Was just digging through the "face plants". I went through a similar type of accident, but with a very different outcome. I can relate to part of your story very well. It takes an incredible presence of mind to overcome the initial panic and hysteria and get down to business. I sincerely believe that if you hadn't been in fire & rescue, you wouldn't have survived. A little bit of training can go along way and it would behove motorcyclists in-general to go through basic and advanced first-aide training, if not only to help themselves but others too. I'm glad you survived and wish the very best for you and wife.
Thanks for doing the YouTube video. I'm quessing it might have been a little difficult and at the same time a little therapeutic. There's lots of stuff going through my mind. Back in '87 I woke up one morning with my left leg tingling. I was doing a lot of athletic stuff at the time, but don't blame it on that. Kind of like you said, that kind of thinking is a waist of the rest of your life. Anyway after lots of doctors diagnosis, I had two discs removed from my lower neck. Still can't feel my left leg. I do exercises every day. Tried therapy, but found it slow and expensive. I can walk on it, but all of the sensory feeling is gone, which has a few advantages. I used to really like bicycling and I could really hammer on the left side, sense I couldn't feel it, so much so that my left leg got a little bigger than the right. And when I banged it on something, I had to look to see if it was bleeding. Sense then I've done some fun rides, in '88 I climbed the Eiger, Mont Blanc, and ran heavy equipment at McMurdo in '91. Got to spend a little time in your beautiful country on the way back. Been hit twice by drivers on phones on my Seca Turbo and Concours, which hasn't helped, a little more weakness and loss of control. Of course nothing like what you have gone/are going through, but you can't tell what might have happened if you had of been in a car either. Maybe worse. Sure would have been worse if it had been the other leg. Moving the shifter on that KTM to the other side would be a real pain. I'm sure you have thought about thoes specialized prosthesis limbs for running, cycling etc. You have a great potential for learning and making improvments in that reguard. You are still a young guy and no one is better equiped to know what you need and more able to solve thoes problems than you. Technology and materials are changing every day and you have the oppertunity and motivation to be right at the front of it all to meet your goals.. There's lot of information and knowledge out there. Don't quit and never give up. And good luck. You sure deserve some.
cheers guys , i really appreciate the kind words , its funny the further it gets from that time , the less of a hurdle it seems to be .... kinda like women going thru child birth , saying never again ... them along comes baby number 2 ..... anyway took some pics today , made a carbon fibre cover to give my leg more substance ....
Way to go. Got a feelin, you're gonna do anything you want to. The best part of life is the journey. Don't pass up any opportunity to experience it. If you do, that one is gone forever.
I just watched your show and I echo everyone else in stating how brave and strong you are. It's very inspiring! Are you still planning to return to the fire service? If not in a fire fighter role (due to passing a physical), in some other capacity? I also like the show that you are on and wish the States had something like this other than the crap we export to the rest of the world, which is repackaged crap we import. What were you riding when the accident occurred?
Mate I just got out of hospital yesterday myself after a burst appendix and was feeling a bit sore and sorry for myself but after watching your you tube program feel totally inspired. Its amazing these little things happen to us day to day and we start to get feeling down when we think things are not going the way we planned. Thanks for sharing that strength with us Regards Jake
Very inspiring. I'm a police officer and deal with these types of tragedy way to much. Great to see you positive and great to see your wife stick around. We had an officer shot and killed on a traffic stop last year and the girl I was with at the time left me due to her not being able to live with the thought if it happened to me. Recently we had this happen to one of our officers. http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/loca...eal-extent-of-officer-santos-cortezs-injuries He is going through alot now but hes staying as positive as he can. Love the inspiration. Stay motivated. Nothing worth having is easy.
As others have said, your attitude is inspiring. Glad things are going well and thank you for sharing. Your posts in the 'Fun With Carbon Fiber' thread made me think you should post up in the 'Show us something you MADE' thread. To continued well being, Mark H.
Hey, Bad Ass, nice job!!! Ok, you're from New Zealand, what I just gave you in "American" is the highest of compliments! So impressed with your efforts. You and your wife have clearly turned a terrible thing into a positive life changing experience. Know that you are an inspiration to others. Best wishes for a long and happy life together!