Current:Home > MyMontana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital. -Wealth Legacy Solutions
Montana man mauled by a grizzly bear gets to go home after five weeks in the hospital.
View
Date:2025-04-13 11:17:55
A hunter who was attacked by a grizzly bear in Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest will go home after five weeks in the hospital where he received jaw reconstruction surgery, in addition to other procedures, the hunter, his family and doctors said at a news conference.
Rudy Noorlander, 61, was tracking deer with a group of people on Sept. 8, near Yellow Mule Trail about 50 miles southwest of Bozeman, Montana, when a grizzly bear attacked him. According to the Associated Press, the grizzly bear bit off part of his jaw.
First responders arrived in a helicopter and transferred him to a nearby hospital in Bozeman, Montana. After emergency surgery, he moved to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Noorlander's daughter, Katelynn Davis, spoke for him at a University of Utah Hospital news conference. According to Davis, Noorlander was prepared with a gun and bear spray but needed more time to stop the bear from attacking.
She explained that the only thing that helped Noorlander was that he was with a group that could scare the grizzly bear away.
Recent bear attack:73-year-old woman attacked by bear near US-Canada border, officials say; park site closed
Jaw reconstruction surgery
Dr. Hillary McCrary, a surgeon at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Utah, was present for the news conference. She explained that because his lower jaw and larynx sustained several injuries in the attack, Noorlander underwent many surgeries to correct his jaw, including a reconstruction surgery.
"We took a portion of his fibula bone and some of his skin with an artery and a vein and hooked that to an artery and a vein in the neck," said Dr. McCrary." And then my partner Dr. Cannon took some of the skin's soft tissue and transplanted that to the head and neck to reconstruct his lower lip."
Dr. Mccrary commended Noorlander on his optimism through his surgeries and recovery journey, noting that Noorlander wants to fight through his recovery.
Plans for the future
Noorlander will be able to speak again; however, because of the intensive surgery and trauma to the area around his vocal folds, there is no specific timeline for when Noorlander will fully talk again, according to Dr.McCarthy.
During the news conference, Noorlander answered questions by writing on a whiteboard. Davis was present at the press conference to speak on his behalf.
"The things that give him hope and motivation to get through this is family and life," said Davis. "My job proves that most people are good, and I can't wait to get back to it and win round two."
According to Davis, Noorlander plans to return to work and where the attack happened. It was not his first encounter with a bear; he had been walking the trail years before the attack.
Davis explained that her father would like to write a book one day and jokingly admits that he would like Cole Hauser from the hit TV show "Yellowstone" to play him in a movie.
"Only by the hands of God am I here; I've had a lot of inspirations, and I felt the need to share my story with others," said Noorlander. "Believe it or not, I believe this attack answered my prayers. And, potentially, it can help someone from going through something similar."
veryGood! (6444)
Related
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Babies R Us opening shops inside about 200 Kohl's stores across the country
- Jennifer Lopez cancels handful of shows on first tour in 5 years, fans demand explanation
- Mississippi University for Women urges legislators to keep the school open
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- 'Dateline' correspondent Keith Morrison remembers stepson Matthew Perry: 'Not easy'
- No, Aaron Rodgers and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shrooms and Hail Marys do not a VP pick make
- 'Sister Wives' star Janelle Brown 'brought to tears' from donations after son Garrison's death
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Pennsylvania governor backs a new plan to make power plants pay for greenhouse gases
Ranking
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Break the Silence
- 2024 NFL free agency: Top 25 players still available
- Trader Joe’s $3 mini totes went viral on TikTok. Now, they’re reselling for hundreds
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- 2024 NFL free agency updates: Tracker for Tuesday buzz, notable moves with big names still unclaimed
- NBA legend John Stockton ramps up fight against COVID policies with federal lawsuit
- John Mulaney Supports Olivia Munn After She Shares Breast Cancer Battle
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson lead CMT Music Awards noms
Mississippi will allow quicker Medicaid coverage during pregnancy to try to help women and babies
How can you manage stress when talking to higher-ups at work? Ask HR
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
Cop boss says marauding rats are getting high on marijuana at New Orleans police headquarters
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt talk Sunday's 'epic' 'I'm Just Ken' Oscars performance
US energy industry methane emissions are triple what government thinks, study finds