Saw Doug at Creighton ER around 14:00. He had a cat scan and everything looked ok. The doc suspected bruised spinal cord. They were going to move him into ICU when a bed opened up. He was in a lot of pain, his arms felt like they were on fire. He was sensitive to them being touched or moved. They gave him steroids and stronger pain meds. They were going to give him an MRI when I was leaving.
Doug said he was riding well when he endo'd going around a corner. He could not move or feel anything immediately afterwards but then he could move his extremities. He has broken his neck before and has plates along the spine. This impact is more painful than the break.
As more info becomes available, I will pass it on. Doug and Mary appreciate our thoughts and prayers for his recovery.
29 comments:
Heal up Doug, glad the CAT scan looked good. Enjoy those pain meds!
Thanks for the update Dale.
There were several folks attending to Doug on the trail during the race. Special mention goes to Jim Maaske, one of Doug's fellow competitors. He did an outstanding job of providing immediate aid and coordinated the EMT folks when they arrived. I know other racers helped as well. We've got an outstanding community of MTB support here. I am proud to belong to it!
Doug a lot of us are thinking of you and are wishing you a speedy recovery. Your upbeat spirit and commitment to the sport inspire so many of us!
Scary stuff. Hope you are doing better Doug. My thoughts and bike-God prayers are with you. Take care.
Dale, thanks for the update. It IS so fine to have a great community...let's make sure we support Mary and Doug through this rough time. Let us know what we can do to help the family.
Thanks too to all the folks who helped out in there and the racers for their sensitivity to the situation.
Hang in there, Doug!
Get better soon Doug.
Please keep this post updated about his status.
Jon Downey
oh yeah...also a HUGE thanks to all the folks at Velo Veloce for their quick response to the incident and the follow-up to ensure the other racers were taken care of. You guys did a wonderful job of getting Doug the attention he needed. Really fine work, guys!!!
It's good to hear Doug's status improved. It was a shock to hear that he was injured seriously. He's one tough dude-heal up soon, Doug!
Thanks to all of the riders that immediately stopped to help. I did not hear one negative word from any rider after the delay. The patience of all was much appreciated by everyone on the race staff.
Get better soon Doug. Hane in there.
Thanks for the news Dale!
Hoping for a speedy recovery for a man who has had a rough year. Hang in there Doug! You are in our thoughts and prayers...
Thanks to all the racers and the race staff. Awesome group of people within our community doing whatever was needed to help a friend in trouble.
Please let us know if Doug or Mary need anything.
Chris
From Mary:
The MRI showed a spinal contusion which should improve with the steroids he's on and rest.
He is spending the night in ICU and the neurosurgeon will see him Sunday morning.
He in a lot of pain and can't move his head b/c it's still in a brace. Therefore, Mary asks for no visitors for a while.
Thanks for your prayers.
Prayers and thoughts are with you, Doug and Mary - from all of us.
All the best for a recovery from the pain and injury.
Doug,
You had the whole sport can expert class pulling for you after your crash. Glad to hear there were no breaks. Hope you're up an at 'em soon.
Speedy recovery.
From Mary:
They can't get the pain under control as it's nerve pain & reacts poorly to meds. We didn't get to a room until 8:30 but he was more comfortable once we did - a bed is softer than that board he had to stay on.
Doug and Mary,
If anyone, I mean anyone can get through this it's Doug. He has the willpower and the stubborness to get back on his bike no matter what. I have full faith he will tap into those attributes once again. Anything you guys need, you have hundreds waiting in the wings.
It's a scary thing to have happen. Get well soon.
Thanks for keeping us up to date Dale. Please let Doug and Mary know that we are willing to do whatever it takes to make the recovery easier for them. Doug has done so much for us even with having such a rough year. God's speed Doug!
- Paul
Thanks for this awesome photo Tom…
http://tomwinfield.com/bike/mtn-bike/mtb_races/psy27se08/IMG_0853_jpg_view.htm
That smile says it all!
Doug, we love you man! We're all praying for you. Even heathens like me. Dale, let us know when Doug can receive visitors.
Doug and Mary,
My thoughts and prayers are with you guys. I was shocked when I heard about the accident. Great to see though that helping one another is more important in a moment like this than the competition. Thanks to all the helping hands.
