Update on Silver Penguin's DH

[Silver Penguin]

It was good to hear that you guys are still thinking about us. Must admit to being a wuss and not riding for a while. I took one spin on the bike, just to prove to myself that I still had the nerve to do it. Now that is no longer an issue, I have to consider risks vs benefits. I'm the only one working right now, and I'm also the primary caregiver. I can't afford to fall victim to another careless cager. Thank goodness I have a cool car to drive, in the meantime!

https://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/caduceusprn/...m/ph//my_photos

The above link will show you some of the hardware that Andy accquired during four surgeries. Today, he was cleared for full weight bearing on both arms and legs. He tried to walk a little but it's not happening yet. The muscles have to build up to that.

Each day, he gets a little more flexibility and strength. Today, we bought some gel-pad things that are squeezed in each hand. Each color is harder to squeeze than the last. It shocked me to see that he struggles with the easy one.

Pain is a constant problem. It's always there, and sometimes worse than others. During the night Tuesday, he had a meltdown when it all got too much to bear. Drugs to the rescue - he's got a little something to help him get through the worst of it.

The Physical Terrorist comes to the house. He's a nice guy. After the session, he sticks around to chat about his vintage cars, what's wrong with the health care system, traffic etc etc.

I'm learning what it must be like to be a single Mom. You work. You take care of the kid. You clean the house. You drive to A, B and C. Then you do it over again. Thank goodness this is only temporary. Next year, we're taking the biggest, baddest bike trip ever!!!

Take care,

Jill

 

[DocDanDC]

What type of protective gear did he have on during the accident?

 

[zzkenoman]

Keeps me humble about riding. Get well soon!

 

[PlaynGuitar]

Hang in there Jill... you're doing great!

heck, it takes time for all the muscles and tissue and beat up stuff to become flexible again, but everything will be OK someday. its the stuff you can't see -- the -- what goes around the ole noggin.. that is even more important, more fragile and difficult to heal.

fwiw, I think you're making right choices. right now, for this space of time you need to be available to Andy and you need to make sure you're there for his care. and I know, in my heart of hearts that he is so grateful he has you around. i know he must feel very fortunate on so many levels.

you and Andy continue to be in our thoughts and minds.

please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

thanks very much for taking the time to keep us updated...

best regards

patrick

 

[Ari Rankum]

Pain is a constant problem. It's always there, and sometimes worse than others. During the night Tuesday, he had a meltdown when it all got too much to bear. Drugs to the rescue - he's got a little something to help him get through the worst of it.
The Physical Terrorist comes to the house. He's a nice guy. After the session, he sticks around to chat about his vintage cars, what's wrong with the health care system, traffic etc etc.

I'm learning what it must be like to be a single Mom. You work. You take care of the kid. You clean the house. You drive to A, B and C. Then you do it over again. Thank goodness this is only temporary. Next year, we're taking the biggest, baddest bike trip ever!!!

Take care,

Jill

Jill,

I skipped the pictures. I'm a bit squeamish when it comes to busted biology. I'll just rest assured they're bad.

While you've been through the worst of it, it still sounds pretty bad. I'm glad you're finding a way through.

For next year, I recommend chartering a sailboat in the BVIs. If you're going to spend big bucks, it's much better to do it in the form of a kick-*** vacation than in the form of a medical bill.

 

[Bounce]

Understand about the pain always being a companion. It might not seem so now, but Andy can know that it does get better. Don't give up and follow his Dr's advice. Once he's over the top it won't seem that the mountain was nearly as tall as it did when he first started the journey.

BTW: Tell Andy he's now a member of the Bionic Batallion! He may have gotten the oak leaf cluster at the same time.

https://www.bikes-n-spikes.org/rides/surgery/surgery.jpg

:crazy: Sure looks like someone misplaced a bicycle chain in the elbow x-ray. :crazy:

Stainless??? No way d00d! We go for the good schtuff: titanium!!!

 

[ROADHAZARD]

Way to get back on the horse Jill. That takes guts. I'm an emergency room nurse and have to look at x-rays like that a lot. Always worse when its a fellow rider. Tell him to do what the P.T. guy says even if it does hurt. You guys will be back on the road before you know it. Bob

 

[jimbemotumbo]

BTW: Tell Andy he's now a member of the Bionic Batallion! He may have gotten the oak leaf cluster at the same time.
https://www.bikes-n-spikes.org/rides/surgery/surgery.jpg

Hey Bounce - I got one of those just like yours!

Jill - Thanks for all the updates. I'm a noob, so do not know you guys, but following it all as a distant member of your team. Amazing what surgical hardware exists these days, and thank God for those with the skills to install it!

Take care - both of you!

 

[SMC]

:blink: Howdy Jill and Andy,

I have been keeping you and Andy in my thoughts and prayers and want to encourage Andy to do everything the PT tells him to do...even might want to go above and beyond and he will be back to 100%.

I hope when this is all over and done, I will get the chance to meet you both and do a little riding with you.

I really can empathize with what Andy is going through as I had a "little" horseback riding accident many, many years ago. Jist of it is I was in traction for awhile, had two knee operations, a right femur pinning operation (oh those X-rays look familiar...in fact I still have my stainless steel rod...it's a great conversation piece during parties?), etc., etc., and I was able to recover and went on to ski race for almost ten years, (never mind the fractured neck on a downhill race).

The desire to get back to skiing, racing and continue riding two wheelers was a BIG INCENTIVE FOR ME to enduring the sweat and pain in my PT sessions.

Scott

 

[Luke]

Well I guess from now on a trip through any airport will always include a strip search. That's alot of stainless steel! It's also a hard way to gain weight.

