Skiing accident severely injures Sodexho staff member

Feb. 24, 2005
By Wendy Heithoff
Editor in Chief

The Sodexho staff has been dealt their fair share of hardships this school year. As school began, the campus was informed of the trials and tribulations the Sodexho staff had endured during the summer. But it had seemed that their hardships were behind them.

Now as the second semester begins, the members of the Sodexho team will pull together to cope with another blow. Retail direction Caroline Rasmussen was in a skiing accident on Feb. 12, 2005. The accident left Rasmussen with two broken vertebrae.

According to General Manger of Sodexho Al Hayes, Rasmussen left the Quad Cities on Thursday for Brecken Ridge, Colorado. She attended skiing lessons on Friday and began skiing on her own on Saturday. At some point Rasmussen lost her balance and fell head first into a tree. She was airlifted to St. Anthony’s Central Hospital in Denver, Colorado where she underwent two surgeries on Saturday night. The diagnosis was the sixth and seventh vertebrae were broken and partial paralysis from the waist down.

The doctors in Colorado listed her as a 99 percent wheelchair prospect. According to Hayes, there “was not much hope.”

On Tuesday Feb. 15, uplifting news was delivered to the Sodexho staff. Rasmussen reported some feeling in her left knee and big toe.

“After [Tuesday] there is all kinds of hope for Caroline,” Hayes said.

Dialogue between Genesis West and St. Anthony’s Central is currently in progress to bring Rasmussen back to Davenport. However, the expense of the air ambulance is delaying action.

In order to defray some of Rasmussen’s medical expenses, a bank account has been set up at Northwest Bank and Trust Co. in Davenport. Students, faculty and staff are able to contribute to the fund by including the account number and mailing the donations to the bank.

Hayes said that Rasmussen’s return is not expected any time soon, but if she feels up to returning, her job will be waiting.

“We can’t hire someone to fill her spot,” Hayes said. “That’s not the proper thing to do. We will, however, hire an extra person with experience to help out with the catering work while she is absent.”

During Rasmussen’s absence, Sodexho staff members will take on more responsibility and work in order to avoid hiring a person to replace Rasmussen.

“That’s what Caroline would have wanted,” Hayes said.

Updates on Rasmussen’s condition are emailed to faculty and staff when available. At the time of publication, no communication was established to alert students of Rasmussen’s condition.

Rasmussen had served the St. Ambrose campus community for 16 years. During that time, she served as a manager trainee, assistant manager, and dining room manager before becoming the retail director.

“We miss her in this building and in the Rogalski Center,” Hayes said.

According to Hayes, Rasmussen was vivacious, bubbly and into everything. She is a mother to two girls.

Donations can be sent to:

Northwest Bank & Trust Co.
100 East Kimberly Road
P.O. Box  8001
Davenport, IA 52808-0001
Account number: 2552255

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