Hey world! To catch your interest I feel like I should tell you that yes, I nearly died from an accident on my buell. I also want to tell you that this is something I feel like I need to do. Maybe it is just therapeutic, maybe it will play a role in someones life that reads it. Either way, here goes...
Well, to start off I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I am 24 years old and have been riding motorcycles for about 15 years. I am currently a graduate student at a prestigious university hospital, training to be an expert in one area of cardiovascular surgery. I love to ride motorcycles. It is my way to escape from the world.
On August 15th of this year, I was heading home from the hospital around 5pm. Rush hour. I was doing between 40-45mph when a lady turned in front of me who was driving a mid-sized SUV. I hit my brakes in an attempt to stop and my rear tire came off of the ground - at that point I knew I was going to hit her so I just put my hands in front of my face. I had no time to react. It was a textbook t-bone. I slammed head-first into her hood and the next thing I know I was on the ground in the fetal position. As I lay there I began to do a self assessment and realized that I had no sensation in my toes or legs. I then realized that I was having difficulty breathing (not good)and had to take my helmet off (DO NOT do this if you wreck if at all possible). I looked down and saw that I was bleeding profusely from both of my inner thighs. Again, not a good thing. So, at this point all of the bystanders had made their way to me...it was peak rush hour. I had them tie a tourniquet around both legs to prevent myself from bleeding out of either my femoral artery or vein, both of which are extremely close to the area I was bleeding from. I contribute these thigh injures to me slamming into the handlebars, causing a de-gloving injury. Then I lay as still as possible while I waited on the ambulance.
The ambulance soon arrived and transported me back to the hospital as a level one trauma. My roommate and girlfriend were both in the ER as I arrived, which was a total shock to them. I then went into the trauma bay and underwent some of the most terrible pain I have ever experienced as they did my assessment. After it was all said and done, I ended up with a fractured left ankle, fractured left patella, fractured spine, both fibulae were broken and fractured my right femur. I lacerated my liver, bladder, colon and spleen. I also had diastasis of my pelvis, which simply means that it spread apart by about 2.5cm. I had to undergo immediate surgery to repair my bladder and then a later procedure to correct my pelvic diastasis. The diastasis was corrected by an external fixator which is essentially two pins in my pelvis which are connected and pulled together towards my midline. I was in the ICU for 3 days, step down unit for 5 and in a rehabilitation center for 10. I have been on bed rest for 3 months now and the external fixator comes off in 10 days. The lady that hit me had $50k/100k insurance coverage. My medical bills, not including the rehabilitation center, were $116k. Rehab was around $50k. We are both in a lot of trouble financially now. **My word of advice is to get the $100k/300k auto insurance coverage. It will only raise your monthly payment by ~$30.**
....
The most miraculous thing about this whole situation, other than the simple fact that I am alive, is that I am not going to have any debilitating injuries. I will be back to 100% within 6 months. But, it has truly been the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. I am back home with my parents while I heal up, which has been tough on everyone.
There have been a lot of great things to come out of this all. I have learned how precious life is. I have learned how easily it can be taken or changed and that not one person can escape fate. There is a God, fear Him. I believe I have found the woman I am going to marry. I could go on...
Anyways, that is my story. Hopefully you all can take something from it. Next time, slow down through that intersection, or maybe not go so fast around that curve or just listen to your gut. I had a gut feeling that day not to get on my bike and I didn't listen to it. Life is short...enjoy it! Be safe guy.
p.s. if anyone is interested in buying some stuff off of a broke college student let me know. Email me at [email protected] if you want pics etc. Here is a list of what I have:
ECM spy cable and maps - $30
Blinc bluetooth helmet (medium) - $75
Frank Thomas XTi Jacket (black/white)(Medium) - $130
Alpinestars gloves (black)(large) - $45
Well, to start off I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I am 24 years old and have been riding motorcycles for about 15 years. I am currently a graduate student at a prestigious university hospital, training to be an expert in one area of cardiovascular surgery. I love to ride motorcycles. It is my way to escape from the world.
On August 15th of this year, I was heading home from the hospital around 5pm. Rush hour. I was doing between 40-45mph when a lady turned in front of me who was driving a mid-sized SUV. I hit my brakes in an attempt to stop and my rear tire came off of the ground - at that point I knew I was going to hit her so I just put my hands in front of my face. I had no time to react. It was a textbook t-bone. I slammed head-first into her hood and the next thing I know I was on the ground in the fetal position. As I lay there I began to do a self assessment and realized that I had no sensation in my toes or legs. I then realized that I was having difficulty breathing (not good)and had to take my helmet off (DO NOT do this if you wreck if at all possible). I looked down and saw that I was bleeding profusely from both of my inner thighs. Again, not a good thing. So, at this point all of the bystanders had made their way to me...it was peak rush hour. I had them tie a tourniquet around both legs to prevent myself from bleeding out of either my femoral artery or vein, both of which are extremely close to the area I was bleeding from. I contribute these thigh injures to me slamming into the handlebars, causing a de-gloving injury. Then I lay as still as possible while I waited on the ambulance.
The ambulance soon arrived and transported me back to the hospital as a level one trauma. My roommate and girlfriend were both in the ER as I arrived, which was a total shock to them. I then went into the trauma bay and underwent some of the most terrible pain I have ever experienced as they did my assessment. After it was all said and done, I ended up with a fractured left ankle, fractured left patella, fractured spine, both fibulae were broken and fractured my right femur. I lacerated my liver, bladder, colon and spleen. I also had diastasis of my pelvis, which simply means that it spread apart by about 2.5cm. I had to undergo immediate surgery to repair my bladder and then a later procedure to correct my pelvic diastasis. The diastasis was corrected by an external fixator which is essentially two pins in my pelvis which are connected and pulled together towards my midline. I was in the ICU for 3 days, step down unit for 5 and in a rehabilitation center for 10. I have been on bed rest for 3 months now and the external fixator comes off in 10 days. The lady that hit me had $50k/100k insurance coverage. My medical bills, not including the rehabilitation center, were $116k. Rehab was around $50k. We are both in a lot of trouble financially now. **My word of advice is to get the $100k/300k auto insurance coverage. It will only raise your monthly payment by ~$30.**
....
The most miraculous thing about this whole situation, other than the simple fact that I am alive, is that I am not going to have any debilitating injuries. I will be back to 100% within 6 months. But, it has truly been the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. I am back home with my parents while I heal up, which has been tough on everyone.
There have been a lot of great things to come out of this all. I have learned how precious life is. I have learned how easily it can be taken or changed and that not one person can escape fate. There is a God, fear Him. I believe I have found the woman I am going to marry. I could go on...
Anyways, that is my story. Hopefully you all can take something from it. Next time, slow down through that intersection, or maybe not go so fast around that curve or just listen to your gut. I had a gut feeling that day not to get on my bike and I didn't listen to it. Life is short...enjoy it! Be safe guy.
p.s. if anyone is interested in buying some stuff off of a broke college student let me know. Email me at [email protected] if you want pics etc. Here is a list of what I have:
ECM spy cable and maps - $30
Blinc bluetooth helmet (medium) - $75
Frank Thomas XTi Jacket (black/white)(Medium) - $130
Alpinestars gloves (black)(large) - $45
