Great news, thanks for the update. I'm sending thoughts of a speedy recovery. Yes, it could have been so much worse.

When I harranged that poor happless first-time bike commuter on BART yesterday, he was oggleing (sp?) my bike
"ooh, I need a road bike, ooh, I need a computer like that one, ooh I need..."
"where's your helmet? you need a helmet. this is why..." I used your friend as an example, wearing one is the difference between living to enjoy another day of riding and learning the alphabet all over again at best. I'm glad for him and his family that he's going to be ok.