The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – "Being flung unwillingly through the air has a very specific feeling. Like you're stuck inside a lurching brutal gyroscope, with flashes of light and color, but no image you can process." Those words, written by Suze Wood in a blog post entitled "Cheating Death," describe the feeling of being hit by a speeding truck, while riding her beloved Bay gelding, Duke.

Both Wood and Duke miraculously survived the traumatic event, but Wood is now trying to raise funds for necessary diagnostics and surgery for Duke.

On Aug. 22, Wood was enjoying the sunshine and chirping birds as she and Duke set off for a leisurely ride down Gallaher Road. Before long, Wood heard a motor that didn't seem to be slowing down. She turned to see a pickup less than 10 feet away, coming straight at her her, at 50 mph, showing no signs of slowing or swerving.

In her blog, Wood describes the surreal feeling of flying through the air and coming to in the back of the pickup. She had flown into the windshield, over the cab, and landed face-down in the bed of the truck.

As she came to, Wood began searching frantically for Duke, who she was certain couldn't have survived the collision. She extricated herself from the truck bed and spotted Duke trotting across the field, headed for his home pasture. She ran to catch up with him.

"Duke's flesh is torn, bloody tire treads across his withers, road rash on every side, limping, muscles in spasm, cuts on his poll from bridle silver that had crushed and bent, and blood in his mouth. His breathing is shallow and rapid, but he's staying with me, walking slowly in circles," describes Wood in her blog post.

Wood said Duke was drug for 75 feet under the truck before he could scramble free to walk, miraculously, away from the accident. Wood and Duke have spent the weeks since, recovering both mentally and physically.

Wood's injuries consist of cervical strain and soft tissue damage in the neck and back. "Topped with a nasty concussion and some PTSD I'm still sorting through," she said.

Amazingly, Duke's only long-term physical injuries are a simple bone chip in his right front cannon bone, and another, more complex one, in his right hind hock joint, which will require surgical removal. Duke needs to travel to WSU for diagnostic imaging, under full anesthesia, so that the veterinarians can fully examine the hock injury and schedule surgery.

Wood has created a gofundme account to help raise $15,000 to get Duke the care he needs.

"Sadly, while Personal-Injury-Protection insurance covers human pedestrians and ensures that they receive the medical treatemtn they need right away, animals are considered "property," which has Duke standing injured in his stall with the insurance company establishes his "property value" and processes the claim.

"Optimistic estimates have this process taking weeks or months. Rapid treatment is needed to ensure Duke's optimal recovery, and every day that passes is risking further damage to the soft tissues in Duke's leg," Wood said.

Proceeds from Wood's gofundme account will be used to cover diagnostic and surgical procedures, medications, post-surgical vet check-ups, travel expenses and gofundme fees. Wood says she will gratefully accept funds as a loan and repay donors (unless they choose to be anonymous or explicitly request otherwise) as insurance reimbursement allows.

Photos courtesy of Reema Al-Zaben

Duke enjoys the sunshine.

Wood created the account on Sept. 17 and raised $5,000 in the first week. The fund currently sits at $5,180. Wood says she needs $9,000 going in, to cover imaging and worst case surgical scenario for the hock. Wood said she has been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support from friends, strangers, and people she hasn't been in contact with for years.

"If you and your horse have to get hurt in a terrible accident, Waitsburg is certainly a wonderful place to recover from it. I couldn't ask for a more supportive community," Wood said.

To read Wood's firsthand description of the accident, click the "Blog" link at http://www.dukeandremington.com. To donate, go to http://www.gofundme.com/ny4esqmc or visit http://www.gofundme.com and enter 99361 in the search box. "Duke: Can't Keep a Good Horse Down" will be the first result.