This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Dean and Dianne: A Love Story—Now with Wheels

Oswego resident Dean Morrissette fell from a tree Oct. 30, and lost the use of his legs. His wife, Dianne, says they are only in the first few chapters of their love story.

The month of November has been a whirlwind for Dianne Morrissette. Nearly every day, she has been driving back and forth from her Oswego home to visit her husband, Dean, as he recovers from a hunting accident.

It's not how the couple planned to spend their November. Dean was excited to start a new job at HQC in Oswego after being laid off from his job at PMA Friction at the end of October. Dianne thought she'd be back volunteering at River's Edge Cafe in Aurora, spending time with her new baby granddaughter, and planning for the holidays. 

Instead, Dean, 51, spent 17 days at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. after he fell out of his tree stand at the end of a weekend hunting trip with Dianne and his brothers.

Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After his brothers left, Dean and Dianne decided to do one last evening hunt. Their lives will never be the same.

The accident

Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Posted by Dianne Morissette on Facebook: "(Dean) had a hunting accident, fell from his tree stand and severed his spine and spinal cord. He is in the neuro-critical care unit at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria....he was airlifted there Sunday night, had surgery yesterday. He is doing pretty good considering. They say he will never walk, he is paralyzed from the waist down...we know he will fight it and walk/run again!"

The couple set up to hunt for deer about a field apart from each other in the late afternoon on Oct. 30. They hadn't shot any deer yet that weekend, so they were hoping to get one before leaving. Dianne explained that they normally get two deer, and donate one to a family in need. "It feeds their whole family," she said.

At about 4 p.m., Dianne text-messaged Dean and didn't receive a reply. She waited about 10 minutes before getting down from her tree and driving to his hunting spot where she found him lying on the ground. 

"I didn't know where we were. We were in the middle of nowhere," said Dianne, who called one of her brothers-in-law for help. 

They were hunting in Summum, IL, about an hour south of Peoria. An ambulance arrived to find Dean in and out of consciousness; the paramedics called a helicopter to transport him due to his condition. 

"He was starting to go into shock," said Dianne, who said Dean could have fallen asleep in the tree stand or missed a step, causing him to fall out. But there is no way of ever telling how he fell from the tree, since he has no memory of the accident. She added that he was not wearing a harness, and she and Dean want to stress how important they are for safety. 

"Wear your harness," she urges fellow hunters. Dean had been hunting for 30 years, so inexperience cannot be blamed. 

The recovery

Facebook update from Dianne on Nov. 6: "Everything happens for a reason. People change so you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they're right, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together. ♥"

"The chance of regaining (the use of) his legs is zero," said Dianne of Dean's prognosis. When he fell, he severed his spine and fractured vertabrae in his neck, leaving him paralyzed. He was moved from St. Francis in Peoria to Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, where he remains, with a release slated for Dec. 6. 

The current focus is on physical therapy and occupational therapy, which will both help Dean to be functional in his wheelchair. Dianne mentions on regular Facebook posts that Dean especially enjoys the challenge of physical therapy.

Dean, a former runner, ran 13 marathons before he stopped running due to bad knees. Less than a month after the accident, he is already planning to compete in the men's wheelchair division of Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN, either this summer or next.

"His spirits are unbelievably great," Dianne said over the phone last week. "He is determined to be 100 percent independent."

"It is what is. It happened and we have to deal with it." She added that they both have a "very strong faith" in God. 

A love story

Facebook update from Dianne on Nov. 8: "OK, I'm home, it's 3 a.m. and I walk into a house without my husband...and need sleep like never before, just didn't realize how this would actually feel. When I took these vows, I really did feel like two became one...and now I know for sure....the two of us became one! I'm here alone and feel like half of my body is missing, and that's because it is! Dean is still in Peoria, I'm home only to get him here, didn't think it would be this hard, I miss him already and getting all sappy listening to "our song"...guess I'm just over tired and these tears are caused from that....I'm sure! Looking around this house though, it's very clear how much our life is about to change. I know we can handle it...it's just weird, but we are writing a book and we have only gone through the first couple of chapters.....I believe it's going to be a great story!"

Dean and Dianne married on July 1, 2010 after getting reacquainted on Facebook for four months. The two both attended Oswego High School together, but didn't know each other more than exchanging a greeting in the hallway.

When they were reunited via the social media site, there was an instant connection. They made plans to meet up at Cornerstone, a Christian music festival in Bushnell, Illinois. They arrived to the festival on a Monday, and married that Wednesday. 

Dean, who had been managing a homeless shelter in Texas, moved to Aurora to be with Dianne. The couple then moved to Oswego, but have plans to move back to downtown Aurora this winter.

They have six grandchildren and one more on the way; they have a total of five daughters from previous marriages. 

Love Fund Benefit

Dianne said that she and Dean are blown away by how many people have come together to help them since the accident. 

Their daughters immediately started thinking of ways to help out, and began planning a benefit to help out with the many expenses that Dean and Dianne will incur. 

On Dec. 10, they will hold a benefit from 5 to 11 p.m. at Fox Valley Kickers Club in Oswego. There will be live music, raffle prizes, a silent auction and more. Tickets are $10 at the door. Visit the Dean & Dianne Love Fund on Facebook for more information.

Also, Dean's daughter, Deana Barajas, is selling Mary Kay, and sharing some of the proceeds with her dad. Dianne said that the money from a recent Mary Kay Fundraiser almost paid their rent for a month. Orders are still being accepted at www.marykay.com/deana.m.barajas. Just put "Dean's Benefit" in the comments of the order.

Others who are interested in helping with financial donations can mail a check to: Dianne Morrissette c/o SBRVCF PO Box 251, Oswego, Il 60543.

Those who know Dean and Dianne also know that people reaching out to them since the accident is just a good case of karma coming back at them. The Morrissettes are all about volunteering and helping people in need—just ask one of the many homeless people who have received food or clothes from them. 

"We are happy," says Dianne, who adds that when they are back home, "We're going to be doing the things we were doing—bringing food and clothing to people in the streets."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?