Dr. Les Bisson, harbinger of doom

[Ghoulish Delight]

Were I on a professional sports team and I learned that Dr. Les Bisson was the doctor on hand in an arena I'm playing at, I'd ask to spend the game on the bench.

In October, Buffalo Bills' tight end Kevin Everett suffered a major spinal injury on field. With the extent of the damage it was considered life threatening. Against the odds, Everett not only survived, but actually recovered enough to walk into the locker Bills' locker room for their final game of the season. Credited with this seeming miracle is Dr. Les Bisson.

Flash forward to 2 nights ago, also in Buffalo, where the NHL's Floriday Panthers were playing against the Buffalo Sabres. In the third period, with a puck lose behind Buffalo's net, Florida forward Olli Jokonen was knocked off balance, sending his right leg (and therefore skate) into the air...directly into the path of oncoming team mate Richard Zednik's throat. Zednik's carotid artery was slashed, nearly severed. In shock, he managed to skate to the bench, holding the wound, trailing blood.

Behind the scenes, on hand to treat him...Dr. Les Bisson. Again, Bisson was credited with fast action that likely saved Zednik's life and perhaps even spared him the nerve and brain damage that can easily be associated with losing 5 pints of blood and the subsequent clamping of the artery during the repair surgery.

You gotta give it to Les, he apparently is a damn good doctor, but I'd be freaking nervous if I saw his face in the stadium medical staff.

Oh, and if you're curious, video of either accident is readily available on YouTube (a search for either Zednik or Kevin Everett will likely turn them up). I can't bring myself to watch, just the thought of it makes my skin crawl.