Dan Jones family continues moving forward after May logging accident

by Dwight Jones

Dan Jones is a logger. His dad, the late Steve Jones, was a logger as well. His grandpa, the late Jack Jones, had spent more than his fair share of time in the timber as well. Dan’s been trudging through the woods since he was just old enough to walk, and it’s really the only life he’s ever known.
Tuesday, May 8 of this year, Dan was in rural Decorah, working hard in the same type of woods where he had grown up, just as he had done thousands of days before.
And then everything changed in an instant.
Dan had dropped a tree in a field next to the woods and was trimming it out when a tree neither he nor his co-workers had touched or even disturbed fell and hit him. Just a random tree that, for reasons unknown, simply came crashing down. Josh, Dan’s right hand man on the job, was there in an instant but the damage was done. Dan was bent over backwards and could not feel his legs. He was also having problems breathing as Josh moved him flat on his back and called 911.
Dan was airlifted to LaCrosse, WI. Once there, he was stabilized and the long list of injuries was tallied: broken ribs, deflated lung, bruised kidneys, bruised liver, and the reason he couldn’t feel his legs - a broken T9 vertebrae.
He recuperated and began therapy in the hospital, and was finally released June 22. Some modifications were made to his family's home to accommodate his wheelchair prior to his return, some have been made since and others still need to be completed. His truck has been equipped with hand controls and he’s learning to drive again. He continues to do therapy daily at home and a couple times a week at the Euro Team Physical Therapy Clinic in Decorah.
Since the accident, Dan, along with his wife, the former Le Anne Cunningham, and their two children, Max, age five, and Bentley, age 11 months, have been adjusting to a new and much different life than the one they had before. They have been overwhelmed by the prayers, support and love shown by friends, family and the entire northeast Iowa region, and are proud and tremendously grateful to be a part of a community that cares and helps take care of its own.
Le Anne said, “It would be really easy to focus on what we can’t do, however, we simply must focus on what we can do. The unwavering support of our families, friends and community in general has really enabled us to do that and make it a reality.”
Le Anne’s employer, Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, has also been very supportive throughout, allowing her to take as much time as she felt necessary up to and after the point that Dan came home, and that continues through today.
The spinal cord injury that Dan suffered has left him with no feeling from the chest down. Injured spinal cords actually can go into shock and may take several years to return to normal. Dan’s spinal cord was not severed, and though the chances are slim, he remains hopeful to someday walk again. Dan stated, “Most days I still cannot believe this happened and ask myself why, even though I know there’s really no good answer.”
Prior to his injury, Dan was arguably the most accomplished dirt track stock car racer from this part of the state in the last 10-15 years. He’s won multiple track championships in two different levels of competition and was set to compete for another championship in the Stock Car division at Decorah’s Upper Iowa Speedway. The first night of racing for the 2012 season was four days after his accident, and he’s hopeful to return to the track and compete yet again someday.
In amongst all those racing trophies, the walls of his home are adorned with the many trophy deer he’s also landed, another hobby that he has already resumed.
Although there have been several unexpected and unexplainable changes to the Jones’ family’s life, many things remain unchanged. For example, Dan and Max continue to play catch, usually against LeAnne’s “no catch in the house” rule.  In fact, Dan was able to take in the majority of Max’s first year of Harpers Ferry Little League games this summer. Dan and Bentley are also sharing more and more new adventures as she continues to grow and master new “first year” milestones.
Everyone who knows Dan can attest to the fact that he loves spending time with his friends and family. Despite some challenges, Dan and Le Anne still were able to partake in many of their favorite summertime activities such as grill-outs with friends, time at the Cunningham family’s cabin, events at the fair and, of course, taking in some racing action. Le Anne said, “We’re still just really the same old Dan and Le Anne, we’ll never stop doing what we love and with each other's support, we’ll go forward, as we’ve always done.”
A benefit to help the family with medical and other expenses is scheduled for Sunday, October 7 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. For more information about the event, call Hollee McCormick at 563-419-0517, Jamie Phipps at 319-415-0304, Samantha Donahue at 563-880-4960,  or Brigitte Weymiller at 563-880-8280.