Healing

Here’s “Chapter 2″ in my March 2008 crash experience. I’m republishing material written shortly after the ordeal to provide a glimpse for others into the “process” if you’re run off the road and left for dead. The italicized content below main post are my observations today.

“A week after almost losing my right ear, I’ve been given medical approval to resume light stationary training. I’ve posted fliers in Ramona, California asking for witness information on what anyone may have seen. A local business told me it received a call from a woman asking about how to reach authorities. She reported having possible information about a Ford Excursion where I hit the pavement. I hope she has formally contacted the California Highway Patrol. They have little to go on.

The CHP says there is no physical or eye witness evidence to suggest I had “contact” with a vehicle. I am thankful for their work but still feel that someone was there before any law enforcement responders arrived — and that someone knows something. I hope their conscience helps them come forward, so I can fully understand how I came to be lying on my back. Falling to the ground on a moderate training ride where the pavement is smooth and I’ve ridden more than 100 times doesn’t compute. I had sufficient rear and front lighting. I have zero road rash to my hands, arms or back, which suggests I had no time to react before hitting the deck. I have no memory. I’ve had fuzzy recollections of floating, looking down and thinking “this won’t be good.” None make sense.

With four marathons (two of them just over 3 hours), and countless century rides at altitude in the bank, I’m well aware of what my body can and can’t do. A strong piece of advice: If you ride, please wear a helmet. I don’t want to sound preachy. It’s no guarantee you won’t get hurt. But a helmet saved me untold injuries. If you don’t have a professional team car to manage vehicles behind your group or individual ride, you are at the mercy of motorists, simple as that. I still trust people. I have ridden too many miles in San Diego to believe otherwise.

I want to thank everyone who has helped me this past week — CHP, Ramona Fire, LifeFlight, Palomar Medical Center’s Trauma Unit, the nurses on the 7th floor, Brian Casciari DDS, Bruce Johnson DDS, and Jonathon Wilensky, MD, who sewed my ear and parts of my face back together. The wounds continue to heal. Forward I go with no regrets.”

At this point, I still had some dizziness and blurred vision from the impact. My right rotator cuff burned. My upper lip, chin and right ear bore black knots of the plastic surgeon’s micro-stitching. (I sheared off several teeth and would undergo one lower tooth impant, a double root canal, mutliple temporaries, and finally a three-tooth upper bridge, as well as one additional lower cap.) I wanted answers to the crash. I wanted closure. I felt weakened and helpless. Law enforcement was not returning my phone calls very quickly (two, three or more days). No witnesses were coming forward. My rock was my family and health-care team. Healing was still priority one. Tomorrow’s Chapter 3: Back on the trainer and thankful, as well as a short checklist of things to consider so you are protected to best of your ability — physically, mentally and financially.

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