General Cycling Discussion - an accident, a dear friend, a dark, dark day...

I am kinda in shock as I write this:

My good friend Jenny was in a serious bike accident yesterday. Serious enough that she would be dead right now had she not been wearing her helmet. Serious enough that even with the helmet on she lost consciousness, and is having bleeding and swelling in the brain. Serious enough that the doctors are worried about brain damage. Words are not enough to express my grief and sorrow. For you see, I am the one who introduced Jenny to cycling, and I cannot help but feel like I am partly to blame, for getting her mixed up in this stuff in the first place. Jenny and I were supposed to be doing a triathlon together this month - my training was interrupted also by a bad crash which wrecked my collarbone and put me out of swimming for a while. Now everything is up in the air... and I have no idea if Jenny will be the same person when I see her next time.

Man I feel like crap!! I just want to die....

Please offer your prayers up for Jenny.

Thanks,
John

John, sorry to hear about this terrible accident. I hope your friend will recover soon!


I just want to die....

Don't. Your friend needs you.

Will keep my fingers crossed for you guys...

Hang in there for you and for Jenny. If you feel like talking tell us what happened if not ok whatever makes you feel better.

Joe

My prayers are with you and Jenny both!

I feel for you both, but don't blame yourself for her accident just because you introduced her to cycling. If she really enjoys cycling she'll be back on her bike as soon as she's able to. Blaming yourself for introducing her to cycling is like blaming yourself when someone has a car accident because you taught them how to drive. It's not your fault. Just be strong for Jenny and help her get through this. When she does, you'll both be stronger. The fact that she's fit will probably help speed her recovery as her body will be stronger & healthier. Please let us know how her recovery progresses. We're thinking of you both. Take care.

John my prayers are with you I know exactly what your going through just last week my little brother was involved in a bad accident and I had introduced him into the cycling world things will get better but I know about the guilt. Give it time and just be there for Jenny she isn't mad at you, and atleast you taught her right and she was wearing her helemet. Good luck and you and Jenny will be in my prayers.
Chris

HANG IN THERE!!!! MAN OH MAN!

I have you both in my thoughts.

here are pictures of me and jenny at a duathlon this spring:
http://www.pbase.com/pinebarrensdu

Jenny was actually riding with me the day I had my accident. Back then she was the one (among many others) who was saying that I should be careful.

This is all I know right now:


details about the accident are still unknown but she suffered a severe blow to the head, lost consciousness, and is now in the intensive care unit at mcp hahneman. by the time her sister arrived at the hospital, jenny was conscious and able to identify people's names and faces, though she couldn't remember the events leading to the accident. what concerns the doctors is the potential effects of brain injury due to the swelling and internal bleeding. she'll continue to be monitored and tested over the next few days to see whether she needs surgery. externally she also has a deep gash on her knee that needs to be treated.

Thanks for all your support everyone... it is greatly appreciated.

I'm really sorry to hear about this. Please keep us updated on her recovery.

She will ride again and no, it's not your fault.

I guess the guilt I feel is not that I introduced her to cycling... but maybe I didn't teach her enough about how to be safe on the bike... maybe I shouldn't have let her start riding clipless so soon. I feel like.... maybe I could have prevented this if I'd been riding with her....
The sense of frustration I feel is downright maddening.....

Wow John, I'm so sorry to hear about Jenny's accident. It's true that you need to stay strong for her sake now. I can certainly relate to your story. My best friend was killed in a motorcycle accident on April 8th, 2001. I introduced him to motorcycling many years prior, and the bike he was on when he crashed was a bike I'd sold him the year before.

It's taken some time, but I now understand that this was in no way my fault. I, instead, take comfort in knowing that Jim loved to ride, and we had some great times together on our bikes.

Think positive thoughts about Jenny. Be strong for her and her family. She very well may fully recover, and you and she will once again ride together. Think about that!

I will keep you and she in my thoughts.

I know this isn't much comfort, but don't be too concerned about her not remembering events just before and after the accident. I suffered a pretty hard knock which resulted in unconsciousness, and couldn't remember what happened just before and after the accident. You need to be there for her when she goes through the next 8 or 10 months. Her doctor probably won't want her to do anything which has even a remote possibilty of another head injury. I couldn't run, cycle, lift, etc. for 8 months after my accident. Side effects for me included irritability and depression as well as some cognitive and memory problems. About a year later and I'm pretty much good. I'm sure you will, but here's a reminder; have patience with her and support her through the time when it seems like there's nothing wrong anymore. It is really hard when you are dealing with the mood and memory stuff, but on the outside it looks to everyone like you are just fine.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Jenny in this terribly saddening time. Best wishes.

John,

I know its difficult to hear now, but no matter what
you would have done, no matter how much you tried
you couldn't protect Jenny from crashing.
Please remember all you did was offer her the oppertunity
to cycle, not force her into it.

Don't beat yourself up for it, be thankful that Jenny
is and will be ok.

Know that both you and Jenny are in my thoughts.

Marty

Both of you are in my thoughts today, John. MCP is a great hospital so rest assured she's in good hands. Be there and be strong for your friend. We're here if you need us.

All my best to the both of you. Please keep us updated with her progress.

Best wishes

My prayers are with both of you, Please keep us up to date on the progress.

Sorry to hear about this. I hope all turns up well for both of you.

Be there for your friend.

I wish you both well and hope that only the best comes from this.

