Hope remains for injured mountain biker

In the video of Jeff Marquis you can

see hope.

Hope that Marquis, who suffered a

spinal cord injury in September, might continue to regain movement

in his arms and legs. The video shows Marquis sitting on a physical

therapy table with a brace around his neck. He is bent forward at

the waist and then makes a jerky movement with his arms and

shoulders as he sits upright.

“It’s pretty tiring,” Marquis said from

Craig Hospital in Denver, Colo., last week.

“He was really tired — his body is

adjusting to the new demands on it,” his brother Louis Marquis

added. “He is doing really well.”

It was just more than a month ago that

Marquis was mountain biking on Spencer Mountain outside of

Whitefish. He took an unexpected fast line “went over the handle

bars” and landed on the ground.

“I lost feeling right away,” he

said.

Marquis called out for help. He had

seen another rider earlier.

“I told him not to move me,” he said,

but asked the rider to call 911.

The rescue crew arrived pretty quickly

to the lower flanks of the mountain. Marquis, having taken a first

responder course, was able to describe what was happening. He was

fitted with a cervical collar and hauled out on a stretcher.

Marquis suffered a spinal cord injury

and underwent surgery at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

He’s now at Craig Hospital, a spinal

cord and head injury rehabilitation center. His recovery continues

with physical therapy.

Marquis has sensation throughout his

body, but what he says is “not normal” feeling. In his upper body

he can feel temperature and light touch. Feeling is less distinct

in his lower body, but he says he can feel it when someone squeezes

his foot.

Doctors expect him to remain in the

hospital for the next four to six months as his physical therapy

becomes more intense.

“He’s lost quite a bit of weight,”

Louis said, but the hope is that his time in the hospital will be

on the shorter end of the timeframe. Family members are taking

turns staying with him.

A benefit for Marquis is set for Friday

in Whitefish. His girlfriend Heather Cauffman is organizing the

Pints for a Purpose and silent auction event at Great Northern

Brewing Company. The night begins at 6 p.m. and free food is being

catered by Tupelo. Marquis has worked as a sous chef at Tupelo

Grille for the last four years.

The support feels “pretty good” Marquis

said of the benefit.

“We appreciate their support and

everything Whitefish has done,” Louis added. “Whitefish has a lot

of people really looking out for him.”

Marquis’ family has also set up a

special needs trust for him. Donations can be made to the Jeffrey

M. Marquis S.N.T. at Wells Fargo Bank in Kalispell or mailed to

Cauffman at P.O. Box 1352, Whitefish, MT 59937.

Marquis seems to be progressing quickly

in recovery. He’s recently had a smaller tracheotomy put in, which

means his ability to breath on his own is improving. He expects to

move from an electric wheelchair to a non-motorized chair soon.

“Nothing is promised in his recovery,

but nothing says he might not gain either,” Louis said.

Hope remains.