Thanks everyone for sharing the news of our beloved Hal. I just called Duke and he's been discharged as I was hoping to talk to Tina. So, that is good news that he has been discharged.
On May 30, 8:57 am, <[email protected]> wrote: > David, > > Thank you for providing us with such a detailed report of Hal's condition. I > know that we were all anxious to find out his status. > > His fall came as we were riding along Ellis Chapel and were about 1/4 mile > from the right turn onto Cassam. This is open country, so to speak, so it is > easy to get a bit complacent because we tend to turn off that yellow light of > caution whenever we are away from civilization and traffic. > > There was no real formation; everyone was just speeding toward the upcoming > turn when Hal suddenly began to lose control of his bike. At first I thought > that he hit a pothole, or something in the road since he was not on anyone's > wheel at that point. His fall was violent, and his head took much of the > force of the fall. > > I do not need to jump onto my bully pulpit now and extol the virtues of > wearing a helmet. Suffice it to say that once again that funny looking cap > that we all wear did it's job. > > Hal was unconscious, but slowly came out of it and was diplaying rational > thought which was re-assuring. (As I struggled to get his wife on his cell, > Hal took the phone and dialed it for me...this was a very good sign, both of > Hal's cognitive skills and my lack thereof...) > > Dr. Kevin Dougherty was right at this side providing him with comfort and > valuable medical assistance, and I thought that the entire group on this ride > did their part in giving Hal the best care possible under these trying > circumstances. > > A special thank you must go to the gentleman who lived in one of the few > houses on this stretch of road who literally gave us the shirt off his back! > He offered it up to act as a cushion under Hal's head which was lying > directly onto the hard surface of the road. He also provided us with valuable > geographical information for 911. It is my hope that we somehow find out who > this was and offer him a big Gryo thank you. > > Another thank you to you, Carol for offering to go with Hal in the ambulance > and providing such a valuable service to Tina by keeping her informed. We can > all imagine her concerns! And, lastly, to the Paddy and Mary who went back to > the fire station in Bahama to pick up Hal and Carol's bikes. The Gyros are > truly a family, and, anyone who has been in need (both Don's, Wendy and > Cliff, myself, etc...) had found out what a caring bunch we are. > > Let's keep Hal in our thoughts and prayers, and wish him a quick recovery. > Things will not be the same without him on the roads, but he will be back > blowing by all of us in a final sprint!! > > Rick > > ---- David Bender <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > I just got off the phone with Hal's wife Tina. Hal will be spending the > > night in the hospital. Tina was able to join Hal at the hospital shortly > > after he got there. His daughter came as well. Tina will be returning to > > the hospital early tomorrow morning. > > > The doctors are monitoring Hal closely and have another CT scan scheduled > > for around midnight tonight. He apparently has some blood pooling in his > > brain and they want to be sure it does not continue. In addition, Hal has > > a broken clavicle and a number of abrasions on his head, shoulder, hips and > > legs. > > > Hal was in a lot of pain on his ride over to the hospital. They gave him > > morphine on the ride over. The broken clavicle was causing him a lot of > > pain and he was experiencing some memory loss. Apparently he began having > > severe headaches this afternoon in the hospital and they are now giving him > > some morphine derivatives to help with the pain. His wife said he was > > resting well when she left the hospital just a short while ago. > > > For those who do not know, shortly after the A- ride separated from the A > > ride this morning, Hal took a nasty spill. It would appear that Hal hit a > > small piece of wood that was on the road which caused him to lose control > > and flip over his handle bars. He landed on his head and shoulder then > > proceeded to skid some distance down the road. He was unconscious for a > > period of time. 911 was called and an ambulance and fire truck showed up > > very quickly. He was transported by ambulance to the Duke Emergency Center > > where Tina, his wife as able to meet up with him. I rode with Hal to the > > hospital and stayed with him and his wife until his daughter arrived. > > > It was reassuring to see how everyone on the ride did what was necessary to > > ensure Hal received appropriate care while we waited for the ambulance to > > arrive. A family that lives across the street from the accident was also > > very helpful and definitely biker friendly. Also, thanks to Derrick and > > Mary for picking up our bikes and dropping mine off at my house and Hal's > > off at the Trek store. > > > Please keep Hal in your thoughts and prayers. Tina asked that I thank > > everyone for their assistance today. She promised to keep me appraised of > > Hal's condition. > > > Carol > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with > > Hotmail. > >http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid... > > > -- > > You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. > > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] Hide > > quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you subscribed to the Gyro email group. 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