Some of you will remember Bill from TMAC last year. He is not a member here because he doesn't get on the internet but he is a fantastic friend and made quite an impression on those he rode with last year.
Met Bill this morning for some riding up his way in the Uwharrie mountains. We hadn't ridden together in months and we talked about taking it pretty easy just checking out some roads he was not familiar with. But within twenty minutes of heading out, Bill would be severely injured and within three hours he would be on a Life Flight bound for the trauma unit at the University of North Carolina.
We were coming down a hill into a left hand turn. He was about 150' ahead of me and I saw him turn in but the tree line on the left obscured most of the bike going through the rest of the curve. As the bike went out of view, I then saw a trail of sparks and knew he was in the turn too deep. As I came into the turn, I saw dust and debris being kicked up as he was now coming to rest in the tree line.
I got my bike stopped and off the road as quickly as I could. He was laying on top of the bike as the engine knocked off and smoke started billowing out close to where his legs laid. I started yelling his name trying to get a response, he was breathing but was unconscious. I got his legs laid over and pulled him away from the bike a bit. I got my cell phone out and called 911 but not being from that area, I had no clue where we were. I had been calling on the Lord from the time I saw the sparks and he answered by sending a truck by at the moment the 911 operator answered. I flagged the guy down and asked him if he knew where we were, he lived up the road so I tossed him the cell and told him tell 911 our location and gave him the info on Bill.
Bill is a 72yr old disabled Veteran who broke his back on a jump when his chute failed to open completely. He has some major issues with his back and that was what I was most concerned about once he started coming around. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth but said he didn't have pain anywhere else. He told me his back felt ok and he could move his arms, legs, hands. He wanted to take the helmet off and started pawing at the strap. I wasn't sure what to do but knowing Bill, the helmet was going to come off no matter what I said. Soon, he had his helmet, gloves, and jacket off and was sitting up. He couldn't remember how he ended up there in the woods or what happened so I told him what I saw and kept him calm.
The Volunteer Fire dept personnel started showing up and tending to him but the Rescue Squad had to come from another county. It took half an hour but they got there as quick as they could and got a neck collar on him and put him on a back board. They got him loaded up and we set out for the hospital that was 40 minutes away. During the ride following the ambulance, I thought about the woods and were had come to rest. There were pine logs eight inches in diameter and 3-4' long all around us. A tree must have blown over the road sometime recently and it had been cut up and left in the tree line. When we made it to the emergency room, I told the Paramedic about the logs and that he may have internal injuries? She was already aware of that fact though.
Bill looked ok and talked like there were only slight injuries and maybe broke his hand. So when his wife and granddaughter met me at the Emergency room, that is what I told them. We really thought his biggest problem would be a bruised ego. But when they finally told us to come back, they ushered us into a small room beside the waiting room. A doctor and nurse came in as we sat down. The doc sat in front of Bill's wife and then told us just how bad it really was.
Bill had fractured a vertebra in his neck. They had stabilized it but it is a break that could have done major damage to his spinal cord. The doc said Bill had feeling in his extremities and could move everything so they thought the spinal cord had not been damaged. Also, he had broken alot of facial bones on the left side of his face, lost some lower teeth, and broken his nose. Then he told us about the bleeding on his brain. It wasn't enough pressure at that time to warrant surgery but it was wait and see. He told us that the life flight chopper was about five minutes out and Bill needed to be flown to the trauma center at UNC. They had already sedated him so he could be intabated and put on a respirator because of his neck. We were able to see him briefly before they took him to the helipad.
There wasn't much damage to his helmet on the left side. Sure, the helmet was toast but not from hitting his head on the pavement when he went down. He must have hit a tree or one of the several logs in the tree line and his head contacted the inside of the helmet so hard it caused the facial bones/nose to break? His other gear, kevlar jacket/kevlar pants/sidi boots/gloves, did their job great as he wasn't rashed up anywhere I saw.
Bill has been riding sport bikes for over thirty years and this was his first major crash. Please help me pray for him and take a moment to reflect on decisions you make when riding. It is definitely causing me to think about a lot of things.
