Update - Silldorff bike accident on Bike Virginia
Hello Friends,
I just wanted to check in with all of you and again thank you for all of
your prayers, beautiful recovery wishes, support and more!
The swelling in my face is almost down to a normal level except for where
scare tissue remains. The scare tissue will take a few years to go away.
There are a number of areas on my face where it is visibly apparent but I'm
usually feeling alright about it. I just try to remember how lucky I am and
that I'm recovering each day. The plastic surgeon will only need to do 1 or
2 scar revisions. It will take a long time for the scars to diminish. I've
struggled with a few infections and medication side effects but overall have
felt ok. The road rash is basically gone and amazingly didn't hurt much at
all. My speech and ability to eat is almost back to normal. The dentist
will cap one of my teeth this Thursday - fun! Maybe gold or silver:)
Overall I feel good - better than I thought I would except for a medium
grade neck pain that is fairly constant - thus lots of Advil. I'll visit the
maxillofacial surgeon again once I have permission to remove the neck brace.
Not being able to drive has worked out thus far. I've been forced to
experience One Less Car and lots of carpooling which has been a fun way to
catch up with old and new friends (I work for One Less Car). In regard to
One Less Car, I'm grateful to be very busy working on the Tour du Port - I
have to put a plug in that I hope you all can attend - flyer attached - and
other interesting projects that keep my mind occupied. I got an MRI last
week and am going to get a 2nd opinion from a top Hopkins neck orthopedic
doctor tomorrow. It is confirmed that I do not need neck surgery! Wearing
the neck brace is difficult and hot but I know that I'm very lucky and I am
trying to follow the doctors directions to do almost nothing. The emotional
component has its ups and downs. All of your support (letters, calls, visits
etc.) have been so very helpful to me in this area. I wish I had a special
way to thank each of you for reaching out to me!
I'm writing to share the following letter (below this email) with all of
you. It is especially meaningful to me since I don't remember the accident
or much of the day...nor do I know Steve, the person who wrote the letter.
Many letters like this were emailed to me from all of you - filling in the
blanks for me and sharing your positive prayers and energy. Many were from
people I never met who saw me lying on the road. Some never even saw me but
heard about the accident and contacted me to tell me they were praying for
my recovery and cared. The letters still arrive...and mean so much to me.
This shows the strength of our community (in and outside the bicycling
community) and the compassion in all of our hearts! I'm just another person
on the road and have been positively overwhelmed by the contacts (again-many
'I've not met before) telling me they are praying and thinking of me. It has
been a major part of my healing.
One way I hope to grow from this experience is to reach a deeper level of
unconditional love and compassion for others. Sometimes I rush around and am
not as aware as I'd like to be of other people's needs or difficulties. I
hope to be as deeply compassionate as all of you. One of the hardest parts
of the accident is that it happened doing something I have loved for most of
my life (being outside bicycling) and that it involved an animal (animals
have been so very important to me-a special part of my life).
On that note, my 18 month old lab/great dane mix, Blake, is now a
competitive athlete - spoiled by the walks and hikes my neighbors, friends
and others give him:) He too grows stronger every day! I look forward to
days on the mountain bike with him - possibly this winter. I most
definitely look forward to road rides with you - hopefully by the end of the
summer or at Bike VA 2010. For those of you I know off the bike - I hope we
will see each other soon.
With gratitude,
Carol
Hi Carol,
First, I'd like to wish you the very best in your recovery from the horrendous crash that you had with the deer/doe on that downhill, narrow, mountain road, heading back to Charlottesville. (06-24-2009) I'm pretty sure you do not remember me. I had chatted very briefly with Esther(I believe)....as you and Esther and a lead male rider were starting to ride a three person pace line. Esther(again,I believe that was who it was)...had made a funny comment...complaining to the guy (small pace line leader) about having to ride behind him and having to look at his butt ! (typical cycling humor !) Anyway.....I made a comment to her that I'd hate to ride behind her and look at HER butt ! (NOT !!) Of course...all as a good joke and bike banter/humor...I later told her she was a "10 on a 10 scale" and she thought that was pretty funny and we laughed....with all of that said....you guys were riding a little faster than I cared to hold at the moment....so your little group of three pulled away. I was thinking about how strong you and the other riders were and I admired that but I just didn't feel like pushing it. I slowed down my pace and relaxed a little.....
Shortly after that.....I was rolling down the hill and noticed a man waving his arms and telling me to stop...there had been a bad crash. I stopped and dismounted and saw you laying in the road...I saw the pick up truck and I saw the injured deer. The story came together pretty quickly. I ran over to you and you were not moving and I believe it was Esther who was now starting to attend to your immediate care. She was telling you not to move and she was reassuring you that she would stay with you and never leave your side.....while this was happening, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed 911 (at exactly 9:25am)......I told the dispatcher that a female bicyclist had struck at deer broadside at approx 25 mph and that you were severly injured and that we needed a squad. I also told the dispatcher that I wanted "Air Care" put on standby.....I wanted them ready for the quickest transport possible. (I'm a Police Officer/Ranger) and have been involved with accidents and crashes before)(there were a few more typical questions that I answered for the dispatcher...like road name, estimated your age, etc......I saw your facial injuries and figured there were many more hidden injuries that we could not see. I was hoping and praying for the best case scenario.
Your friend, Esther, I believe it was Esther.........was so loving to you.....I was moved at the compassion that she showed to you.....she layed down on the road/pavement and cradled you with tender, loving, care and very gently placed a folded towel or small blanket under your wounded head, I believe there was also a gauze pad placed on the worst wound.....I knew that you were in good, caring, hands.
I told her(Esther) that a squad had been dispatched and was on its way....... When the squad arrived......I watched and saw again that you were in good hands and on your way to a trauma center/hospital. I prayed that you would survive and recover...... And gratefully...it appears that you are on your way to total recovery....with some very tough work/healing yet to be done....but you are on your way !!!
I had emailed a friend of mine(from Bike Virginia 2008)(she could not ride this year) of the accident and told her of my small role.(She/Karen D. is a member of the same bike club) She forwarded your email that had been sent out on 07-01-09......she thought I'd like to get in touch with you and wish you the best.......!!!!
I admire your positive attitude toward the event and life in general.......and I know that you will make a full/complete recovery......you will be back on the bike soon (be patient).....you have a wonderful support team and I'm sure they will be there to help you along with your recovery.......I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.......Hopefully, I'll get a chance to talk with you in person next year at the 2010 BV.....wherever that will take the 2,000 riders !!
Sincerely,
Steve Ranz
Harrison,Ohio