Doug you will pull through this. You have Mary on your side and and much more...
Let is know if you need anything.
Seeing those pics brings back bad memories from Hitchcock crash years ago. Doug is blessed to have you all and your support will be invaluable in his recovery. It meant the world to me when Kent, Tony, and others showed up at hospital right after the race.
From Mary:
Doug has been moved out of ICU to a regular room. He did five laps around the floor and wanted to do stairs but they wouldn't let him. 8-)
He is feeling better but still having pain. He will be wearing his neckbrace for quite a while.
Get better man, We're all pulling for ya-
Saw Doug and Mary around 17:00 today. He is in better spirits with the pain being around "5" instead of "8". There is a white spot on his spinal cord indicting nerve damage. The feeling in his hands are ok but the forearms and upper arms are very sensitive and he cannot tell between blunt and sharp pressure applied to them. Doctors say he has made a great recovery but they're not sure he will regain his pre-accident feeling. Only time will tell. Currently, his left arm movement and flexibility is less and slower than his right arm.
Hopefully he will be coming home in the next day or two but the neckbrace will be on for at least two weeks with no driving and probably not being able to work.
Mary wrote tonight that Doug is adamant that he's retiring his bike and is brainstorming for new hobbies. Mary is pulling for hiking with dogs on mtb trails. :) Though I have mixed feelings about not biking, Doug has had several life threatening events while bike riding. I understand his decision and won't try to change his mind. Though heretical (and painful) to say on a bike blog, biking is not necessary to life.
Doug is in room 5227 and can be reached by dialing 449 and his room number.
Mary says: Thank you all SO MUCH for the prayers, kind wishes, & messages. I wish I could call or email each of you back individually, but Doug is blessed with so many friends that I'd have no time with him if I did so. I let him know that you're all praying for him. And we both know that is why he's making such incredible progress.
Doug - Hang in there buddy! My prayers are with you and Mary for a speedy recovery. There was a huge relief in the sport/expert field when we heard you could move your extremities before you left in the ambulance!
Oh, and BTW, I think I remember you telling me you were quitting cycling back in 1998, and again in 2000. If this is your way of getting out of trail duties for Tranquility, you could have just asked (-:
Seriously, if you have to hang up the bike, you can always hang with us bikers. We understand, but you'll always be part of the family.
Also, thanks to Jim Maaske, Brian Knerl and the Velo Veloce crew for their excellent handling of the incident.
Even when being boarded out, you still had that grin. Not sure how you muster a smile in that situation. It seems like you smile through everything. Thats while you always heal up so quick, and its a great lesson.
I have learned a lot from you Doug, on and off the bike.
WOW!! I left before this happened, hope you are ok Doug!! Keep your chin up.
From Mary:
Doug is still walking and talking (a bit too much of both, I think). He had a good morning but was wiped out by the afternoon due to two sessions of occupational therapy, lots of blood draws, blood pressure readings, temp taking, too much time visiting, etc.
His nurse put a "No Visitors" sign up tonight as he was worn out and needed to sleep. He did sleep well last night (good drugs) but was still in quite a bit of pain this afternoon when it wore out. His neurosurgeon (Dr. Talon) is going to give him different meds to help his extreme sensitivity on his arms & shoulders. He indicated that he has bone chips on the back of his neck which they won't do anything about.
The good news is that he thinks Doug will come home tomorrow. It'll be a big relief for me as I'm at the hospital about 12 hours/day and will be happy to get some things done at home. I spoke with his boss tonight & he was very kind & supportive - said to let Doug know to take his time coming back to work until he felt up to it. And my boss was understanding about me not traveling for several weeks. So, things continue to go as well as can be expected. And I'm sure that is because of all your prayers, love, and support.
Both Doug & I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and we are so appreciative. When he gets settled in and we can get the pain under control, I"m sure he'd love some visitors.
Doug got home around 18:00 Tuesday. I won't be updating these comments anymore.
I now realize how blessed I am to have so many wonderful, caring friends and I am overwhelmed. After a less than fun crash at Manawa Saturday your prayers and thoughts have made me feel so good and have gotten me through a rough time. What a great cycling community. I will respond to everyone I can once I am more able, but please know that for now you are all greatly appreciated and you give me strength to begin healing. Bless you all.
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