The Fall

I’m in a hospital with three fractures in my pelvis, torn up skin and a recovering concussion. I have a catheter in and haven’t moved my hips or legs since before the incident. I’m waiting to see if I’ll need surgery or just physical therapy. I don’t know when I’ll be out of the hospital and am experiencing all sorts of emotions throughout my stay: sadness, frustration, hope.

Yesterday I set out for a long bike ride around noon. I parked my car in a part of Asheville with long country roads and set out for my ride. The first several miles were on a busy highway. It was so nice out and it felt great to just me on my bike. I turned down a smaller two lane road with small winding hills. I hit a dead end and turned around, planning on finding another route. I remember going down a hill 25-30 mph and seeing a patch of gravel on the road….

I remember seeing two people above me before I got in the ambulance. I started to come back from the concussion in the ambulance. Dale was my amazing paramedic and with his help I realized I didn’t have any idea what month it was or any recent details of my life. I was in such a panic trying to grasp what was going on. I didn’t even think about the pain in my body until an hour after I was in the trauma unit of the ER.

The stranger who found me called Richard on my phone so he was able to rush my way and follow the ambulance. I didn’t have any identification on me so I have no idea how they even found out my name. Richard joined me in my trauma unit minutes after. I don’t remember much about the room full of doctors or what they did to me, but I do remember tears in Richard’s eyes.

The next few hours were excruciating. All the pain in my body came on full force and my pelvis was out of control. I was pushed from room to room to have all sorts of tests performed. I remember during my last batch of X-rays my medication started wearing off and I just freaked out. My whole body hurt on levels I didn’t know were possible.

Late last night I was able to move to a longer term hospital room. I’m on a series of pain medications (I tell them to give me as much as is legally possible). I’m super drowsy from the meds. My state of mind is pretty positive, but sometimes I get sad when i think about where I am and wonder when I’ll ever walk again. I’m meeting with the surgeon today to see if I need surgery though I’m hoping not.

Physical therapy worked with me earlier. They adjusted my bed and manually moved me into a sitting position. It hurt like hell but after they moved my body I was able to hold the sitting position without anything holding me for a few seconds. My body obviously didn’t agree as my blood pressure and heart rate plummeted and I broke out in sweats.

My brain is very slow. I keep repeating myself and I can’t remember basic things. I can only wiggle my toes and gently move my arms. Everything hurts. My pelvis kills and since everything is attached to that area, everything is affected. I have some gnarly road rash as a souvenir, My stomach is in shock and I have no appetite.

I am so thankful to be alive. I could have easily landed on my neck or landed a different way and not be here to write this. Even with all the pain I’m mostly feeling gratefulness. I wore my helmet, I was found and now I’m being taken care of by angels on earth.

I am blown away by the support of all my friends, including everyone on Twitter and facebook. Reading your encouraging messages gives me hope and puts a smile on my face. Thank you.

I’ll post updates <3