 

[Thug]

He's one tough cookie!

More metal than Arnie!

Keep ya chin up mate and you too Jill!

 

[dfpextraordinaire]

I want to express my gratitude for allowing us to share vicariously this experience with you two. I think about the realities of this "addiction" that we all share in everytime before I get on my new blue baby. I know that it may be the last time, i think about my four children and the most perfect woman in the world and how my "love" could affect them (some ways positive, most ways negative) if I am not awake, aware and focused on what is happening around me. I don't worry about it, I just make sure that my head is in the game everytime I climb on this incredible machine. I pray that you both heal both physically and mentally so that you can still enjoy the wonder of the world from the saddle of a motorcycle. It's my second favorite "saddle" of all.

Take care and keep looking forward and remember that " this too, shall pass"...

:crazy: :cowboy:

 

[madmike2]

Jill,thanks for the update. Many of us can relate, at least to some degree, with Andy's plight. I remember the elation when I could raise my right arm enough so I could scratch my nose. And I thought that was a victory. The next was to actuall raise 5# weight, through sweat and concentration....and grip, fugeddaboudit! And meds are for the "bad" nights. It sounds like he has a goal to recover, and that's half the battle. As you are experiencing, the living-it-out day-by-day is the more dificult side that most don't see.

Your whole family is in my thoughts and prayers, keep up the good work.

 

[vinnie]

Hang in there Andy!, Hang in there Jill!

as if you weren't tough enough, this thing will make you tougher!

I cannot even imagine the hell Andy is going through -and to be honest:

I HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO! Sorry!, but looking at those x-rays was scary.

He's going to be setting off all the security gates everywhere he goes from

now on...hell of a price to pay for just wanting to enjoy something in your

life.

It'll be great when both of you can ride again. It'll be nice enough when

you both can take a cruise to the Bahamas and just chill!

 

[Toecutter]

I want to express my gratitude for allowing us to share vicariously this experience with you two. I think about the realities of this "addiction" that we all share in everytime before I get on my new blue baby. I know that it may be the last time, i think about my four children and the most perfect woman in the world and how my "love" could affect them (some ways positive, most ways negative) if I am not awake, aware and focused on what is happening around me. I don't worry about it, I just make sure that my head is in the game everytime I climb on this incredible machine. I pray that you both heal both physically and mentally so that you can still enjoy the wonder of the world from the saddle of a motorcycle. It's my second favorite "saddle" of all.

That was worth re-printing. Thanks.
I guess all that metal stays there permanent? Don't bones just heal anymore? I applaud your fortitude and resolve to get through this. Hang in there!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Well, my right wrist has exactly the same hardware as his left wrist, and his right elbow looks identical to CISCO's left elbow.

The only difference between me and you two is I didn't fall off a motorcycle to break by wrist/arm at the joint and require hardware. I was on my then 9 year old's dirt bike and going about 5 mph in our driveway!

By the way, both Cisco and I made good recoveries as I am sure your hubby will!

 

[rdfrantz]

Hi, Jill.

I wasn't hanging around to hear about the crash and injuries, and feel sad to pull in and find out about it in the middle of the process. It's almost a hateful thing to have this visited upon nice people, and I'm close to tears.

While I feel like falling into the "middle" of this, I see you are actually facing the beginning of The Recovery. There's a fair bit of road yet to travel. I know that all folks want tough situations to be over, and hope for some "light switch" that will make it so. The reality is that virtually all things in life are a Process, they consume time as their actions take place. And with each action and result, we participants have feelings - sometimes not so pleasant ones. We need to deal with them... or they deal with us.

I'm glad you've expressed yours. They've been welcomed with open hearts. There's Empathy and Concern here.

I hope you'll continue to "use" us, to share with us those things that are happening - and that you're feeling - as each step of this process unfolds. Please help yourself, and help us, to deal with these events and their feelings as they unfold. Do see Process here, Jill; See one thing, and then another, and then another. The whole point of that famous "One Day At A Time" thing, is about dealing with what we're faced with in the smaller, real units of every day. And, most importantly, dealing with our feelings about that smaller lump of actions and events, getting those feelings recognized and acknowledged, and put into the proper perspective of "that feeling is about that thing, of that day; Today, I've moved on to my next challenges."

We're here to help in that recognize and acknowledge thing - If you share that stuff and not hold it in. So too are other folks physically closer to you than us. Wonderful people like you-all are certainly going to be surrounded by folks that want to help - perhaps most helpful when they just listen.

They and we are here, listening, and willing to help because we care. We want to contribute. Please help us do that.

It's a pretty wonderful world when we're together.

Thanks so much for sharing what's in your heart. It means a lot to us.

Best wishes, Jill.

 

[nusman68]

Keep the updates coming...after seeing those X-rays it reminds me my backache is really not a problem! Tell your DH to hang tough with the PT sessions...your dedication to him and your family goes to show your true colors and is nothing short of inspiring. Really. Best wishes for his continuing recovery.

 

[Silver Penguin]

What type of protective gear did he have on during the accident?

The gear saved him from a much worse face. He had a Bell Sprint Full face helmet. Leather jacket and pants were First Gear. Both were top of the range regarding padding and fit. He had Sidi boots on. Not sure of the make on the gloves but they were leather over the wrist style.

We'd long since made a deal with each other that no matter what the temperature, we'd each wear All The Gear, All The Time. That was in anticipation of an event like this.

The surgeon said it made all the difference in the world to his ability to do surgery in a timely manner. The incisions are all closed now and there has been no infection whatsoever.

To all who read this, WEAR THE GEAR. It really does work.

Jill