Bless you for sharing the story, pushes me and my ridin mates whom I am going to forward this to, keep a level head and understand the in evitable truth, things happen no matter what.
That is terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers will be with Bill and his family as well as with you. Accident witnesses also take a severe mental beating.- so much to think about and replay over and over in your head. This should also be a lesson to ALL OF US that when a rider goes down, as hard as it may be, don't just jump up and start telling everyone how "ok" you are. You haven't got a clue if you're ok or not. Just sit there and chill for a bit and never turn down the ambulance ride. I know three people that have had very severe injuries and had absolutely no clue. Thanks for sharing such an important story/lesson.
Healing thoughts for Bill and for you. As The mailman said, the witness can also take a beating. You were there when he needed you and that counts for a bunch. Hope he's up and around soon.
GypsyCat
PS... If you can find a piece of polished rose quartz, take it in to him. There's something about rose quartz that helps people heal... Maybe it's the color or maybe it's just having a "worry stone" that does it, but at a time like this, every little bit helps.
Thanks, it really is difficult. Rethinking the entire day constantly. What if's and should've beens.... Second guessing riding entirely but then knowing I couldn't give it up and then realizing I can't NOT push the edge sometimes....Realizing that could have easily been me or even both of us piled up together....
I was worried what his family would think, maybe blame me for his crash or something but after the doctor left the room, his wife told me she was glad that I was there with him. I was so relieved.
Many prayers from here as well! It is always a reality check when I hear of someone having a "get off" (maybe I should call it straight up - A CRASH) I think most of us don't actively think about the danger aspect of our favorite past time. Hopefully Bill makes a complete recovery.
Thoughts and prayers for Bill and his family and you! Thanks for doing such a great job at Bill's side, these things can be extremely hard on everyone involved!
I remember meeting him last year. Anyone willing to jump out of a plane and survive a fall like that has what it takes to make it. Prayers and positive thoughts are with him.
It sounds like he was lucky to have you riding w/ him. you kept your head and got him the help he needed ASAP. I hope both of you have a full recovery from this ACCIDENT. Prayers being sent for Bill/ his family and you, don't beat yourself up, you did great.
Thank you so very much for all of the prayers and thoughts.
I just talked with Bill's wife, Brenda. Bill is doing "ok" but after thoroughly checking him with CT scans, x-rays, and an MRI, they confirmed he has broken the second vertebrae in his neck, the frontal bone around his left eye, his left jaw, and has a small brain hemorrhage. The doctor said they are still watching the brain closely because the swelling isn't enough to warrant surgery right now but that could change very quickly. They have not done any surgeries and can not do anything until they get a plan to stabilize his neck though. Not sure if they will have to fuse that vertebrae or what?
Best wishes to Bill and his family. "There but for the grace of God go I." (Any of us really) I thought of him today as I rode a loop from Reno through Virginia City then up to Tahoe along the East shore and back over Mount Rose to Reno. I suppressed that adrenaline-seeking, adolescent part of me (for the most part) and still had fun. I hope Bill is able, and his wife is willing, to let him get back on his bike and enjoy riding once again.
[image: View Post]FHR, on 17 June 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:
Best wishes to Bill and his family. "There but for the grace of God go I." (Any of us really) I thought of him today as I rode a loop from Reno through Virginia City then up to Tahoe along the East shore and back over Mount Rose to Reno. I suppressed that adrenaline-seeking, adolescent part of me (for the most part) and still had fun. I hope Bill is able, and his wife is willing, to let him get back on his bike and enjoy riding once again.
I hope so too. He was riding his favorite, a red '98 VFR, which is now toast but he still has a yellow '01 VFR and a '05 GSXR 750. I told him yesterday, that I was glad he was on the red bike cause I can't hang with him when he's on the Gixxer. Shoot, I probably couldn't hang with him if he would have been on a moped. :~(
I rode to church today like I always do but spent most of the time replaying what I remember of the wreck in my head. Gonna take some time to get over this and I can't even imagine how Bill will feel if he ever gets to throw his leg over that yellow '01.
