invsblwmn in hospital!

Just in case y'all aren't reading the "officially a bike commuter"-thread - invsblwmn is in hospital after being run down by a suv :eek:

I'm going to meddle and repost her story here:

"when the boss threatens to fire u if u ever get near a bike again...
good news.. i'm alive

i am typing this from my hospital bed, been here since last wednesday. have had two surgeries on my right arm, have at least 3 more over the next few months. can't walk, but should be able to in the next few weeks. going home today or tomorrow in a wheelchair, still w/ unbelievable pain. thinking about hanging up the bike. got hit in a crosswalk by an 80 year old man going over 40mph in a suv who didn't even see that there was a light. plain lucky to be alive. happened right in front of hospital, so docs were there in less than a minute and a fire fighter stabilized me until then. i have lots of support as i work at this hospital, but i miss riding so much. not looking 4 pity, just support and understanding. no head injuries or torso, just back and limbs (left arm works and has iv lines fot morphine and antibiotics). do u think i should get back on?"

Wow. How discouraging! :( I hope you recover fully and are back to good health again as soon as possible!

Thanks for reposting her post.

Indy

Gosh, what an awful experience. I hope you heal quickly and pain subsides with each passing minute. Hang in there and take care of yourself.

Holy cow!! :eek:

Lots of healing thoughts headed your way.

invsblwmn, give yourself time to heal. Getting hit by a car takes a toll, physically and mentally. I am glad you are going home and can rest and heal. YOU ARE ALIVE. When it is time for you to get back in the saddle, you will know if/when it is 'right'. I hope you don't end up giving up riding. Good luck in your healing process....

(((invsblwmn)))

Yikes. First order of business is to take care of yourself and heal. Get better soon. Like sbctwin says, you'll know when the right time for biking is.

Oh dear! Yes, first order is healing. I'm so sorry that you are going through this.

If you want to ride again, then RIDE AGAIN! Riding for me, after my wreck, has been great therapy. (mine was different because I wasn't hit by a car) You will ride differently, but you will still find the joy that you get from riding! Hang in there!!!!!

Let me know if there's anything that I can help you with.

What a horrible accident! I'll be thinking about you on my ride today. Big Hugs!

((((((invsblwmn)))))

Big, gentle blue, green and cream butterflies helping you heal completely and quickly. And, when you're ready to think about riding again, bright orange butterflies to give you confidence and visibility on your bike!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Invsblwmn}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Thank you for posting, lph!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

((((((((Invsblwmn)))))))))

Hope you get to feeling better, and back on your bike when you're ready.

God how awful - wishing you many healing thoughts!

And, should you ride again - of course, it is like riding a horse, you fall, you get back on! Think back to all the wonderful experiences you had on your bike - and all the good things healthwise that come from it. Keep thinking of the positive and you will fall in love with your bike again! It might take a while to get over the fear, but it will be worth it.

spoke

(gentle) hug to you, hope you recover soon...

Oh, wow...how terribly scary. I'm glad you are going to be all right...sending best wishes for speedy healing of all kinds...physical and otherwise.

How awful!!!! I'm so sorry about your accident. I hope you're feeling better very, very soon. I hope that you're eventually ready--both physically and emotioanally--to get back on your bike. Just give yourself some time to heal.

Hugs,

Kate

Oh MAN. How AWFUL, and how UNFAIR!!!! :mad: :mad: :( :( :(

Thank God you had no head injuries. Please get stronger and better soon. Don't worry about bikes for a while, just concentrate on your recovery for now.

(((((((hugs))))))))

Oh, what a terrible accident! I am so happy you are alive and on the road to healing. It was a terrible thing to happen to you, but at least you were near the hospital. I will keep you close in my thoughts and prayers.

Sending you a big cyber hug,
Cathy

Here's hoping the worst is over for you!

Should you ride again? I'd say it's too soon to tell, but if I had to guess I'd say YES!

Healing vibes speeding your way.

Karen

<<<<<<invsblwmn>>>>>>

I hope you have a speedy recovery and I'll be sending you healing energy in my meditations.

Hang in there,

~Soo

Thank you, lph, for posting this for us

I have just posted in the commuting thread with my thoughts of quick healing join the others.

DOUBLE POST:
Perhaps you need to change your name to "SEE ME HERE woman"!!!

Here is a short story for you - I posted in the crazy driver forum about 3 local club members who were knocked off their bikes early on a Sunday morning. Jo went into the windscreen and then onto the road while her bike went under the car, Ray and Shona were thrown aside with their bikes into the gutter/ditch.

All three have been along to club races to help with marshalling. Jo has been out riding on bike paths and off road. Ray and Shona were along on Saturday. Shona didn't sign up for the race, though she did ride it - neck brace and all. Ray was on what looked like a kids chopper - just an adult size. Very upright and I guess that is to do with his recovery process.

They love cycling so much they are all experimenting with ways that feel right to get back on their bikes.

IW, just take your time on your path to recovery - its going to be a tough-at-times mental, physical and spiritual journey. Believe in your self, be patient with yourself.
Kia kaha, kia manawanui
Awhi awhi and aroha from NZ

~Raven~

Invisiblewmn I think you need a new screen name, like VERYVISIBLEwoman!

get well soon!

as others have said ((((((invsblwmn)))))

Invisible, you asked in another thread, should you ride again.
I think only you can answer that question. I hope you do; but if you don't, i will understand. Only YOU know what you are going through. There are others on this forum (Silver for one, Triskelion another) who have had serious accidents and have come back to ride.
What kind of injuries do you have on your legs?

So very sorry to hear of your accident. From your tone in your post it sounds like you still want to ride, but healing the physical wounds comes first. Take good care of yourself and keep us posted on your progress.

