johnd_emd Needs Our Help

[Boomer]

johnd_emd, a fellow Hippy, had a bad fall this weekend during a bicycle race. He fractured his hip and collapsed his lung. He is in intensive care. I am in touch with his wife who is trying to figure out next steps in his care. She would like to speak with Spencer Roberts, who I have e mailed. If anyone has a telephone number for Spencer Roberts, please let me know.

Thanks

Boomer

[Boomer]

I am in contact with Spencer now.

[hernanu]

Holy cow. How is he doing?

[Dannywayoflife]

He's I'm my prayers

[Debcoco]

Heavens!  I'll be praying, too.

deb

[johnd_emd]

Well, it's me, the one and only who crashed.  I was in a Pro 1-2 race out in California and had decided to do the race because I had finished there decently the previous two races of the season.   Since they keep 'Series' points  I figured I was pretty good on the overall standings having had two 6th place finishes there in the first two races of the season.  I thought this day I could even do better.  I had a couple team mates with me, so I knew I would have help if  I got into a break.  Like the previous two races, I expected the break to go early.  A couple teams were well represented, and right away approaching the first climb a group moved off the front, with most teams being present.  A small gap had formed and the tempo in the front group appeared to accelerate.  I made the decision at this point to jump across the gap and was driving along the right side with plenty of room all around me.  I wanted to get to the front to ensure that if this group stayed off, I'd be a part of it.  Unknown to me though, a couple of the guys in the break had some bad blood between them, which had started before the race had even begun. 

As I bridged across, the guy from the Squadra Team had been forced off the wheel of the 2nd ridder and he was pretty much in the gravel on the left side.  He wanted to get back into the pace line, but the Davis ridder wasn't having anything to do with it, I'm guessing, figuring the Squadra guy could just slow down and move in behind him and get on his wheel.  Unfortunately, push came to shove and the Squadra guy shoved the Davis ridder so hard that he lost control and came slamming into me as I was moving up along the right side.  I have absolutely no recollection of even being hit, bumped, etc.  Next thing I knew I was looking up at a number of people standing around me, while they had me strapped onto a  back board and were trying to tighten my neck support collar down.  Of course, I pretty much freaked at this point and began pulling on everything to free myself.  Fortunately, one of my team mates was there to calm me down and somewhat explain to me what had happened. 

Anyway, long story short, ended up in ER in Salinas (not the most desireable place to go).  But, with the persitence from my wife and a couple friends they were able to have me flown to Fresno Comminity Trauma Center.  I spent several days there in ICU, before being moved on the 4th day to a rehab floor.  Bottom line for damages:  Fractured my right Femur right through the Greater Trochanter (just past the end of the shaft from my Birmingham Resurfacing implant).  I broke 9 ribs, displaced 2 more.  Required 2 liters of blood, as I lost so much.  Fractured my collar bone in 3 places.  Had mulitiple punctures in my right lung that had collapsed and filled with blood and fluid.   And of course, all the nice road rash and stitches that come along with that. 

Surgery on the femur went well.   They placed a plate along the lateral edge of the femur and were able to drive screws into the femur, and up into and around the area around the shaft from the Birmingham device.  I'm on strict NON WEIGHT bearing orders for 2 months to allow this to heal.  Any sheer forces could pull apart the fracture again if I don't allow it to heal adequately.  Not feeling too much pain in the hip/leg at this point.  But boy, for those of you who have ever broken ribs, you'll know what I'm talking about that this is the most painful part of this whole ordeal; not to mention 9 of these broken items. 

Anyway, Boomer has been great at helping me keep my Spirits up, and a call to Spencer has also reassured me that all will be fine, it will just take time.  Downside though is, surgeon has stated that I should never do any Mass Start cycling races anymore; as a crash on the right hip again could be disasterous.  So, that's pretty frustrating.  Guess I'll have to change my mindset on this and maybe focus on just staying fit and maybe just sticking to time trials.  More on that later. 

Thanks to all who said a prayer for me.  God truly does listen to his children and His Spirit has been present with me during this time.  In all things I will trust in Him. 

[hernanu]

Holy Mazoli!

But great news that it didn't affect the resurfacing. Nine broken ribs? I thought I'd done pretty well getting three broken at once. Also had a collapsed lung, so I can empathize. But the rest (collarbone, femur, etc... ) wow.

I'm glad you pulled through well and it sounds like (outside of your doctor's warning) you will in time be good.

My prayers to you again, so the recovery continues well and you get back fully.

I think I'll stay with the safe sports like martial arts.

[Debcoco]

Thank the Lord you are still alive!!  Wow!

When you can, please give us an update...we are all pulling for you:)


deb

[Pat Walter]

Great to hear from you.  Hopefully you will be on the mend and seeing some light at the end of the long tunnel.  I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers since you have a long way to go.

