|   Thanksgiving | nihilan
Nov 27, 2003 9:26 PM | | Hey all.
I just received a phone call. A good friend of mine, who has done the most to coach and inspire me towards being a better rider, the best rider that I personally know, broke his neck this morning while riding.
He was riding alone and at some point went over the handlebars, landing on his head. He either didn't or couldn't move, but was able to yell for help, and someone heard him. He's in the hospital now, and will undergo surgery tomorrow morning.
It's midnight as I write this, I received a phone call from our mutual friend 35 minutes ago. I didn't know what to do at first. I sat down on my bed and almost started to cry as thoughts of this jovial, larger than life person reduced to paralysis crept into my minds eye. I quickly called his girlfriend to learn more.
The good news is that he is not paralyzed and his brain is ok. She told me that he spoke lucidly and she seemed pretty positive about the whole thing.
Apparently, he was very, very lucky today. As we all know this could have been much worse. He and everyone who knows him certainly have something to be thankful for today.
I have to confess; as the sounds heard over the phone formed into words formed into images in my head along side images of my friend paralyzed or worse the thought formed "will I ever ride again"?
It seems ludicrous 40 minutes later. Knowing full well how many people die or are hurt in auto-accidents, do we stop driving? No. I think my friend would laugh at me if I suggested such a thing, but he is (relatively speaking) "ok". I don't want to consider what my thoughts would be like if the situation had been worse.
Other crazy questions occur to me now. What exactly caused him to go over-the-handlebars? What happened to his bike (surely the paramedics wouldn't take it with them?)? Did he have his cell phone? Could he have reached it? And on, and on. Thankfully, the most important question has been answered. He is alive, and relatively well. For that, I am most thankful.
p.s.
Have a good holiday, and please be careful. |
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