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Back In The Hunt, AIM’s Can-Am Challenge at Brimley Signals Return of John Kolinski Following Paralysis Scare

Category: npaa

 Mar 26th, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Mar 26th, 2012 at 12:00 AM

When AIM Pro Walleye Series angler John Kolinski guns his Mercury-powered Triton on the first day of the Can-Am Invitational at Brimley, it will mark the return of the angler to the pro circuit for the first time in more than a year, following a scary incident that could have left the veteran paralyzed, or worse. 

Kolionski dropped off the tour and out of sight last year with a serious injury that began before the 2011 Brimley tournament, when his right side started going numb.

Here’s the story of his ordeal, and the remarkable comeback he’ll be making upon his return to Brimley May 31-June2:

Until last year, Kolinski had competed in every AIM tournament, but he wasn’t prepared for what happened as he was heading to Brimley in 2011.

He was also fighting own history returning to The Soo. “I’ve never had much luck there. I haven’t been able to figure out that bite.” Last year, however, before he left for Brimley, he’d been fighting a nagging numb feeling on his right side. But in Brimley, it got worse. Much worse.
“I almost backed out of it because I was hurting so much, but I decided to drive up from my home in Appleton. I went to the rules meeting, and never pre-fished, I was hurting so bad.”

Because of his condition, Kolinski decided to head to a nearby creek. “I kept joking with (Tom) Kemos about the long runs he was making. I’d say ‘how much gas did you burn today, and he’d say about $150. He ended up not taking a check, and I did, burning about $15 in gas.” “But, I was hurting throughout the tournament,” he said. Fishing jigs in the creek, he met fellow pro Tommy Skarlis. “Tommy said, ‘John, you must have some pretty good weight by now.’ I said, why do you say that, and he answered ‘because you’re only jigging with your left arm.'”

Kolinski’s arm had gotten so weak, he couldn’t even hold a cup. “I’d have a hit on my right-hand rod and I couldn’t feel it, and kept dropping it right out of my hand. He thought I was doing great because I was only using one rod, actually.”

	Recovering, sleeping in a recliner for weeks!

“I had been seeing a doctor about all this, and he kept telling me I’d rolled a nerve in my elbow. I couldn’t feel anything or grab anything and had pain all down my right side almost to my knee. It felt like when your arm’s fallen asleep, but 24 hours a day.”

He fought through the problems to take 15th place. After Brimley, Kolinski returned to his original doctor, insisting that his symptoms were evidence of more than just a pinched nerve in his elbow, but he said to just give it time, and it will pass.

But, it didn’t. 

Wisely, Kolinski sought a second opinion, and called a specialist. It was a life-changing decision. He saw her the next morning, and she performed a simple test. “She said, ‘squeeze my two fingers.'”

He couldn’t. “She started feeling my neck and up and down my spine, and kept pushing spots, saying ‘do you feel this,’ and I’d say, no, no, no, each time. She asked, ‘how long has this been going on?’ I said, about the last four months.” and then told her of the elbow diagnosis.
Her answer: ‘I’m sending you in for an MRI tomorrow and I want you to see a neurosurgeon tomorrow. You can go to either Appleton or Oshkosh, but my advice is Oshkosh. He’s one of the best in the state.'”

The next morning, Kolinski underwent an MRI from his head to his knees, along with his back, which he’d had problems with for the last 20 years.

As the MRI progressed, a technician asked when he’d see the surgeon, Kolinski said. “I told him that afternoon, and he said good.'” Anytime a technician stays that, expect something a lot more than a pinched elbow nerve.

His meeting with the neuro was sobering. “‘I can see the problem,” the doctor said. “Normally the spinal column shows up as white on an MRI. Bone shows up as black. Nerves don’t show up as black. Yours does.” In other words, about three inches of important nerve bundles were badly damaged. “I want you to bring your wife in the morning and we’ll operate right away. Because the longer you wait, the more you’re going to be paralyzed on your right side. You’re 50 percent paralyzed already.” An operation was next.

What options were there? None. A mistake in the operating room would result in possible paralysis. Not doing anything will result in permanent paralysis. No brainer there.
After eight hours in the OR and three spinal fusions later, along with 12 titanium pins, 12 screws and three plates, all installed through his throat, along with a bone marrow transplant, and “nerve porting” to his spine, doctors put Kolinski back together.

Next on his plate? A 12- to 18-month recovery with lots of physical therapy. “I couldn’t snowmobile, get in a boat, ride an ATV, ice fish or hunt. I was in a neck brace and slept on a recliner for five weeks,” Kolinski recalled. “I went by a pier last August and tried to make a few casts. It hurt, bad. So I quit. I had to worry about cutting myself, and I I stated walking back and stubbed my toe on something, and put a sliver in it, so I called the doctor. He had me into a clinic the next day and put me on antibiotics and removed half my toenail. So there I was, with this neck brace on and a big bandage on my foot.”

Time heals wounds, as they say, and in Kolinski’s case, it definitely is. He’s now off the painkillers he took for years for his back and shoulder problems. “My upper body feels good now. I go in every six weeks for checkups and they take x-rays of how the fusion is progressing. It takes three to six months before the results start to show. In the third month I could see a little bit of mending, and the last time I saw more. I had my last checkup and the doctors tell me I’ll be good to go.”

After his trials, Kolinski can’t wait to get back on the water. And he’s aiming for his first experience to be the AIM Can-Am at his old fishing nemesis, Brimley, and The Soo area.
“I’ll be there. The doctors can say ‘this is what we suggest,’ but the way I look at it, I’ll be there. I’m looking forward to it. The last time I was in a boat was at Brimley, and the first time I’ll be back on the water will be Brimley.”

A prodigal rebirth of sorts, if you will.

The Bay Mills Can-Am Invitational will take place May 31 – June 2. Three unique features will be incorporated into the tournament.

First, each of the 60 pro anglers will receive $300 from the tournament headquarters, Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley at registration – before the tournament even begins – totaling $18,000.

Second, anglers will also be competing for Team Bonuses.  Each pro will be competing as a member of the American or Canadian Team, with each Pro’s C-R-R weight being added to their respective team’s weight.  T
The team with the highest total C-R-R weight will each receive a $250 bonus – that’s another $7,500.

Third, because of Bay Mills Resort & Casinos’ sponsorship, the complete cash prize and bonus payouts will exceed 150% of the Pro Angler entry fees.  This will make the Bay Mills Can-Am Invitational the most lucrative walleye tournament anywhere in 2012.

    More previews of the tournament are in store here in the months leading up to the tournament.