Cath Lab Digest

  I was absolutely devastated to wake up and read that Jill Kinmont Boothe died last night. In case you do not know, Jill was the subject of the movie "The Other Side of the Mountain." In early 1955, she was the reigning national champion in the slalom and a top prospect for a medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. While competing in the downhill at the Snow Cup in Alta, Utah, on January 30, 1955, she suffered a near-fatal accident which resulted in paralysis from the neck down. It occurred the same week that she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine dated January 31, 1955.

  Jill was an inspiration to me since 8th grade. I remember the day I found I was going to meet her and work with her through my research on the use of oxandrolone as a treatment for pressure ulcers. I was so excited I thought I might faint! I called my husband and I told him one of my dreams was coming true! He even flew to Nashville with me to be there for this momentous occasion. When we met, Jill was so personable and gracious and knowledgeable on pressure ulcers, having had several herself after all the years in a wheelchair. She signed my copy of Sports Illustrated with her on the cover and took many photos with me. I have them all framed in my office right above my desk. Jill meant a lot to me so this is a very sad day. I heard she ultimately died from complications related to an infected pressure ulcer, which somehow seems so unfair. Jill knew more about pressure ulcers than some practitioners I work with. We need to keep educating people on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment and cannot relax on our mission in Jill's memory.

  The LA Times article is located here: http://lat.ms/xGfnjR.

– Nancy Collins, PhD, RD, LD/N, FAPWCA