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Re: 2011 Roll The Bones Rally - Ride Reports/Pics
I'd like to re-post this message here on TWT regarding an accident that happened to one of the Roll The Bones Rally participant's wife. While the accident did not happen at the rally (happened in McKinney) It was a sad happening that cut short any Rally riding plans Graeme Peart had begun on Friday afternoon.
The info is from an email sent out thru BMWDFW Group. Dahveed posted it on ADV Rider & it should go here too. Please read it at your discression....Some of the info is pretty intense.
Scott....If you think this needs to be moved to a different location...please put a link to it in this thread...
FROM GRAEME:
I’m so scared. The reality of the seriousness of Angela’s condition is setting in. I’m dreading tomorrow, today already. The ride on the rollercoaster, like the ride on her bike, seems to be going the wrong way. I write the remainder of this message with much trepidation. There is still much hope. Some more time will allow further healing. I guess I am getting myself ready for wherever the ride goes.
Yesterday I mentioned that Angela had a fever. Today they took samples for a culture. The concern is that she may be developing pneumonia. The results of the culture won’t be known for about 72 hours – that would make it Saturday.
One of the staff who works with the surgeons in the neurological team came to talk to me in the waiting room while they were doing the EEG. She explained for the type of brain injury Angela has that there is nothing that surgery can help with. She was there to provide hope and encouragement – Angela is young (I’ve heard people say that many times and I look forward to telling her so), fit and strong - but also to start the discussion on the realities and possibilities related to Angela’s outcome. This is the beginning of the discussion I have been dreading. Wednesday is Day 6 of Angela being on the ventilator, on life support. In two more days, thereabouts, if Angela does not begin to follow simple commands and consequently be taken off the ventilator I’ll be asked about whether to move the breathing tube from her mouth to a hole in her neck – a tracheotomy. This is more comfortable and less irritating for long term life support. This is where decisions will become both easy and difficult. From many years ago and as recently as last year we reaffirmed our desires should the worst happen. The Advance Directive, as it is known, states Angela’s desire to keep her comfortable while any life sustaining treatments are discontinued should she suffer a terminal or irreversible condition. I am hoping that those words are not part of any discussions in the next few days.
Angela’s blood pressure has stabilized but she still doesn’t follow simple commands, even with the new sedative. This morning they did an EEG. While I don’t have the official results from the neurologist, the high-level view is that her brain function is slow possibly caused by a lack of oxygen at some point. I was told on Friday that she had trouble breathing by herself at the scene of the accident. I didn’t realize at the time that it might have been this serious. Her actual brain injury, the bleeding and swelling from the concussive blow to the helmet, was shown to have resolved to a great extent as shown on the CT scan yesterday.
This evening, Angela had what is probably the last of the planned surgeries for treating the wounds on her hip, thigh and knee. It went well. One of the docs showed me the work done on her hip. Wow, it looked neat and tidy but if there is going to be a scar it will be a whopper.
Angela is such a beautiful girl, even on her bed in the CCU. The sedatives make her so relaxed there is barely a wrinkle to be seen. She looks at least 10 years younger. Her simple movements even make her look baby-like: a slight shrug of her shoulders, mouthing of unsaid words, her frown when having her lungs suctioned. Bugger that! I want the cranky Angela back.
Graeme
Mr2mch :
We're all thinkin of Graeme & Angela in this really tragic time. Hopefully they will make it thru this & be able to enjoy the cycling sport again.
Rod
I'd like to re-post this message here on TWT regarding an accident that happened to one of the Roll The Bones Rally participant's wife. While the accident did not happen at the rally (happened in McKinney) It was a sad happening that cut short any Rally riding plans Graeme Peart had begun on Friday afternoon.
The info is from an email sent out thru BMWDFW Group. Dahveed posted it on ADV Rider & it should go here too. Please read it at your discression....Some of the info is pretty intense.
Scott....If you think this needs to be moved to a different location...please put a link to it in this thread...
FROM GRAEME:
I’m so scared. The reality of the seriousness of Angela’s condition is setting in. I’m dreading tomorrow, today already. The ride on the rollercoaster, like the ride on her bike, seems to be going the wrong way. I write the remainder of this message with much trepidation. There is still much hope. Some more time will allow further healing. I guess I am getting myself ready for wherever the ride goes.
Yesterday I mentioned that Angela had a fever. Today they took samples for a culture. The concern is that she may be developing pneumonia. The results of the culture won’t be known for about 72 hours – that would make it Saturday.
One of the staff who works with the surgeons in the neurological team came to talk to me in the waiting room while they were doing the EEG. She explained for the type of brain injury Angela has that there is nothing that surgery can help with. She was there to provide hope and encouragement – Angela is young (I’ve heard people say that many times and I look forward to telling her so), fit and strong - but also to start the discussion on the realities and possibilities related to Angela’s outcome. This is the beginning of the discussion I have been dreading. Wednesday is Day 6 of Angela being on the ventilator, on life support. In two more days, thereabouts, if Angela does not begin to follow simple commands and consequently be taken off the ventilator I’ll be asked about whether to move the breathing tube from her mouth to a hole in her neck – a tracheotomy. This is more comfortable and less irritating for long term life support. This is where decisions will become both easy and difficult. From many years ago and as recently as last year we reaffirmed our desires should the worst happen. The Advance Directive, as it is known, states Angela’s desire to keep her comfortable while any life sustaining treatments are discontinued should she suffer a terminal or irreversible condition. I am hoping that those words are not part of any discussions in the next few days.
Angela’s blood pressure has stabilized but she still doesn’t follow simple commands, even with the new sedative. This morning they did an EEG. While I don’t have the official results from the neurologist, the high-level view is that her brain function is slow possibly caused by a lack of oxygen at some point. I was told on Friday that she had trouble breathing by herself at the scene of the accident. I didn’t realize at the time that it might have been this serious. Her actual brain injury, the bleeding and swelling from the concussive blow to the helmet, was shown to have resolved to a great extent as shown on the CT scan yesterday.
This evening, Angela had what is probably the last of the planned surgeries for treating the wounds on her hip, thigh and knee. It went well. One of the docs showed me the work done on her hip. Wow, it looked neat and tidy but if there is going to be a scar it will be a whopper.
Angela is such a beautiful girl, even on her bed in the CCU. The sedatives make her so relaxed there is barely a wrinkle to be seen. She looks at least 10 years younger. Her simple movements even make her look baby-like: a slight shrug of her shoulders, mouthing of unsaid words, her frown when having her lungs suctioned. Bugger that! I want the cranky Angela back.
Graeme
Mr2mch :
We're all thinkin of Graeme & Angela in this really tragic time. Hopefully they will make it thru this & be able to enjoy the cycling sport again.
Rod
I played a similar role for my father in law a few years ago. Docs can sometimes forget that they need to put things in terms you can understand. I was the go between person between the Docs and mother in law. She would never stand toe to toe with them and demand answers she could understand and would just passively accept what they told her without asking questions. Having someone that can do that for the patient is VERY important. It was stressful, but when the life of someone you love is on the line, you get it done or find someone that can. Like you, I hope I never have to be in this place again with any of my loved ones and I have great respect for those that do it.
