, though a place in Littleton has been mentioned. We will keep you updated on Joe's progress. Keep him in your prayers.