The morning out of Sweetwater was normal. The weather was actually nice and not foggy. The road was really interesting, diverse with really windy parts, really fast parts, unpaved parts, and all around gorgeous scenery. I rode in the lead with Libby and Roshan (the guys had an early flat). Libby and I were averaging 20mph easy prior to the dirt road. I was doing 21mph on an old road with trees on both sides when we wound left on a curvy road. In trying to dodge an obstacle (a raised piece of pavement), I jumped on the bike and came down with my front wheel uneven, crashing hard.
I rolled and remember just being off of my wheels, being on the ground rolling and sliding, on my head, on my shoulders. I remember thinking so much all in the moment, all while rolling for what must have been only a couple seconds. I remember just feeling, just being, just wondering what I might injure. It wasn't about life flashing before my eyes, because I knew this was a bike wreck at 20mph, not 70, not the end. I knew basically what could happen. As I stopped, I laid there on the road on my back, my eyes closed. I could hear Libby sort of panicking and Roshan also being very shocked. I calmly just told them to call. Just call the van. Laying there with my eyes closed, I felt, paid attention to my feelings. Was I injured? I noticed immediately a congestion in my lungs, a little wheeze. After a couple seconds, maybe ten, I decided to get up, test it out. I noticed immediately a right shoulder pain, reminiscent of my previous AC injury (on the left). I was upset, but not much, more calm really. I coughed up some blood, which concerned me for a pneumo, maybe a rib fracture.
More med students started showing up. I was neuro intact and had no rib tenderness, was breathing fine, was not too cold. My thoughts pushed me slightly toward shock, toward panic, toward spiraling into worry about what could be wrong. But I did an excellent job of just relaxing, just not letting myself think those things. It was ok, whatever it was it was ok. I was sitting on a rock waiting for the van to show up, with an amazing cool breeze on me and tons of religious graffiti around me. It felt good. The trees blew and were gorgeous.
Jen K and Heidi made me an arm sling, which worked very well. Sarah offered to go with me to the hospital. The van arrived and we were off, with Nyberg behind the wheel. I still wondered about the hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and we talked a little shop en route. I got really dizzy for a moment, spinny like vertigo.
In the van, in the hospital, and for the whole rest of the day, my friend Sarah was a savior in many ways. She comforted me when I was scared in the van, then in the hospital. She made me laugh when I thought I couldn’t. She even dressed my wounds. I don’t know what I would have done without her today.
This was a long day in a lot of ways. Injuries can bring a person back to childhood, back to a fall on the ground and a longing for their mommy. And really, as bad as it may seem, it isn’t any different than a toddler falling on their bum. In the end, it’s just more than you can take, more than you were prepared for. But all the falls from your past remind you that you always get better, just take it in stride.
4/22 – Injured day 1 – Presentation with a Sling
I was with Lauren all day in the lead van. She marked the route and I rode shotgun through amazingly beautiful scenery out of Abilene, TX. There were wild flowers everywhere, painting fields of blue, purple, and yellow.
We presented a global health speech at a rotary club in Eastland TX, a very nice town. They fed us well and donated generously. We also spoke for a local radio program (KATX). It was my first time in a radio studio and I thought Lauren and I both did a very exceptional job of speaking ad lib about our ride and global health mission.
Our home for the night in Ranger, TX was something almost out of a horror movie. It was a church, but it just had a damp old feeling. I slept the afternoon away and played video games at night. All in all, it was a good first full day being hurt.
4/23 – To Fort Worth, TX – Injured day 2 – Night @ Movies
I was with Pete all day. He did good work, helping out about five struggling riders (flat tires and pedal issues). For the riders, it was a century into Fort Worth and the day went smoothly. We stopped at a local joint called Woody’s, where I got a triple decker burger (I love to eat).
The riders thought it was a great day overall, probably the prettiest and nicest for the first 50 miles or so. Texas is really not what I thought. There was some desert transition for a couple hundred miles, but at this point (central) around Eastland and now into Fort Worth, it is very lush and full of wild flowers (blue, light pink, orange). It has rained, especially last night where there was a violent lightning storm.
