Hospital helps quadriplegic kiteboarder see birth of son

Posted: Oct 20, 2010 11:34 PM by Ariel Wesler
Updated: Oct 20, 2010 11:34 PM

Kinsley ThomasWong was already a world famous kiteboarder when an accident this summer left him paralyzed from the neck down.

He's been recovering ever since at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, but his wife, Jamie, has been getting ready to give birth at the same time.

A kiteboarding injury in July changed Kinsley ThomasWongs life forever. A gust of wind picked him up and threw him onto some nearby rocks. At the time, his wife was also eight and half months pregnant. Despite Kinsley's injuries leaving him quadraplegic, a Santa Clara hospital stepped up to ensure he wouldn't miss the birth of his son Taizen.

"I was contacted by Kinsley's doctor to setup webcams for the family to use when Jamie was in delivery in the early stages," said Debbie Burdsall with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

His wife, Jamie, was appreciative but the hospital went a step further and did something previously unheard of.

"They designed a room specifically for us that would be big enough that we could all be in there and had everything set up so that he could be there for as long as he wanted to be there, which was quite a bit of it," she said.

She says without her husband of five years by her side, she would not have made it through the 40 hours of labor.

"He was able to keep me going and keep me strong and finish it out so that this little guy could join us," Jamie said.

Taizen was born Aug 26th at 4:45 a.m. and was six pounds, 12 ounces and 18 inches long. The father of Central California Kiteboarding got to see his fatherhood unfold.

"I get to see jamie and taisen every day and so, it's wonderful," Kinsley said.

He has been home since September 22nd and no longer needs a ventilator to breathe. Friends say they are planning a party for the couple in November.

Kinsley is keeping very busy with a host of physical therapy, acupuncture and other treatments. Community donations have covered some costs for Kinsley not covered by insurance. To date, friends and family have raised more than $45,000 toward their goal of $85,000.