Prayers to Bill and his family. God Bless you for playing your part and staying calm. Bill's lucky to have you as a friend. Hope to hear good news soon.
Very sad. Best wishes for his recovery. If there is a way through the medical facility he is in to post an electronic get well card, please post the link.
Let me join the chorus of good wishes for Bill. Good advice from my fellow Coloradoan about not jumping up after a crash, and getting checked out. Adrenalin can mask some deadly injuries.
I talked with Don, Bill's son, today around 1300 for an update. Bill was put into a halo to stabilize his neck instead of fusing c1/c2 which would have limited his range of movement even more. They were taking him off of the ventilator today since his neck is stable and so that he can breath on his own. He is communicating well and things are really progressing. They are planing on setting his jaw tues/wed.
I praise the Lord for his blessings and thank everyone so much for all of the prayers and thoughts for him and his family.
FIrst and foremost - DO NOT beat yourself up at all for what happened, had you not been there who knows how much worse the outcome may have been. It just happened.
Second, directed to ANYONE that is a first responder; please only move a victim if you have to (in this case the OP saw signs of potential fire and reacted accordingly) and in the case of your fellow riders don't let them remove gear. As this thread clearly shows the victim may not even know the extent of their injuries and may not feel pain. When I crashed in 2001 I was walking around with torn open knees (jeans = fail) and trying to lift my wrecked bike with a separated shoulder. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
Most of all, as with OP, do what you can to help and DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF. You did good man, you may well have saved your friend's life.
[image: View Post]PorradaVFR, on 18 June 2012 - 05:22 PM, said:
FIrst and foremost - DO NOT beat yourself up at all for what happened, had you not been there who knows how much worse the outcome may have been. It just happened.
Second, directed to ANYONE that is a first responder; please only move a victim if you have to (in this case the OP saw signs of potential fire and reacted accordingly) and in the case of your fellow riders don't let them remove gear. As this thread clearly shows the victim may not even know the extent of their injuries and may not feel pain. When I crashed in 2001 I was walking around with torn open knees (jeans = fail) and trying to lift my wrecked bike with a separated shoulder. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
Most of all, as with OP, do what you can to help and DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF. You did good man, you may well have saved your friend's life.
One more time >>> Just sit yourself down and TAKE THE AMBULANCE RIDE no matter how "fine" you feel. After you crash, you are the last person qualified to say whether you are ok or not. Take a hint from all pro racers in any motorsport. Get into the damned ambulance!
I am praying for both of you. Praise God you were there to serve a friend. There are no coincidences, you were there to help and the truck with detailed directions, all at the exact time needed. God is the ultimate healer! What a lesson to remember every time getting on a bike. Heal well!
Prayers to Bill and family,Speedy recovery. Prayers to you, for being there for him. Riding together has its merits. Some say its not "If" its "when", fortunate to have you there during his "when". Take care. God bless you.
Great advice, never turn down the ambulance ride. I had to take my wife to the ER hours after her accident and she was treated for a broken ankle, cracked ribs, and a lacerated liver (with internal bleeding). She turned down the ambulance ride because she didnt think she was badly injured, until the adrenaline wore off and she realized something wasnt right. Also prayers for a speedy recovery for Bill & family
I see that things are progressing and I hope they keep progressing in the right direction. Thinking ahead here, I cannot wait to see a picture of Bill with a leg over that yellow bike of his. I hope this gives him an objective when he's out of danger and he starts feeling better.
Best of luck!
C
I got to talk with Don again today. Bill is progressing well but apparently is not going to be voted "most agreeable patient" by his nurses. :pissed: LOL! His wife told me before that Bill can get really fussy with her there. Her and their granddaughter are headed home to get some rest while Don stays with Bill. I asked if they had any kind of timeline for him coming home but looks like he's going to be up there a while. They are still adjusting the halo and will be setting his jaw soon.
