…it’s all fun and games until your kneecaps end up in your thighs…

 

Gulf Shores Indoor Trampoline Park Injury

Daddy’s Knees will never be the same again. {Our new normal begins}

 

Everyone wants to have fun.  Everyone wants to have fun with their children.  You think you are being a good parent, spending time with your child, having fun- and the next thing you know your whole life changes.  Or maybe you let your child attend a birthday party or church event, or just hang out with their friends at your local indoor trampoline park- you get that dreaded call, and suddenly you aren’t sure if your child is able to go back to school again this year! Exaggerations? Nope, real local and recent stories.

My family’s life has been turned upside down since August 28th, 2016.  I will start this blog from the beginning of our personal story and continue to post progress and updates.  But in the meantime, please email me: [email protected] Please send me your stories and pictures and I will also share how your life was affected by what you thought was just going to be a little fun.

It is my hope that my sharing the dangers, people will think twice and not have to go through what we have.

~Alisha

Below is a picture of the first time my son saw his Daddy after the trampoline injury occurred. He had talked Daddy into going that day and still feels a lot of guilt for what happened.  Not his fault at all, but in his little mind all he can think of is how he begged Daddy to take him somewhere that Mommy said “No.” to.

Is Mommy mean? Nope. (Well sometimes…) But we had already had a Gulf Shores Trampoline Park injury in our family only a few months prior to this one- and that is where my WHOLE story will begin.  With my sister Tiffany.

Injured at Trampoline facility in Gulf Shores

 

 

17 Replies to “…it’s all fun and games until your kneecaps end up in your thighs…”

  1. So what actually happened? Are trampolines just dangerous or is this something this particular place did?

    1. Gina,
      he was just jumping up and down watching our son jump into the foam pit. When he came down both of his knees gave out and he was unable to move his legs. He thought he was paralyzed at first. From what I have read online, Indoor trampoline parks in general have alot worse injuries that your regular backyard trampolines due to the fact that you can jump so much higher (because the trampolines are so tight), so when you come down the impact is that much greater. I just want to create awareness as I know so many people go and enjoy these places and do realize there is a risk- I just don’t think people realize how badly you can actually be hurt. My husband will be crippled to some degree his whole life. He will NEVER get back to 100% per his Dr. I always thought “oh you can sprain your ankle, or at worst break your arm.” But the stories and injuries that I have found about coming out of there- are just unreal. I never would have guessed. Thanks for reading!
      Alisha

      1. My daughter fractured her ankle there in August 2016. She just stepped from a landing onto the tumble trampoline and boom she was down. The dr said the indoor parks are more dangerous but that trampoline use in general should be avoided. The staff just let her lay there screaming her head off and gave me a hard time when I was trying to make my way to her from the observation area. My daughter is 9 and still has not returned to normal activities (Oct -almost Nov)

        1. Thank you so much for sharing! I am so sorry to hear about your little one! So many people think these things are only happening to adults but it is just not the case at all! We have a little girl at our elementary school that may not make it back to school this year due to shattering her femur (age 10)- she was injured in Aug. How awful for these little ones. Thank you so much for sharing and if you’d like me to make a post about your daughter’s injury please email me pics! ~Alisha

        2. Thank you for sharing! I am so sorry your little one was yet another victim of “The Fracture Factory!” I pray that she is able to be a kid again soon- how awful for her to watch her peers go on about life while she is put on hold at 9 years old. I know that the staff there is awful, and given the dangers involved in this type of atmosphere you would think they would have more than just a bunch of kids running the place. Thank you for reading, and sharing! Hope your little one gets back on her feet again soon! ~Alisha

  2. Go read the reviews for this place on Facebook if you haven’t already.

    1. I have only looked at the first few. Will go look at them further, Thanks!
      Alisha

  3. Heather Hitchcock says:

    Wow! Had no idea something so life altering could happen. Please continue blogging about this journey. Prayers for all of you.

    1. Thank you Heather!
      And yes, that is something that we realized- so many people have no idea. Everyone realizes there is a risk- of course! Life is a risk anymore, but when my sister was injured in May 2016 we thought that was just a fluke- a freak accident. I still did not want my family to go there anymore just in case- but my husband thought “oh that can’t happen to me.” I mean what are the chances of it happening to two people in one family!? So here we are. And yes, I have gotten rude comments from people who apparently don’t understand the purpose of this blog. So, I thank YOU for understanding what we are trying to do here- help people understand and be aware of the degree of injury you could face. We are blessed with only losing use of two legs for a few months. I have found stories online of a little boy who snapped his neck- can you imagine? Sure anything could happen to any of us at any time- such is life. I just felt led to share our story and that’s what I am doing. Thank you for your prayers Heather, they are welcomed and appreciated!

  4. Dillon Warren says:

    I snapped my leg in HALF! Broke both bones, my toes where touching my knee. I wouldn’t recommend going to The Factory. What’s sad is, I have met countless people who know of someone who has broken something there.. They haven’t even been open a YEAR and yet there are this many injuries. It’s a little pathetic that they run a company knowing dang well how many lives they ruin but don’t want to close their doors because they are money hungry. I know i’ll never go again!

    1. Dillon! Unreal! Did it come through the skin? I cannot imagine the pain you were feeling? Did you have to have a rod put in? I also know of SO MANY stories of injuries from there. I do not understand why but I think it’s a combination of the tightness of the trampoline and the amount of people and chaos that is going on in there. I am so so sorry that you also had to endure this and thank you so much for sharing! If you’d like me to share your story and photos on here- email me and I will make a post about it. Thanks again! Alisha

  5. William McKay says:

    Last night I went to the factory and participated in a dodgeball game between the staff and the other patrons. During this very intense game I skillfully slid to avoid a ball soaring right towards my head. In mid slide my toe caught the edge of the pad causing me to trip and I got a really nasty burn on the top of my foot. It hurts really bad and I’m most definitely going to have to schedule an appointment with my dermatologist to evaluate the severity of this rash.

    1. Do you think that was the factory’s fault or just the material trampolines are made out of?

      In my opinion, it’s just the nature of the beast. That’s why they have waivers?

      1. I think the industry professionals KNOW the nature of the beast. I think MOST patrons think perhaps a sprain or worst case scenario a broken wrist or arm… I DON’T think people go into these places have any clue (even with signing a waiver) that their life can be changed and they will never come out of there the same again. Doing things like sky-diving, or Bungee Jumping- the implied risk is much greater, in my opinion. But this is just our story, and I wanted to share it in hopes that people will start to realize what can really happen– since our lives HAVE forever changed- by simply “Jumping Now, & Growing Up Later…” Thanks for reading! ~Alisha

    2. Thanks for your reply 🙂 Hope that rash doesn’t leave a scar 🙂 Have a great weekend!
      ~Alisha

  6. How is your hubby doing? How is Tiffany? Did she have the same injury? I’m so sorry you and your family are going through this…can’t imagine.

    1. Hello Kim! Tiff is still Hobbling along also. She is unable to walk any way but slow at this point. I am posting about her injury today! Please check back! Husband is still in full leg immobilizers. They are unlocked to 30 degrees, he is able to get around like a “penguin.” He is unable to be on his feet for any extended period of time, and has to apply ice for about an hour after being on his feet any more than 30 minutes. This also brings excruciating pain and stiffness. When sitting with his legs straight out at PT he is able to lift his right leg, but not his left. He cannot lift his left leg at all- so this is worrisome to us. We are unsure why there is no progress here, and will be addressing this with the surgeon at our next follow up. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and share our story! Please continue to check back for updates! Prayers welcomed! ~Alisha

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