White Water Rafting

A couple of weeks ago Billy Ervin came by to bring Justin some stuff for their scout hike. Saul was home and Billy asked him what he was doing that Saturday. Saul finally was going to have a Saturday off and Billy invited him to go white water rafting on the Salt River. Saul was so excited. He had been rafting on the Snake River when he was a scout, but hadn't gone since. I have been telling him that we need to take the kids and raft the Grand Canyon. Anyway, Saul told him he wanted to go. The next day, Billy called and asked if Justin could go also. So that Saturday morning, Saul and Justin got up early and headed out. They were both so excited to get to go. They got down there, unloaded and headed out on the river. Some of those that were with them were; Billy, Gary Kirkman, Tyler and Jordan Mills, Ben Lunt, and David ?. The river was pretty high and they were having a blast. Then they got to a big rock that they were trying to maneuver around...but didn't make it. They slammed into it, which sent the raft straight up into the air, tipping them all out! Saul was on the high side and was sent flying over the others' heads. It slammed him about 10 feet down into a big rock...luckily it was on his back and not his head. Although, even through his life vest he got a big bruise. It churned him down and around several times on the bottom of the river until he finally kicked off a big rock and got to the top. He got to the raft and started looking for Justin. He decided he would find him better if he was in the raft, so he pulled himself in. After being swirled on the bottom of the river for a while himself, Justin finally came up...under the raft...which still held him down so he couldn't get any air. He did some quick thinking and rolled onto his back, putting his arms out to his side and his legs together in front of him. He hit a rock which slowed him down enough to let the raft go on over him. He actually came up behind Saul just as Saul was getting into the raft. Saul didn't see him for a minute, but finally found him and pulled him in. The rest of them got back into the raft also, and thank heavens, they were all OK. A few days later Saul woke up in the middle of the night in terrible pain. The next day he went in to see Dr. Ballard (Chiropractor) and found out that he had shoved a rib up under the other ribs. He has been in quite a bit of pain since, but I think he is getting better. Dr. Ballard asked him if he would go again and he said..."heck yeah, I will just wear a helmet next time!" We both agree that if that was his head that had hit the rock, things may not have turned out so well. I am grateful that they made it home safe...I will worry should they go again.