Man that's terrible! Seems no matter how careful we all are (using a crosswalk, no less), danger always lurks and sometimes nails us. I'm glad to hear you're alive and recovering, Invisiblewmn! I wonder what will happen, or has happened, to the guy who hit you. I'll have to browse the other post to see if there's word on that.

I say give it some time, heal well and take your rest. If you feel like biking, then by all means do so. Maybe restrict yourself to trails in the beginning, away from motorized vehicles of all kinds, just until you feel more comfortable again?

Oh, no, Invisible! I'm so sorry. When I read your post over the summer about your tangle with the landscaper's trailer, I was so amazed at your bravery in that accident, and your give 'em hell attitude then. You straightened your wheel with your bare hands, and kept on riding to work, with broken bones and all. I even referred to that thread on another thread where someone needed encouragement from her scrape-up.

If anyone can get through this, it's you. You're like a hero to me!

BTW, I think it wasn't entirely clear, were you riding your bike or walking when you got hit this time?

Serious!
Been there (sort of).
An accident caused by someone's stupidity and irresponsibility is devastating. Your life is changed in a second. Note the grammar "is changed" rather than "changes".
But always remember you are alive and especially try top keep in mind that you are the same person inside. Slowly you recover; with surgery, medical help and the support of those who love you and know you (or in our case hear about you).
Never give up and never give up hope.

love, thoughts and prayers...

Wishing you a Fast recovery...in all ways.

elk

Still in harrisburg hospital today. Moving to inpatient rehab at community general osteopathic tomorrow. Will be there 3 days to learn wheelchair transfers. Folks are coming from alaska friday for a preplanned visit and dad's building me a removable ramp for the wheelchair for a week. I have the most wonderful partner at home whom is here every day EXCEPTtomorrow as it is her bday and she's not allowed by me and is sentenced to tuesday nite poker w/ her friends. :)

condition updates- legs need weeks of rest to heal. immobilizer on the left, torn miniscus, partial quad, ham and calf tear, and cartilidge tears. RGT leg-no more tests for 3 weeks. likely torn ICL, brised from top to bottom. . no surgery for three weeks more.
2 plates and five screws in rgt arm too swollen to cast(soft cast for now).

TOOK TEN STEPS W/ PARALELL BAR AND MOD assist of one today and got my first real shower. :D

left wrist starting to weaken so walking is done for a bit, butttttt- my surgeon, a utah mtn biker(and personally resposible for saving of my sidis, was the only one whom could figure out the ratcheting system.), suggested that when my body as ready, I rehab on a trainer and then trails ON THE BIKE!!!

The 80 y. o. got only a ticket for running a red light, my attorney's taking care of me. I was riding my bike across the street in the crosswalk when he struck me



Pain is intense, vico, oxy help some. getting lovenox shots to prevent clotts (1.5 more weeks.) still sporting a foley bag, have tons of visitors daily. love you guys and breathing off your support. Dawn

Way to go on the walking progress!
And you have a surgeon who's a mtn biker - how cool is THAT! :D

I'm keeping you in mind when I'm out in traffic these days. Ride safe, everyone, the next one might not be so "lucky".

All that higher education in the room and only one person could figure out your Sidis? Thank goodness for your surgeon, in more ways than one - that sounds like it was an incredibly nasty accident. All the best for your recovery. :)

So glad to hear you're getting top notch treatment AND have a great support system in place!! Here's hoping every day shows improvement and much less pain.

:( :eek: :( :mad: :( :eek:

Yowzers...

I just want you to know I hope your recovery is quick as it can be!!! Take care & be gentle on yourself.

C

Now that you're on the road to recovery (HURRAH!!!!), is it time for some dark humor about the name you chose for yourself? True, you got hit by "Blinddrvr". He didn't even see the light. Prob'ly wouldn't have seen you if you'd had a foot-high flourescent mohawk poking out of your helmet and blinking xmas lights all over the bike. Makes me think that if not seeing the light or you was an acceptable excuse in court, then he needs to have his license revoked. Can't see? Don't drive! Still you might wanna call yourself something other than invsblwmn hereafter, just for anti-jinx' sake ... ?

What a rotten hand you have been dealed.:( I hope you heal quickly and feel better soon.

Older drivers can be such a danger on the road. Tough love intervention from family is sometimes the only answer.

oh man, i am so sorry.

The good news is the old man got cited. that means he's at fault and will make all your court stuff go through much easier. Ask your lawyer if he can get the guy off the road!!

Hey Dawn,

Glad that you are healing but ouch, and how scary. I am glad that things are not even more serious and hope the pain backs off soon. I can't believe he only got a ticket for running the red light!!! I suppose you have to actually kill someone to lose your license?!? :eek: Congrats on those first steps and keep your good attitude.

Anne

Yay... you've been up and showered... such good news...

Weeks of recovery... ah ((((hugs IW))))... but we are all here to listen and support and encourage you.

Maybe we could get the address of where you will be staying so we can send you cards and stuff?

I join everyone else in sending healing wishes your way.

As far as riding goes, give your body time to heal, and then follow your desires. It's OK if you don't want to ride, just as it is OK if you do. And honestly, I hope that you are able to look past your horrible accident and roll down the road again under your own power. It's up to you though, and there isn't a right or a wrong here.

I didn't have the orthopedic injuries that you will need to overcome in my own crash three years ago, brain injuries and a skull fracture were enough for me... But I knew that I still wanted to ride. It was a while coming - as I'm sure others will tell you too - but when the time was right my bike and I were reunited.

Be kind to yourself. Take things easy, and know that there will be both good days and bad days. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk offline.

Oh, and I hope that your attorney can do something about getting that driver off the road permanently. It sounds to me like he got off (way) too lightly with just a ticket for running a red light. Hitting a cyclist is serious stuff.

--- Denise