"The Lights Are Out, The Party Almost Over!"

Kelly in ICU for several days

Writing this in retrospect after I got home, my body was beat up. I had the normal cycling injuries plus a few more: 9 breaks total including the Scapula, ribs, a few vertebrae and several other bones. A couple of jumbo hematoma on my shoulder, hip and side of knee. The SUV tire rolled over my head, fracturing the jaw and eye orbit. The left hand was buggered up also.

I was rushed over to the new Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. In the ER, they stopped the main bleeding by stitching up both eyes, my hand, arm, leg and icing down the hematomas. I managed to get a nurse to call my rando buddy, John Mestemacher at home. He went over and picked up Zaharah (who was doing an outside event at the San Marcos Senior Center).

Busted up left werewolf hand

Several hours later, I was up in Intensive Care Unit. I hung around for 3 days and received great care. Zaharah was there all day and John stopped by after work to check-up. Didn't seem my legs were hurting too bad, so I was anxious to get up moving again. They had enough of me by this time and transferred me down to a regular room (floor 4) They are all "private" rooms in the new hospital and it was nice. Unfortunately it was near the nurse station and sleep was a premium. I finally convinced them to keep the door closed so I could finally get some sleep.

SUV rolled over my Giro Helmet

Doctors were waiting for things to stabilize before jaw surgery. They had to put a plate in there to keep things together. Had surgery in the morning and all was well. Dr was an upbeat LaJolla Plastic Surgeon and liked loud music. Another day of rehab and I was released the next afternoon. Less than a week at Palomar Center.

John picked me up in his Element. We swung by the San Marcos Sheriff's Substation on the way home to see if the Accident Report was available or I could pick up the Madison from evidence. No to both. Once home, I could get out in the sunshine for some exercise again. I managed to set up the bike trainer in the garage and was soon trying to spin that in some semblance of exercising again. 


- randorides