Keep us updated when you can.

Good Luck.

Pat

[johnd_emd]

Thanks Pat, et. all.

I have an appointment this Thursday to see how things are going to this point.  I will post something at that time.  Still amazes me that the Birmingham device held fast and hard through all this.  Just wish the bone around it was as strong......LOL!!!


Thanks again for all the prayers.  Thanks to Spencer for his long, reassuring conversation with my wife while I was in the hospital.  Thanks to Boomer for all his support and advice. 

[Tim Bratten]

That was one horrific crash! I just wanted to send out some more positive vibes your way: best wishes in your recovery.

[einreb]

Thanks for sharing and best of luck in the recovery.

That accident really hits home for me.  I do a bit of bike racing and sitting in the back of my mind is the thought that I shouldn't (or just do CX, TT's etc rather than crits)... lots of interesting 'gambles' we take in life.

-Bernie

[sroberts]

Hang in there John! You will get through this and you will be riding again! It was great talking to you and your wife. I'm here if you need me. Everyone is rooting for you!




spencer

[johnd_emd]

Well, had my two week follow up with my surgeon and my general physician.  Ortho doc said everything looked good.  No real changes at the fracture sight, but he didn't really expect to see anything yet since it's only been a couple weeks since the surgery.  But, he did say that was a good thing.  We just need to make sure that the bone grows and that I don't do anything silly to hinder that process.   

Ribs and collar bone still hurt like heck.  When I asked my Gen. Physician how long would it take the ribs to heal and stop hurting, he gave a pretty good chuckle and said, "Well, they're probably gonna hurt for a good 3-4 months.  And, even after that they're going to be pretty tender for another 3-4 months, even after they've somewhat healed".   That's not what I wanted to hear.    :(   Oh well, better take my "Patience Pills".   

On the bright side, I did get to go outside today and watch my son do a kids triathlon.  He won his age group and was on cloud nine, grinning ear to ear.  So, it was a good day, despite all the pain.   Daughter did a bike race up in No. Calif. and got 4th.  Boy it makes me nervous now my kids being on the bikes :-[

[Some Dude]

Ouch that's quite a list of injuries, hope you heal up fast and congrats to your kids !

[keepmovin]

Just finished reading your story, John.....just amazed that you're here to write about it!  Your road to recovery looks to be a long one but give the extent of your injuries you are one lucky guy!!

Wishing you are complete and clean bill of health after 3 months and if you are good and listen to Drs. orders, maybe it will be a little shorter! ::)

Positive thoughts being sent your way!

[johnd_emd]

Thanks  KEEPMOVIN,

I was reading about your ordeal.  WOW, that's nerve racking.  I'll be lifting you up in my thoughts and prayers too.  See how God uses us all to lift each other up and pray for each other.  "Love they neighbor as thyself".  Always amazes me reading the posts on here how true that is.  I sit here at home and just feel the presence and strentgh from all the people on this site.  So, keepmovin, you're being lifted up too, and we know it will all work out. 

[katekosar]

Let me add my well wishes and prayers into our little group.  God heals.   I'll be thinking about you, John, and holding you high in my prayers today.

~~ kate

[johnd_emd]

Thanks for the prayers Kate.  GOD DOES HEAL!!!  I'm slowly getting better.  Doc said on Thursday I have two more weeks in the wheel chair, than I can start using a cane or a crutch and start putting about 25% weight on my injured leg.  If it feels good I can increase that to 50%.  The xrays of my shoulder and ribs fractures still look like a train wreck though.  Doc says they'll heal like that.  Collar bone is in three pieces.  One piece in completely vertical and the two long pieces aren't even close to be aligned.  I guess they'll heal like that.  Same with ribs.  Some of them are like on top or beside the adjacent broken end.  But I guess they heal up somehow. 

I tried to post a picture but it keeps telling me it's to big.  I compressed and tried to resize it, but I'm not the most computer savy guy around.  Spencer, you'd get a kick out of the femur hardware.

[toby]

John,
Sorry to send my best wishes so late in the day!
4.5 years post HR and although I try and check this fantastic site/updates from hip buddies weekly, I don't always succeed.
Anyways just want to say that I too suffered serious fracture to my left femur and was pinned and plated-but in my 20's-x rays identical to yours. Had major restrictions for 6 months got back to running, soccer, gymnastics by one year, plate was taken out at 2 years (still got some of the screws-couldn't get them all out), So differently to you had my HR 30+ years later. However, as you know from Spencer, Jason and now me that those huge femurs really do heal.
So keep patient and you'll get back to great shape.
Best Wishes
Toby
LHR- Adept -Prof Cobb 30-1-10