I hope everything works out o.k.
My prayers are with you and Jenny!

Update:

I was able to see Jenny in the hospital today, and it was a pleasant surprise. Jenny is doing really well, other than a fractured skull and a really bad brain bruise (subdural edema or something like that). She is fully conscious and feels good enough that she was joking and talking about how great her ride had been and how she's so looking forward to getting back on the bike. Of course we're not gonna let her, but that gives you an idea of how she's feeling. She has no cognitive deficits that I can perceive, and the weirdest thing that she's experiencing is pain at her fingertips, probably from some damage to the sensory cortex.

She actually got back some of her memory leading up to the accident, and she said that she remembered she was doing something like 19mph on a bike path (Philly people will know it as Kelly drive) where 3 stupid jerk MTBers were riding 3 abreast and filling up the whole width of the path. The last thing she remembers seeing was the bewildered look of the middle rider, as both were waiting for the other to make a move....

anyways I feel much better now, but I know all too well how she's feeling right now. I think she's in a state of denial regarding her injury... the reality hasn't set in that she's going to have to give up her running and her biking and her racing and her MS150 for the next couple months.... but when it does I know it's gonna hit her like a ton of bricks.... cuz it did for me when I broke my wrist last year, and not as bad this year, but when I broke my collarbone also.

Good to hear she is making progress.:)

It is such a releif to hear she is doing well. God is smiling on her.

I cannot add anything else to what has already been said except my thoughts and prayers go out to your friend, as well as to you. Be strong for her and be there for her. That's the best thing you can do to help her through this.

Take care,

Koffee

It's good to hear she's doing well. I seem to recall reading somewhere that sometimes the human mind deliberately blocks out the memory of the events leading up to a trauma, and that not remembering the event is not necessarily a sign of harm. In this case, it might even be for the best if she can't remember it.

I must admit that I was skimming ahead for any good news. I really appreciate that you are keeping us posted. I wish her a speedy recovery and that you also get back on track.

Take care, Dan

The resilience of the human body never ceases to amaze.

My very best wishes for a complete recovery!

-Rob

John, I will keep Jenny in my prayers and I'm very happy to hear she's doing better. John, also keep in mind that you introduced Jenny to the world of biking.....great for her health and lots of fun....a full lifetime of fun ahead for her and for you!!

Regards,
Brian

John,

I'm really sorry to hear about your friend's accident. I'm relieved and happy she's so much better now, though.

Best wishes.

John,
Glad to hear she is doing better tonight. I hope Jenny's out and about soon again. Keep us posted, our prayers are with her.
Mike

Whew!

I checked back first thing, and it's good to hear she's already talking about getting on a bike again! Even if she can't ride again until next year, it will probably give her enough determination to get into the physical therapy and get herself well so she CAN get back on a bike. Let her talk about it- it may be the one thing that keeps her going, especially if the physical therapy gets frustrating at times....

I remember when I got hit by a car on my bike. Seriously, to this day, I don't remember anything. I was sitting there one minute at the stop sign, and the next minute, I was looking up at the sky, laying on the ground with people surrounding me. I was lucky, and so was your friend. Don't be surprised if she doesn't remember. Her injuries were much more serious than mine, but a concussion can do that stuff to your brain sometimes. It's been years since my accident, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot remember the events when I got hit. Good thing there were so many eye-witnesses in my case!

What happened with these MTB'ers? Were they the ones who called the ambulance? Are they being sought for causing this accident?

Again, keep us posted on her progress. Let her know there's a whole community of cyclist out there pulling for her and keeping our prayers and thoughts with her and her family.

Koffee

Good to hear some good news John - keep us posted
Joe

Glad to hear that everything is going to be o.k.!
My prayers are still with you.
:)

It's NOT your fault! And my best wishes for your friend's recovery--maybe she'll be posting here about the dangers of bike paths sometime.

Best wishes for a full recovery for your friend.
Glad to hear she is improving.
Don't feel guilty.

Bike paths Uggghhh!

Im sorry for u and jenny both and I hope she ends up ok.


And plz dont blame urself. :(

I'm glad your friend is doing better. When she does get on a bike again she might be really scared, so you'll have to be supportive and encouraging. The feelings will go away fast once she starts riding again, but it seems that little ghosties (doubts) follow for awhile wondering if it'll happen again.

Kathi

When she's able you could get a bike trainer for her. That way she'll feel she's making progress and won't feel so out of touch with riding.

Kathi

update:

seems like we're not quite out of the woods yet. here's an email i got today from jenny:

can i ask you to continue praying for my health and recovery? i just came home from spending the night in the er after running into some complications yesterday. thankfully, the ct scan shows that there is no additional bleeding and the fracture in my head is starting to heal. i have to admit that i'm in pain
though and i've been feeling pretty wretched. please pray that He would be
the very breath that i breathe and that He would be the author of my comfort
and healing.

oh, BTW, Jenny was discharged from the hospital sat afternoon...

Great news to hear Jenny is back at home. I'm sure she is on her way to a speedy recovery! God bless!

Kia Kaha

Maori for Be strong

Brendon

Add me to the list of those praying for Jenny and her continued recovery.

Don't know how I missed this thread, but pass on my best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, John

John

Originally posted by deliriou5
oh, BTW, Jenny was discharged from the hospital sat afternoon...

:thumbup:

That's great news! She's on her way to recovery now. Keep us updated, please. :)