Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Day 12, Rosedale, VA to Kingsport, TN Milage: Unknown




Except for
these photos, Day 12 is entirely gone from my memory bank. I don't remember the crash, I don't remember the ambulance ride to the first hospital, nor the Helicopter Life Flight to the Level 1 trauma center in Kingsport, TN. My first recollection is waking up in the center with chest tubes IV tubes, and catheter tubes coming out of me everywhere. We were heading to The Breaks Interstate Park, so I know that I was 10+/- miles into the ride. I evidently crashed on a downhill going pretty fast...and hit pretty hard. As in; 10 broken ribs, a separated right shoulder, both lungs collapsed with hemo-pneumo-thorax. and a concussion. Ouch about sums it up! Now for the good news....I'm alive with no spinal or cerebral injuries, and I will recover. I spent 12 days in the trauma center where received the best in medical and personal care. The food not-withstanding. Pam flew out the next day and has been with me ever since, bless her heart. It's very difficult for me to tell you how disappointed I am in not being able to complete the Trans-Am trip...But, Like I said, I am alive and I will ride again another day. Thank you for all that have been following this blog, and especially to those who have donated to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters foundation that I was raising funds for. For those of you that would like continue to follow rest of the group as they bicycle across the USA, here is another site for you to check out. www.bikerjoetransam.blogspot.com Also, if you are so inclined, the on-line donation site for my fund-raiser is: www.firstgiving.com/olliesbigrideacrosstheusa Thank You for your Prayers and Expressions of Concern. Pam and I are sincerely touched, Ollie

8 comments:

  1. Ollie - I am so glad you are OK... I have received an email from one of your followers - and will forward it to you...

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  2. Ollie - here is the response I got for you - Hi, I read about Ollie in our local paper and was following his Blog. After reading of his accident, I tried to post a comment but was not able to. Does he have a public email address that you could forward me? Or, perhaps you could forward him this note to let him know how glad I am that he is OK and sad I am about the accident.
    I did a google search for him and that is how your name came up.
    Thanks,

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  3. Hi Ollie,

    I work at Firstgiving and recently came across your fundraising page (firstgiving.com/olliesbigrideacrosstheusa). I was so inspired by your page that I looked up your blog and just read this post... I'm so sorry to hear that your ride was cut short, but glad to hear you're okay.

    We're so amazed by what you've accomplished and your passion for cycling and the BBBS of Butte County. We wish you a speedy recovery and look forward to hearing about your next ride.

    Take care,
    Beth Lingard

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  4. Hey Doc.,

    And here I thought the reason you had not done an update is because you were having such an awesome time! Well you were, up until the accident I'm guessing. I'm so glad that you are going to be okay. I'm sure that you will be back on the bike trail before you know in the mean time, take care of yourself. God Speed.
    Jeannie Pittman

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  5. i just checked in to see what was happening and read that you had a crash. So sorry to hear that!! Very glad to hear you are ok and will ride again.

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  6. Hope you are doing better today Ollie! We were so surprised to hear of your accident!

    Kathy & Tony DeBone
    La Pine, OR

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  7. Best of luck on a speedy recovery doc- I hadn't heard about your ride at all until I saw news of your accident recorded in the local newspaper. You were a fantastic dentist and helped me lose the dentist phobia. It's incredible to see that even retired you are serving the community in such an amazing way.

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