We stayed at a YMCA campground near a prison and some airplane base. The lake was gorgeous. We were fed Cheesecake factory for dinner, courtesy some of Jess’ family.
At night, I went out to two movies with my buddy Roshan. We saw Clash of the Titans and Death at a Funeral. The latter was really funny and we cracked up loud. Afterwards we met up with the group for some Mexican food. We got back after 1am.
I should note that Roshan is quite a guy. He is extremely positive and quickly adapts positively to changes in his environment. It is impressive.
My shoulder is still killing me. I intended to come home at 10-11pm tonight, but didn’t have a way back, so I was out late with a broken wing. Oh well, I did my best and wore my sling all night. I hope to rest all day tomorrow.
4/24 – Day off in Fort Worth – Rodeo at Night
Day of rest just sleeping all day. I am focused on this shoulder now. The pain is like a nag, but a concerning one. It is a nag that is deeper than the surface and feels like a tugging, a tugging I don't want to win. Now and then I feel something slip out and then back into place (hopefully not the other way around). It is very reminiscent, extremely similar, to the previous AC injury I had on the left. I handle this so much better though, which is encouraging.
(Picture: Lauren fixing her bike at our YMCA campground in Fort Worth, TX)
My greatest concern is not being able to ride again on this trip. I would love to ride in Tennessee, Virginia, etc. But if I am to be support for the rest of this trip, I will have a unique perspective of this ride. It is encouraging to realize that my left shoulder has done so well and that with time, so will my right.
Tonight we are off to downtown and maybe a rodeo.
PS: so we went to a steak joint. I had an awesome steak, great mac 'n' cheese, and good ice cream. Then we went to a rodeo that was ridiculous and overpriced ($15), but it was fun. They did stuff like have the kids chase around a young bull, then had younger kids (0-7) chase around a young sheep. The sheep gave up and the kids caught it, but the older kids had no hope against the fast young bull.
My shoulder is still affecting my life a lot, and it is a tough adjustment to suddenly do no exercise after doing so very much.
Fort Worth is a neat town. The stockyard area is a good place to go at night, with a strong western twang and several options for eating, drinking, and dancing. The downtown area is similar with a lot of options.
4/25 – Injured day to Greenville – Church Singing
Today I rode with Brian in the trail van. We took it really easy and looked for food and rest. We found a place called Double Daves and had a buffet of very average-at-best pizza. I ate a bunch which is a common theme for me these last few days, eating and eating, eating beyond a signal I just ignore. Before these days I would ask, "should I eat more", now I just ask "do I want to eat more" and there is no "should." I was previously considering things like social rightness, considering if people around me were finished. I was considering my body fat. Now it is only about want, simple want.
(Picture: The View out back of Wesleyan Methodist Church in Greenville)
Brian is a funny guy. He is himself and doesn't seem to care what others think. He is a northern boy, midwestern I guess (Ohio) but he is really a lot like many southerners, with BBQ ribs and brisket being his favorite foods. He is excited to move to Birmingham for residency. He is really laid back, really.
The day on support with Brian was fine, not super stressful, mostly relaxed. We racked bikes due to a bad road for the last stretch. The Wesleyan Methodist Church in Greenville had a really awesome view of some great trees in the back. It was gorgeous with lots of shade, lots of pretty healthy grass, nice trees, and all so blowy in what seems a steady mid-Texas wind. I enjoyed watching the weeds blow in the wind like ocean waves.
I did my first shoulder rehab, just range of motion stuff.
I attended a church service ("contemporary service") after a solid dinner of beef empanadas. The church service was fun because we did a lot of karaoke style choir singing (words on a projector screen above).
Earlier in the day I talked to mom for the first time in a week, told her about my shoulder, which did a little better today, less pain more motion, ways to go.
No comments:
Post a Comment