Don told me he visited the crash site and that it was actually not all that far from his house. He was very familiar with the left-hander and judging by where the touchdown marks were in the pavement, agreed that Bill must have seen something on his right that he tried to avoid by going deeper into turn but must have pivoted on the peg or center stand and lifted the rear wheel.
I hope to talk with Don tomorrow for another update. I will try to get an address to share with everyone. Thanks again for all the prayers and thoughts!
Hurts my heart to hear what occured. Prayers for the both of you, Bill for a speedy and full recovery physically and KG4LHO for peace of mind. We often question ourselves after such events, but know that it was beyond your control and you responded better than most would have during a high stress situation. Again, praying for the both of you.
Bill came through his jaw and facial bone surgery fine and has spent the last day or so under sedation. He is doing pretty good and should be out of the woods. But it is going to be a long road to recovery. I hope to talk with Don tomorrow to get another update and will post up then.
Thanks again for everyone's thoughts and prayers and thank you Lord for all of your blessings.
[image: View Post]Polarbear, on 02 July 2012 - 12:21 PM, said:
I don't want to sound pushy, but is there a progress report on Bill's condition?
C
I talked with Don today and Bill is doing better. They are coming daily now and working with him on rehab. He has a problem with getting sick when they set him up on the side of the bed. But after that, he can get up and walk around for a bit. His jaw is wired but he can still talk. He is a bit better to deal with but he really wants to be somewhere else. He is still at UNC but has been moved out of ICU and into a regular room. They have not talked with him about being transferred to the VA or laid out a timeline for him to go home yet. I am sure this is going to be a long road to recovery for him but with your thoughts and prayers, Bill is going to come through this. Thanks for everything!
Just read the news, so sorry for the incident, Bill.
Wish you can heal up quickly! Really impressive that you can ride like that at the age of 70s. I don't think I can do that when I reach that age.
Glad to read of his recovery and pray it continues! Rode with Bill last year and was amazed how quick he is. I can only hope to be half as active at his age! Heal quickly Bill!
I called Don this morning to get an update on Bill. He is coming along well and the physical therapy is going good. The doctors are talking about releasing him to go home in a week or so. While that was great news, it got even better! Don suggested I try to give Bill a call this afternoon.
I called his wife and asked how she was and if Bill could talk? I really wasn't sure what to expect. I know his jaw had been wired a few weeks ago and he sometimes still gets a little confused but when he answered, it was good 'ole Bill! Oh my God! It was really Bill!! They had removed the wire from his jaw this past friday and he could talk. Shoot, he could talk better now than before! LOL! Oh thank you Jesus for all you have done, doing, and going to do for Bill and his family! We talked for almost twenty minutes and it was just like old times. I just kept telling him I was so happy that he was alright. He asked me about what happened. He still has no memory of the wreck except that he saw a buck in the road and he tried to swerve to miss it. He also doesn't remember anything after he came to at the scene.
He told me that he really wants to get out of the hospital and back to his house very badly. He said he was being a good little boy and not causing any problems for the staff. He did get a little gruff with the doctor the other day when they delayed removing the wire from his jaw after telling him they would take it off last Thursday. Can't blame him though, he was ready to eat some food for the first time in a few weeks!
He is very thankful for all his wife, son, and granddaughter have done for him. He told me that this has given him a new perspective about family and how important they are. He said he has not made a decision about riding again yet but that he realized how selfish he was before with his time. It made me think quite a bit about that on the way home.
He told me he would call me as soon as he got out of the hospital and back to the house. It truly is a miracle he survived the crash, let alone how well he is doing now. Thank you Jesus and thank you very much to everyone for their thoughts and prayers for Bill and his family.
I just now saw this for the first time. I am so glad to hear about your friend Bill's miraculous recovery. It's good to see someone still looks to the Lord Jesus for healing and beyond. I am thankful with you for His intervention.
Just saw this as well. I ride with a very fast 72 year old guy and as they say to get old you have to be tough. Getting old is not for sissies. Glad you're on the road to full recovery.
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