California Skiing Legend Mike Mello

[Horton]

This is clipped from Facebook.

 

This is Mike Jolley helping Sally to explain what has happened to Mike Mello over the past few days. On Saturday morning Mike and Sally were participating in a paddle-boarding event on the San Francisco Bay out of Sausalito harbor. Mike was behind Sally out of her field of view and fell into the water. Once in the water he could not get back up on the board. Sally found Mike 20 minutes later in shock and partially paralyzed but somehow still holding the board. Sally's lifeguard experience kicked in and she managed to pull him up on the board out of the cold bay water saving his life. As others noticed her distress calls she was able to summon the lifeboat, get a call into 911, and get an ambulance to bring him to Marin General Hospital as they made it to shore.

At the hospital they confirmed Mike had a brain hemorrhage. We are unsure if the bleeding was the result of a stroke or possibly due to him hitting his head on the board, either way the cat-scan confirmed the presence of a large blood mass and swelling on his brain disabling his ability to speak or move the right side of his body. On Sunday when I saw Mike he seemed alert and responsive but frustrated he was unable to communicate verbally or by written text. The swelling on his brain was impacting the area dealing with speech. Another cat-scan was done on Monday morning revealing additional swelling had occurred overnight, Monday afternoon they took a MRI scan of his brain and it had not changed for better or worse than it was in the morning. Tuesday morning's cat-scan confirmed more swelling on the brain so the doctors suggested surgery to relieve the pressure to eliminate additional damage to the brain.

We are currently waiting for Mike to return from the surgery. There is a range of expected outcomes that will come clearer in the next few days. At this point we have been told not to expect a full physical recovery, likely some partial paralysis on his right side. Mike's verbal abilities will hopefully return to full capacity. We wish we could be clearer but this is as much as we know at this time.

Your positive wishes and prayers for the Mello family are appreciated. I will do my best to provide updates as we learn more information.

Mike Jolley

[Chuck_Dickey]

Godspeed Mike

[Horton]

This is clipped from Facebook.

UPDATE-Tuesday night 8:50pm Sally said Mike is out of surgery and time will tell. They are still praying for miracles! She has not seen him yet. The surgery was to stop him from dying and stop any greater damage. The damage is bad enough though. Sally says that they pray he gets out of the woods and that he will someday have a normal life. KEEP PRAYING FOR THE MELLO FAMILY!

[dthate]

Praying for intervention from the " Great Physician" and peace and comfort for the Mello Family.

[Ham_Wallace]

Mike is a great guy and a great competitor. he was like a human cannonball on the ramp. I have missed him at the starting docks for the past years. He was always in a jovial, good mood. I wish him a full and speedy recovery and prayers are with him.

[eleeski]

Mike always entertained everyone he skied with. What a fun character! Best wishes to Mike and his whole family.

Eric

[block]

Sending love and prayers for a full recovery.

[Horton]

Mello and the Horton bros go WAY back. Worried.

[A_B]

I am with OB, as my mom had similar Last year, however, not as severe, but still lingering issues.

 

It is a tragic event to see someone teaming with life then get afflicted by something like this.

 

I pray that he can recover and return to his family.

[Horton]

Mike Mello update #3

Mike is doing well today. Following yesterday's surgery Mike looks more relaxed, has more facial expression, and is much more alert than he was before. Taking the pressure off of his brain, had made a great difference. He is still not able to speak and his physical condition is unchanged but his mental state seems so much better we are all excited to see this improvement.

Mike's room at Marin General Intensive Care Unit is pretty small. The ICU does not permit flowers and there is not much room for other gifts so it would be best to save those generous thoughts for later when Mike is in a regular room. Sally said that he should be there another 4-5 days and then they will think about transportation to Roseville.

Mike is with Sally and his mom and dad today. Sally's wonderful sister has been helping her through this difficult time. KEEP THE PRAYERS COMING!

[jimbrake]

I've known Mike since late '70s. This is bad news. thoughts are with Sally, Mike, their boys and the rest of their fami

[hortonda]

Good to hear that Mike has made progress, I have know Mike way back into the late 60's, my thoughts go out to Mike and Sally for continued, quick and complete recovery.

[Horton]

UPDATE #4 From Mike Joley Short update to reflect on Mike Mello's condition.

 

On Tuesday afternoon Mike had surgery to stop the bleeding from the hemorrhage putting pressure on his brain. The surgeons said the surgery was successful resulting in reducing the pain and reducing the chance of further damage. The surgery started in the afternoon, it was 10PM or so before we saw him come out of the recovery room heading back to his room in the ICU. Sally spent a little time with him afterwards and he seemed more relieved and more alert than he had been in the last 2 days.

 

Wednesday I was not able to see Mike but I was told he looked much better.

 

This afternoon I was able to see Mike again, and he does look better as in more relaxed. The physical therapists have been able to help him into a sitting position where he can hold himself up and they have also had him standing with a little assistance. Today he is able to swallow and eat his own dinner.

 

We have also had the opportunity to learn a bit more about what we should be planning for the future. While we all want to be optimistic and hope for the best we need to realistic and realize that things are going to be very different in the future for Mike and his family. At this moment he does not have the ability to move his right arm or right leg. He seems to understand most of what we are saying but has not been able to communicate very much back to us. When he tries to talk his vocal chords do not respond and his attention span is very short.

 

The Mello’s appreciate all your prayers and support. The tough part is yet to come as Mike transitions to life at home in the near future, your continued support and Mike’s tenacity to get better will prove most beneficial then.

 

Mike Jolley

[Horton]

Sally Mello

It was another long day in the hospital. Mike is still in ICU. We were hoping he would be transported soon but they can not tell us when he might be stable enough to be moved. It's simple things like swallowing are big progressions. I see the light in his eye when he sees a friend. This makes me happy. I spoke to the surgeon this evening and he is happy. I saw all the scans and there is still a lot of swelling on the brain but it is not pooling and this too shall pass and he should regain even more.

11 hours ago ·

 

 

Mike Jolley

Saw Mike briefly, physical progress is going well as we loaded him in up in a wheel chair and he was using his good arm to try to run down the nurse. His appetite is sure strong and he is feeding himself well. He has even mastered one hand demands for Sally to give him more chocolate pudding.

 

I wish we saw more verbal progress. As I understand more about victims of this type of accident it is becoming more clear his re-learning process for speech and walking may be a long slow road.

 

I will be speaking with Sally later today and hope to be able to post a better update.

 

If anybody is in the boat market please support Mello Marine and buy a boat from Sally. Sally and Andrew have been doing an amazing job of keeping the business together during this difficult time!

[mikeskiw]

Hi Friends of Mello,

 

Fast forward from 2012 to 2021, while Mike Mello has been stable, healthy and happy with minor disabilities for the past years he’s been hit by misfortune again. About a week ago he was admitted into the hospital and is now in the ICU with complications from Covid. Here is an update from Sally copied from her Facebook thread. If you have questions feel free to send them to me. I will do my best to answer your questions so Sally does not get overwhelmed more than she already is.

 

Posted by Sally 8/17/2021:

Hi everyone, I just want to say thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Keep them coming! Mike Mello has Covid related Pneumonia and was put on a ventilator last Saturday, he is in ICU fighting for his life.  As we all know Mike Mello is a fighter, so our fingers are crossed that he can pull through, even though the odds aren’t very good, Mike has proven Dr’s wrong before. Again thank you for your prayers. miracles happen!

[mikeskiw]

Update:

Great news Mello was released from the hospital and is recovering at home