On Tuesday, grizzly bear mauling victim Wes Perkins of Nome took the first step down what is sure to be a long road to recovery at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
"Wes opened his right eye this morning at 7 a.m. and recognized his family around him," brother Nate Perkins reported. "(He) actually cried tears. My sister Julie told him we all love him, and he gave a thumbs up with his right hand."
Wes had been in a medically induced coma as doctors at Harborview sought to protect him from any possible brain injuries after the Sunday bear attack. A grizzly charged Wes after he stopped his snowmachine to takes a photo of the bear on the Seward Peninsula, between 30 and 40 miles outside of Nome. The bear ran over Wes, and then grabbed the lower left side of the the former Nome fire chief's face in its jaws.
The man suffered massive injuries to his face and cheek. He lost half of his tongue. Teeth were torn loose. Doctors are fighting to save his left eye. But he survived, thanks to the quick and courageous actions of his hunting companions and the response of Nome residents who rallied to his rescue.
Dr. Dan Stang, a Nome dentist, and his son, Edward, a dental student, shot the 8-foot-tall bear off of the 54-year-old Wes. It stumbled away and died as the Stangs began performing first aid on Wes and sent out a call to his brother Nate on a HAM radio. Nate organized a rescue in Nome, and soon Bering Air helicopter pilot Ben Rowe and a doctor were on their way to the scene of the remote attack.
With pilots and doctors all scrambling, Wes was delivered safely to Harborview in Seattle in only a matter of hours, an amazing feat given that the accident happened deep in the Alaska wilderness. The Perkins family on Tuesday expressed deep gratitude to everyone who made that happen.
"The community, region, and entire state has been overwhelming with offers of assistance in any way,'' Nate said in an e-mail. "For that, I am humbled and deeply gracious. A financial aid account is being set up as I write at the Credit Union 1 for folks to contribute, as many around the state have expressed a desire to do so."
Alaska Dispatch will post more details as they become available.
Contact Craig Medred at craig(at)alaskadispatch.com