General Cycling Discussion - Niece has accident

My niece, Audrey Clark, broke several vertebrae
in a mountain biking accident. It is not life-threatening, but she will be laid up for a long time.

More details as I learn them.

Ouch! Sorry to hear about the accident, Pete! Hope she's feeling better soon.

Oh, dear...sorry to hear it, Pete! I will send up prayers for her.

Pete,

I can't speak for the entire community,
but please let your neice know I'm thinking
about her, and wish her a speedy recovery.

Marty

Sorry to hear the bad news Pete. Glad it's not serious. Give her my best.
Hope the recovery is short and complete.

:(

Hope she's OK soon.

Hope her recovery goes well.

Praying for quick recovery...

Pete, please keep us updated. I hope she has a speedy recovery.

Hope your niece recovers quickly. Is she young? That definitely helps!!

It goes without saying: mountain biking can be a very dangerous sport. I hope all the MTBers out there are careful.

Really sorry to hear about your niece Pete. Hope all goes well and she improves quickly. I'll keep her in my prayers as well.

I'm sorry to hear about that, Pete. Help her be strong! I wish her a speedy and full recovery.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her and the extended family.

Hi Pete, let her know we're all waiting to hear about her SPEEDY recovery!

I hope she'll be OK. You have my support.

Originally posted by lotek
Pete,

I can't speak for the entire community,
but please let your neice know I'm thinking
about her, and wish her a speedy recovery.

Marty

I think Marty's wishes are representative of all of us.

Hope she recovers quickly Pete. Send her a hello from over the water.

I want to add my words of support, Pete. Hope your niece has a fast and complete recovery.

Me too. Hope she's well soon.

Such rapid, kind responses from all! You are certainly compassionate, caring folk!

As promised, my dear friends, more (good) news, from her own lips, by email:

"Hey everybody, friends and family. Some of you know and some of you don't know that I broke my back on Friday 14th. I went over a dirt jump (a big one!) too fast, flipped over my handlebars, plowed my head into the ground (wearing a helmet), and fractured 4 thoracic vertabrae. I happened to be biking with 5 first aid trained friends, so they secured my head and everything. I went to the emergency room in Prescott, then was helicoptered to Phoenix so that the neurosurgeon could make sure I didn't need surgery. I didn't need it and my spinal cord was not in danger. I stayed at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix for four days. My dad, stepmom, and stepbrother came out from Boston, my mom from North Carolina where she was vacationing, and my brother from Oregon. In addition, my dad's relatives in Phoenix visited me every day too. My aunt, her boyfriend, my cousins Amy and Jeff and Amy's husband Ronnie and their baby Dylan. I had a full hospital room. All of the nurses and staff at the hospital were unbelievably kind, as was everyone I came in contact with.

"I was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday evening and spent the night at my aunt's. The next day my dad and I drove up to Prescott and now we're staying at my friend Josh's house. I can walk just fine. The hospital gave me a walker which I use occasionally. I have to wear a torso brace for three months. I'm going to try to finish the semester as best as I can. I'm supposed to be getting in-home physical therapy too. In about a week my mom and brother are going to trade places with my dad in caring for me, my brother just for a few days. Everything is great--I mean it. I feel happy and I hope that all of you do too. [Insert a few political comments about the war in Iraq, not necessary to print, but suffice to say it's a sign Audrey is in good spirits. :D ] Love, Audrey."
--

Great stuff, glad to hear she wasn't more seriously hurt and is on the mend!

Really good news Pete! Glad it isn't any worse than it is. Could have been much worse very easily, as I'm sure you know. Tell Audrey Hi for me! :)

Glad to here she's doing well. Tell her hey for me too.

Awesome news, Pete!!!!! :) :D :)

:beer:

back injuries are so common among cyclists, MTBers and downhillers are particularly vulnerable. TEll her to make sure she gets good physio so it won't keep bothering her!

I hope Audrey clicks on this thread as instructed.

:)

I hope she get's better.

dear audrey, through steve's posting, when i was 20 i was (as a roadie) i too, was involved in an accident. here is a brief description of my injuries, 48 1/2 inches of cuts. (20 stitches per inch) chipped teeth, road rash (duh!) not to mention ruining my schwinn sport collegiate 5 speed. does anyone besides me remember this bike??? moving on... i currently have a new ride in layaway and can hardly wait to get on it.... to make a long story short, as you recover, and you will recover, keep in mind all the great times that you had on your bike(s) all the years of enjoyment you had and will have in the years to come. now i am not just trying to blow a little sunshine up..... sorry. the reality of something like this is to analyze this situation make adjustments and prepare to move on... may sound hard and may be hard. i remember all the friends i had come and visit me in the hospital which was only a short 10 days, half the time in icu, feel the love that will come your way, the support and encouragement, all of which is great. the biggest determining factor will be>>>>>>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO FROM THIS DAY FORWARD????? i am giving my bike to me for my birthday in april, i will be 48 years young.... here is to a complete recovery. you will be in my prayers. if you would like to write then do it. do not get frustrated

Originally posted by oldguy
...not to mention ruining my schwinn sport collegiate 5 speed. does anyone besides me remember this bike??? i am giving my bike to me for my birthday in april, i will be 48 years young....
Yes, I remember the Schwinn Collegiate 5-speed. I had an olive-green one. It was wonderful. Strange, though, I always rode it around in high-gear, probably because I was used to a single-speed coaster brake.

("Oldguy--" how can you call yourself, "old" when you are only 5 years older than me? :D )

Originally posted by Pete Clark
("Oldguy--" how can you call yourself, "old" when you are only 5 years older than me? :D )

How can he call himself "old guy" when he is 4 years YOUNGER than I?

I am glad your niece is mending, Pete. Thanks for the post and the update. People in this community do care.

Hmm, I was 8 when "oldguy" was born. Should I change my handle to "OldHag"?