The Beginning of the End

The past several weeks for me have been quite the ride. This ninth week being the best,  HOME!

It all started with a bang. And that was my head hitting a post on a bridge at the bottom of a hill. A hill I had ridden down a couple hundred times before. And then came an immediate barrage of support from those around me. Someone who saw me crash called the paramedics immediately, and three bikers on Lee Gulch stopped and looked after me until help. The paramedics arrived, stabilized me as best they could, then rushed me to Littleton Hospital. I was put in the ICU and underwent many tests.  I was finally able to move to a rehab hospital three weeks later. I only know of those first three weeks because of what everybody has told me. I have no personal recollection of anything happening to me from the day of the accident. I just remember waking up one day in a hospital bed, getting lifted into a stretcher, and going somewhere else in an ambulance. I didn’t know what Craig Hospital was at the time but fortunately, CH had a place for me. My memory was functioning at this point, though it was a bit sketchy. I was still suffering from post traumatic amnesia, which affected my short term memory; luckily, that recovery came quickly..

Since being home, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to visit the ICU at LAH (Littleton Adventist Hospital) and to meet one of the paramedics at Station 11. The paramedic explained to me how they saved my life. Many of the nurses that cared for me in the ICU at LAH were in awe at my miraculous recovery – I believe it was because of all of the love and support I received.  

This accident came at pretty hefty price. The injury damaged my frontal lobe – the processor for problem solving, movement, and social interaction. Three significant components in my life. For example, with movement, It will take more than what therapy can give to get me back to where I was, especially with my strength and coordination. This is sadly affecting driving and biking. And as for problem solving, I may have to adjust my school schedule. The last piece, social interaction, could be devastating for me. Not only can it affect my friendships (though I’m sure my best friends will get it), I’m concerned about my work at Chick-Fil-A, who puts themselves in the people business as much as the food industry. And because I’ve grown so close to everybody there, enough to call it home, I would be lost without them. I appreciate the fact that they have given me tons of support and time and are patiently awaiting my return.

This next year will be one of my hardest. I have much ground to make up to get back up to my former mental state, but I’m determined to get back there and accomplish great things in life.