SClaraPokeman

Never worry about the bike, they'll all very replaceable--I'd trade a dozen new high zoot bikes to avoid a trip to the ER. I hope the helmet helped Mr. Oldstrong avoid a more serious injury. Mentally these things are tough to get over. I wish him well...

Lanceoldstrong

blessings be to all and thank The Lord for all of your kind wishes. I saw the doctor today for a follow up and got a good score. Wow, I am lucky. Left eye very swollen, just opening, stitches in my left eyebrow, left cheek swollen out far from face, thank goodness for helmets, expensive ones too. my Giro Atmos was worth every penny and did its job. I am doing better by the day, though my neck is sore. The muscles there are real insulted. Thank you alll for your prayers, kind words and well wishes. must sign off now. Doctor's orders. (wife's too) more details soon.

taxi777

gw_12

+1 on taxi777's emoticons

gpelpel

Nice to hear from you, Dan.

MarkoPolo

Heal quickly friend.

JoelS

Take your time and heal up! Looking forward to seeing you back out on your bike.

bikingshearer 

Following the doctor's orders is important. Following Julie's orders is essential.

Good to hear from you directly, Dan. It sounds like you are recovering well. That is tremendous news.

bigbossman 

Dan,

Late to the "party", as usual...... I don't browse the forums too much anymore.

Sorry to hear about this, but I am real happy to hear you're back home and on the mend. I won't intrude and add any uneeded stimulation around your house, but you have my number if you need anything..... I pass by in that area several times a week, so if you need a quart of ice cream.......

Red Rider

Like BBM I'm late to this party -- thanks to Curtis via Twitter I knew about Dan's accident. I just failed to get over here to read all about it.

Really glad you're home and healing, Dan. Rest up, ask for help (esp. when Julie needs help) -- a bunch of us would be happy to help.

t4mv

'Also late to the party here, but very glad to hear/read that you're getting better by the day. Heal up quick!

I don't think anyone's mentioned it yet, but at least it wasn't your Cal Triple Crown jersey you were wearing.

bigbenaugust 

Awesome, I was thinking about your accident last night. Glad to hear you're well enough to hit BF.

bobonker

Giro Atmos added to my list of things to buy next!

Bob

bikingshearer 

+1,000. And you and Julie need to commit these phrases to memory:"Could you give me a hand with [fill in the blank];" "Yes, that would be great;" "No, thank you;" "Sorry, but now is not a good time." Let your friends help you when, where and how you can use it.

At least as important, don't be afraid to turn down offers of help that will not be helpful to you. Your friends will want to help, not impose, and you should let them. But there is a world of difference between wanting to help and actually helping. Regardless of how well-meaning an offer is, if it is an offer of something that will not be helpful to you or yours, it is not helping and you (or Julie) should feel no guilt or regret about saying "no, thank you."

You and your family need to be selfish right now - what you guys need comes first, period. The rest of the world can take a back seat for a while. Even if that means telling well-meaning people to go away. Even if that means not answering the door or the phone (you need absolutely no more justification for doing that than "I/we don't feel like it right now").

[/unasked-for advice]

Lanceoldstrong

midland (Steve) brought over lunch today and hung out to give Julie a break from "watching" me for a while. Julie took off with the kids to a movie, on Curtis and Tricia's dime, then they came by for short visit until Steve callled "time" so I could rest. A good friend Jane, from Julie's work took the kids out to dinner and to walk the dog tonight. I am getting so much help and truly thoughtful kindness from friends it is humbling. I keep hearing something in my head about "it takes a village" We are finding out to our great fortune that to help an injured.concussed cyclist it takes a village.

Everyone is an angel. All of you. You know who you are. Thank you, so much.
My Doctor is pleased with my progress. He says to rest and take it slow. The gains are coming. My Double Vision is much better today. The Doc says the swelling going down in my left eye is helping this, since the eye is getting freer to move normally in the socket as the swelling goes down.

One day at a time, taking it slow. Grateful for my freinds and all the well wishers here.

Your friend,

Lance Oldstrong

JoelS

Keep healing my friend. You'll be back to normal and cranking out the miles soon enough. No need to rush anything.

DanteB

Seeing your posts are a big relief. Stick to your doctors orders, no to Julie's orders. Take your time, get well and see you back on the bike in the future.

curbtender

Heal well brother. Sounds like you have the support.

Red Rider

^^^ Yes, this.

It does indeed take a village, a community, and you have one...take advantage of us, use us, because we're here, we're willing, and we want to help in some small way to aid in your healing. We owe you, given what you've given us.

PrincessZippy

Glad to hear things are improving Dan. Don't rush things, the bike will be there when you're ready. I'm glad you weren't wearing your special DMD jersey.

Veronica

RoboCheme

Sorry to hear about your accident, Dan. Good luck on your recovery.

overthere

Wow, Dan! I'm also just reading the thread, I'm glad you're on the road to recovery. I have to admit, my heart lightened up multiple times when I came to your posts after the accident! Heal well, friend.

bikingshearer 

I was able to talk to Dan on the phone yesterday and was able to stop by for a brief visit today. He's doing great. Not "great" on the normal scale of things, but "great" compared to having recently been in the ICU from being smacked upside the head but good. He still looks like he was in a bar fight (I told him he needed to add the phrase "you should see the other guy" to his lexicon), and he is moving and talking talking noticeably more slowly than we are used to from him. And he needs his rest, which wife Julie makes sure he gets.

But he is clearly the Dan we all know and love and clearly is healing well. To all outward appearances, he is in much better shape than we had any right to expect. He is enjoying the Tour de France coverage and expressed his gratitude for all the good wishes from the BFers. (And no, he did not ask me to say that.) He and Julie have definitely read and re-read them and they are having the desired uplifting effect. So keep 'em coming. (No, he didn't ask me to say that, either.)

I confirmed he had no broken bones, and he has surprisingly little road rash. He also said that, while in the hospital, the medicoes did a couple MRIs on his brain and found nothing. (Sorry, Dan, I coudn't resist.) The reality is that they found nothing to indicate any brain swelling, which is a Very Good Thing. The short of it is that it will take a while (this was, after all, one hell of a blow to the head), but there is nothing I saw or heard to indicate anything other than a complete recovery. Of course, I am not a doctor, I never played one on TV, and I did not stay in Holiday Inn Express last night; heck, I don't even remember ever playing "doctor" as a kid. But he is getting good medical care, has the best family and friend support one could hope for, and is on the mend. And that is an Incredibly Good Thing.

Beaker

Thanks for the update big R. Dan - glad you're making good progress, we're all still thinking of you frequently.

bigbenaugust 

Does he have what's left of the helmet in his possession? That's awesome that his brain is pretty OK.