I'm alive

 
Drinks on me the rest of the night.

Jesus, Man, I'm alive.  The more I learn of the story, the less likely
that seems.  Let me back up.

Apparently I had an accident.  I don't remember.  My last memory
is getting on Noisy Glide Thursday June 16 after work to drive to
karate class.  Then I have confused memories of trying to take out a
breathing tube and someone tying down my hands.  Apparently I was a
real challenge in the emergency room, not just keeping me alive but
keeping me from pulling the various tubes out.  I am truly ashamed of
that.

An off duty cop who witnessed the accident says it was an event that
happened in front of me in the fast lane, rush hour on i-84 downtown
Portland, into which I was swept, and not anything in particular on my
part, like a heart attack, a really bad decision or sudden wobble.
This was important because it has a bearing on whether family will
support me getting back on it.

I'm told repeatedly by several people that I hit my head very hard.  I
still have trouble remembering things and thinking of words.  You know
how when you hit the center divider it kinds of draws the vehicle in?
The EMTs tell me I hit the center divider several times with my head.
Damage to the helmet seems to bear this out.  I've had some testing
done and am supposed to see a specialist next week.  I seem to still
have skill with numbers but I have a hell of a time thinking of words.
One of the tests I flunked is thinking of all the vegetables you could
in a minute.  I think I got nine.

One thing that scares me a little is that my right hand is very slow
and uncoordinated, which makes it slow and difficult to type.  (This
is taking forever.)  Typing is my life; this must improve or my career
is sunk.

Let's skip the hours where wife and daughter waited it out in the ICU,
ok?  I can't talk about that yet.

Wife and Daughter  visited the bike earlier this week and rescued my
camera from the luggage.  Daughter took a few pictures of the damage.
She could have a career as an accident photographer.  The damage to
the bike isn't bad, mostly cosmetic.  This is opposite of past
accidents, where I limp away but the insurance company wants to total
the bike.

Apparently I hit something really hard with my chest, breaking a
couple ribs and my spleen.  They had to remove the spleen.  I will
miss it, I'm sure.  I have staples from sternum to crotch now and man
does it hurt to move.  They said there was so much blood in plural
cavity that they were able to filter it and put it back in my
circulatory system, avoiding a transfusion.  Hey, maybe I'm getting
better at remembering words.

My sister called earlier this week and suggested I could turn this
into a permanent disability as she has with her "agoraphobia" and
retire early.  I think that was when I became determined to get the
hell out of the hospital.  I started exercising my right hand (tennis
ball), did regular walks around the hospital floor (the first couple
were really bad but it got easier) and started practicing going to the
bathroom by myself. It's the little things...

I had the epidural removed a day early and have been weaning myself
off narcotics since.  The pain isn't too bad as long as I don't move.
I take the pills at night so I can sleep but tough it out during the
day.

My objective is to get back to work July 11.  The doctors don't think
that's possible but we'll see.  Wife wants me to take a week or two
more off to make sure my head is straight, and I will take that under
advisement but every day is better and I want to keep the momentum
going.

What I do not want to be is confined to bed in the last years of my
life like father in law, or a useless drain on the taxpayers like my
sister.  We make our own fortune.

Anyway, that's it.  It could have been worse.  I'm alive, and I have
no obvious ...think of word... cosmetic issues -- no missing teeth or
other features, no broken bones except ribs, missing spleen and
concussion, still not completely characterized.  And apparently
getting better with time.

But like I said, the more I get of the story in bits and pieces, the
more amazed I am that I am still alive.

Update:  I very carefully climbed into the truck today and with some
assistance managed to visit Noisy Glide at the local dealer.  I didn't
know what to expect.  It was a little emotional but the service guys
seemed to understand.  I still don't remember a thing, but it was good
to see her, and good to see that she isn't in too bad of shape.

Another round for everyone, and apologies for this dreadful ride
report.


    Ron
-
2003 FLHTCUI "Noisy Glide"
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com

 On 6/25/2011 11:08 PM, Ronald O. Christian wrote:

Naw man, you're drinking on my tab. Sorry to hear of the shit you're
going through, heal up quick and get back at it!

--
Fins BS#221 AH#135
2007 FLHTCU
You say tomato, I say tomato. Doesn't make much sense when you read it.

 On Sat, 25 Jun 2011 23:08:20 -0700, Ronald O. Christian


    Ok for last night, but today you're drinkin' on my tab.
<snip>

    No apologie necessary, it's a great ride report.  Noisy Glide
isn't damaged too bad, you're startin' to remember words & you have a
good attitude, & YOU'RE ALIVE!  Could have been a much worse ride
report.  Keep healing & let us know how you're doin'.

Jinks ('86 FXRS, '07 FLTR)
#64
Remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"

 On 6/26/2011 2:08 AM, Ronald O. Christian wrote:

Shirley I can pick up that tab.  Have some Woodford's. I hear it goes
well with pain pills.


<snip>


No apologies, it was an excellent ride report that had to be hard to
write.  I'm glad you were able to write it.

I think the not remembering part would bother me the most.

Heal fast and complete.


--
George
AH#139
BS235

 Ronald O. Christian wrote:

  snipped


 Going down on the freeway during rush hour , you're lucky to be alive . You
may never regain total recall of the accident , I still have gaps from my
last one .  I'll get the next round .
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !