Senator Atkinson recovering at home after gunshot injury

CENTRAL POINT, OREGON - Senator Jason Atkinson has returned home to begin the long road to recovery. He was released from Providence Medford Medical Center and immediately began outpatient physical therapy.

“I am so blessed, so fortunate to still have my leg,” Atkinson stated. “This certainly has been a life changing experience and I wake up daily full of thankfulness despite the pain.”

Atkinson was wounded by a 38-caliber pistol while working on a friend’s bicycle. Within seconds of the gunshot, Stephanie Atkinson found Jason in a pool of blood on their garage floor, next to his bicycle repair stand. She stopped the bleeding from the artery with her fingers and by forming a tourniquet with a bicycle tube.

“Stephanie is the real hero,” Atkinson stated. “Without her I would have bled to death before the paramedics arrived.”

Atkinson was taken to Providence Medford Medical Center on Tuesday, July 29 and was operated on later that evening by Dr. John Schwartz, Southern Oregon’s primer vascular surgeon, who worked to save Atkinson’s foot and leg. Dr. David Galt, Southern Oregon’s leading orthopedic surgeon temporarily set Atkinson’s leg. With the extreme amount of trauma to the artery, it was not until several days later that Atkinson’s foot gained enough of a pulse to be saved.

After one week in the Intensive Care Unit and the stabilization of the pulse in Atkinson’s lower limb, Dr. Galt took Atkinson for a second surgery to rebuild his lower femur. X-rays taken two weeks after the accident indicate a successful series of surgeries and Atkinson is expected to recover after one year of physical therapy.

“Its ironic the bullet hit the strongest part of my body and that it was a bicycle tube Stephanie used to slow the bleeding.” Atkinson said. “I am blessed, thankful and so very happy to be working toward recovery.”

The Atkinson family would like to thank everyone who sent cards, letters, flowers, and emails during our two weeks in ICU. “We are eternally thankful for all the prayers so many have made on Jason’s behalf,” Stephanie said. “We felt every one and know God’s hand has spared Jason.”

The Atkinson family wants to thank Father James Clifford who met Stephanie in the Emergency Room and stood with the family before Jason could be sedated and operated on. Our deepest appreciation to Dr. Galt and Dr. Schwartz, who spent countless sleepless nights thinking, worrying, and considering Jason’s case, and the Intensive Care Nursing staff, who held our family in the palm of their hands and they cared for us. The Atkinson family thanks every member of Providence Medford Medical Center team who cared for Jason, from the nurses in the rehab wing to the chefs that kept strawberry milkshakes flowing.

Senator Atkinson and his family would also like to convey their gratitude and appreciation for the professionalism of the Central Point Police Department and Central Point Fire and Rescue.

Atkinson served in the Oregon Legislature since 1999 and was a candidate for Oregon’s Governor in 2006.