August 21st, 2011. A day I'd like to re-do. And a day I'd like to forget. Wait, I don't remember a lot of that day as it is. My friend Scott and I set out to ride our bikes down the paved section of Middle Canyon, above Tooele, UT. I remember getting the bikes off Scott's car, getting my helmet on, and pedaling away. My next memory, is waking up on the helicopter and talking with the New Zealander that was my EMS attendant. The rest is a blur.
Apparently, I passed Scott going downhill at about 35MPH and had a flat front tire. I hit the ditch headfirst, then rolled on my right shoulder and then my back. I was out cold. Scott was able to get a motorist to call 911 when they got out of the canyon, and an ambulance picked me up and took me to the Medical Center here in Tooele. They sent me by helicopter to the University of Utah Hospital. I'm told I was alert and talkative, but I have no real memory of any of it. What I do remember is what folks told me I was doing or saying, but its like something I watched on TV a lifetime ago.
I had a bunch of injuries. I hit the ground headfirst and destroyed my helmet. THAT, saved my life. Even though I was out cold and had a bad concussion. Next on the menu, an Occipital Condyl Avulsion. The Condyls basically hold your head on your spine and let you move it around. And one of those came lose from my skull. I also crushed a vein in my neck and messed up some nerves across my shoulder. Not to mention badly road rashed my right shoulder. I broke 3 or 4 ribs. Does it really matter how many? The worst damage was that I crushed my T9 Thoracic vertebra. I also damaged the T7, 8 and 10. And some muscle and tendon damage. And, I tore some muscle or tendon in my left pinky. I just couldn't straighten it. One could say, I was a little messed up.
The next day I had surgery and they ran two rods on either side of my spine. And attached them with 10 screws in the T7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 vertebra. The T9 was too damaged for screws. I had digestive system issues. Sleep issues. They kept trying to squeeze me into torture devices (braces) but they didn't fit right. Then I was custom fit for a full torso TLSO brace. And things began to click.
I had a blueberry bagel just before leaving for that bike ride. I didn't eat ANYTHING for over a week. And then I was allowed Jello. And of course, I ate too much. But it was good. That was August 29th. The next day I was moved from the neuro surgery unit to the hospital's Physical Rehab unit.
Those first days were ROUGH. On the other hand. I could move everything. Fingers and toes. I could SORT of walk. That improved slowly. The brace didn't fit me well, now that I could move. So it was "adjusted". It was better but still needed something. A few more days and it was adjusted yet again and EVERYTHING snapped into place. The brace fit better, I could move, no sharp edges. I got to go home on September 12th. Three weeks after the crash.
I haven't mentioned my family and friends yet on purpose. I scared the hell out of them. I can't even imagine. My wife had it rough, not knowing if I was going to be able to walk for a couple days. My daughter. An adult in her own right. Was the glue holding our sanity together. My son and his wife, I can't begin to understand what they must have been thinking. I love you all in ways that know no bounds. My friend Scott. By keeping me on the ground and not letting me up, gave me a better chance at healing than almost any other person along the way. You're my brother from a different mother. Family... And all my friends that stopped in to see me, even if I didn't know you were there at the time. Thanks to all.
My surgeon did a fantastic job of putting me back together. The folks that took care of me after surgery and put up with me had a chore in me. And the staff in the rehab section were fantastic. My occupational therapist got me moving again, and functional. Showed my wife and daughter how to get me in and out of my TLSO brace. The physical therapists that were patient with me. And I can't forget the nutrition guy. Always made sure I had just what I wanted. These are all people I can't thank enough.
This has been a journey I'd never have sought on my own. I have found strength I never knew I had. And the ability to be able to ask for help. Its been a humbling experience in so many ways. I know how lucky I have been, I know how things could have gone so much different. I don't take anything for granted. Every day is a gift. And the journey is just beginning.
Hi! I'm Roger, I'm the Guy That Broke Everything.
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