First let me say, I love riding my bike. Cycling checks so many life enhancing boxes. Top of the list is the mental and physical health benefits along side an amazing community of like minded folk. I just connect with the crazy, adventurous peeps that throw their leg over a top tube. Even cooler is we come from such diverse backgrounds and all shapes and sizes.
Another common theme is there is risk involved. Whether it be on the road, trail or gravel, we choose to push the limits of balance, speed, and skill building to play with our friends. To prepare for that we head out solo and push our limits so when it comes time to play, we can hang on as best we can.
My latest collision with the Earth was so unfair. Let me say I love to push my limits and do it often. I generally make it home unscathed. In early July I had my bike snatched from me somehow and landed hard on my left side. A mere 2 miles from my favorite start finish point at my cabin on the river in Blue Ridge. To make a very long story short, I broke yet another bone.
Self-assessment revealed that I was not going to be able to get out from the trail without assistance. I had to call my generally understanding husband and ask for help. He was not too happy with me and assumed I was pushing the edge again. Beside getting to help, my biggest concern was inconveniencing my family once again. Being that he is a medical professional, and an all-around Johnny on the spot kind of guy, he came to my rescue along with the local EMS crew which includes my 87 year old dad. It turns out I had a complex fracture of my pelvis. This particular fracture is pretty rare and is usually associated with high speed. Deceleration impacts from falling off a cliff, major automobile, accidents, motorcycle accidents and I suppose bike accidents. How was I going to convince my crew that I was on an easy ride and not taking undue risks?
No matter, I was off to the hospital. 3 very foggy days later, I was sent home.
Without asking, my Sorella sisters jumped into action to help in anyway they could. Kathleen Quinn rallied the crew to relay much needed medical supplies to my home all the way up in Blue Ridge, a walker , wheelchair, bedside commode and crutches arrive before I even knew I needed them. And boy did I. Diane Schleicher traversed the mountains to visit, and really lifted my spirits. Clearly, the time taken away from her training, didn’t hamper her quest to travel to Scotland and podium at the world championships. She had more hardware around her neck than I have in my body.
Kathleen Quinn , what can you say about her. Broken body parts must have still been fresh in her memory because she rallied the team to donate so I could have my house clean while I was not mobile. Wow thank you it was a great help during the early weeks. Thank you to all those who contributed and reached out.
I was able to use the Emory fast track to see a trauma surgeon. I was not sure if I would need surgery or not and definitely wanted a second opinion from somebody that was not in a rural hospital in Blairsville, Georgia.
Once I was in the Emory system, my care was seamless.
Fast-forward three months and I am thrilled to say I am back in the saddle. I was cleared for all activity even riding though the injury is exactly where I sit on the saddle. I am left with some asymmetry as the surgical intervention was risky, and they felt that it would heal well enough.
Nothing a good bike fit and some PT cant fix. Luckily we have an amazing new sponsor who is a PT and bike fitter (https://www.missionmovept.com/cyclingpt/) & I look forward to that.
Fast forward another month and I could not be more pleased that I completed the longest ride to date today.
I was hesitant to sign on for the race team. Racing for Sorella has been part of my story for so many years. The encouragement I received sealed the deal. Finally, I got to ride with a new fresh faced teammate who drove 3 hours to join a ride near my home. Not only was she fresh faced, she had fresh legs and put a hurting on the whole group. I settled for a slow crawl home fully bonked but filled with gratitude for being able to turn the pedals for 4 hours.