My commuting partner got taken out.

[spokewench]

That is just horrible - i'm thinking of you and Terry and his wife.

[Trigress]

Good heavens, I'm sorry to hear this. Seeing maniac drivers every time we're out (passed with a foot's clearing yesterday), it's all too obvious that accidents will happen, and my sympathies go to all those who are not fortunate enough to escape impact.

Keep us posted, and my regards to your friend.

[7rider]

Thanks all.
Got good news from Terry's wife.
She was laughing and giddy -- the best she's sounded all week.
They took Terry off the ventilator and he's breathing on his own now. He does have an oxygen mask for some additional support, but that's doing okay.
They also took off the restraints. Evidently, he would come 'round and start trying to rip tubes out, so they had to restrain him (!). But those are gone now too, and they're letting him come slowly out of the sedation. Pain meds will probably be with him for a while, however.
So...things are looking up. DH and I plan to go visit him tonight. I picked up his package o' goodies from the Bike to Work Day pit stop, so I'll go bearing gifts for him. Don't know if he'll want to give up on the bikes, tho (I hope not).

[Geonz]

Please keep us posted. Many prayers here.

[Aint Doody]

I just feel compelled to say something, but all I can think of is "I'm so, so, so sorry." But I'm glad to hear of the improvements. Good wishes coming your way........

[Tuckervill]

Yeah, so how's he doing now? Hope he's better!

Karen

[7rider]

Unfortunately, not so good. Evidently, he had a rough weekend, and it was pretty much all about his lungs.
His wife seems to put on a brave front when I talk to her...barely.
She said taking him off the ventilator was "too much, too soon." He wasn't expanding his lungs fully, the upper right lobe by the rib and collarbone breaks collapsed and he's developed a bit of pneumonia. The "gunk" in his lungs is a gram negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus. That worries me. A lot. His wife feels they are treating it appropriately. So, he's back on the ventilator. She said she got to "speak" to him for about 8 minutes on Saturday. But "speaking" when you're on a ventilator is pretty one-sided and ultimately he was uncomfortable enough that they knocked him out again.
But saturday was the last CAT scan they felt they "had" to do and the brain injury appears to be on the mend.
Thanks for the continued good wishes. I really hope we all see a light at the end of this tunnel really soon.