From the Slopes to Support

Clive's Story

I was so unsure of what to do after the accident. I can’t believe they provided that service to me.

I live next to a Kaiser hospital. I can’t imagine Kaiser doing something like that for a patient.

-Clive Whitcher

Clive Whitcher was close to the end of his day of skiing in March 2025 when he was hit from behind by another skier.

“I remember somebody saying ‘sorry, mister!’ but I can’t quite recall who was there or what happened,” says Clive. “When I got up, I actually felt okay. I skied another few runs. However, when I was headed home, I was going down the escalator at Canyon Lodge and suddenly the pain came searing in and I fell face first down the escalator, which you can imagine caused a bit of a panic!”

Clive was assessed by ski patrol and sent to Mammoth Hospital, where a CT scan detected two broken ribs.

“The doctors and nurses told me I was able to keep skiing because of the adrenaline post-accident,” says Clive.

Clive was alone in Mammoth Lakes, and his broken ribs were causing him a great deal of pain.

“I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” he said. That’s when Spiritual Care Coordinator Karen Phillips stepped up.

Karen and Population Health Nurse Sandra Pearce went to Clive’s hotel room and packed up all his things. “I even gave them the code to the safe,” Clive says with a laugh.

“I was so unsure of what to do after the accident,” says Clive. “I can’t believe they provided that service to me.” Clive says Karen even moved his car close to the hospital exit when he was discharged so he could easily access it. “I live next to a Kaiser hospital. I can’t imagine Kaiser doing something like that for a patient.”

Clive made a gift to the Mammoth Hospital Foundation in honor of Karen and Sandra and the care he received.