I Will Ride Again
Thread started by
vigilAnthony at 08.24.09 - 3:41 pm
Two weeks ago I got rocked like a tween at a Bon Jovi concert in 1986 when I was hit by some Armenian chick driving her brand new Benz in Burbank on Olive St at about 2am Monday morning August 10. It wasn't until that Wednesday that I discovered what had happened when I woke up to the tune of me pulling tubes out of my face and a pissed off nurse yelling at me to stop. I had broken my right foot, cracked my skull, ruptured my right ear and messed up my left eye pretty bad. The most difficult part through all this believe it or not was being 6'5" and being stuck in that tiny ass hospital bed.
I don't remember anything about the crash that night. I don't even remember going on a ride that night or why I was even riding that night since I had a 9am class the next morning. I also don't know any details about the chick who hit me. I was not wearing a helmet despite the fact that I have one because I typically felt safer riding that time of night but apparently that's not the case anymore.
I am very thankful to have the friends and family that I have who were there with me giving their support through all this. Apparently I beat up a couple of nurses at the mention of my bicycle. I was assigned my own security guard as a result and no one was allowed to mention the word "bicycle" because I would get all fired up and start going through the motions of riding despite my condition and start taking people out.
After I mellowed out a bit and stopped assaulting people when I heard the "b" word I was transfered to the ICU at Kaiser on Sunset and Vermont. While there I was stoked to discover some fellow riders that worked at the hospital. One of my doctors asked me if I had ever heard of the Wolfpack and was telling me of his interest in wanting to give it a shot someday. Another doc who took my blood samples got all fired up when he asked if I have ever heard of Midnight Ridazz.
Needless to say as soon and I'm all healed up I'll be back on my bike. You can count on that. This crash hasn't change my views on riding one bit. I've actually inspired my dad to get back on his bike so I gave him my helmet because my mom said she would hook me up with any new helmet I want if I promised to wear it from now on so I took her up on that offer. I'm counting the days until I can get back on my bike and tear shit up once more.
I gotta give a shout out to Gopez for rolling by my room and busting out the balloons and livening up the joint. All the nurses dug it. Hector it was good to see you too man. Next year we're making top 5 in the All City Race so everyone else be warned! Shaddy my sister told me you sent your support too and that was much appreciated too. TheDude mad props to you too as always and all other ridazz who gave their support that I would have never met if it weren't for Midnight Ridazz.
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Glad to hear you are doing better and hope you heal up soon. Rida ride on.
Foldie08.24.09 - 3:45 pm
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get well soon. heard you weren't wearing a helmet. now i've decided to wear one. we can all be winners. yayyy
_iJunes08.24.09 - 3:45 pm
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Helmet the new fixie?
Gav responding to a
comment by _iJunes
08.24.09 - 3:47 pm
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I wish I had the chance to visit you with Hector. Glad you're out and doing okay. Your name was mentioned quite a few times and I hope you heal up well. Take it easy. Good to hear you're optimistic as well. Ride on!
imachynna08.24.09 - 3:51 pm
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good to hear you will be back out man.... I've been wearing a helmet ever since my crash. we all should be......
Roadblock08.24.09 - 3:52 pm
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those who crash
become famous
_iJunes08.24.09 - 3:53 pm
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So glad you are doing ok!!!
And you are totally bad ass for advocating cycling and getting new ridazz to join us from that tiny hospital bed!
Hope you're able to track down that chick! Until then, rest up and keep us updated! <3
Gizzard08.24.09 - 3:55 pm
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We're happy to hear you're ok... Heal up soon!!
dusky08.24.09 - 4:15 pm
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Glad to hear that you are OK!! That sounds brutal...
alicestrong08.24.09 - 4:39 pm
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Glad to hear you are alive and sending you positive energy for a speedy recovery!
And yes, you will ride again : }
HappyLand08.24.09 - 5:10 pm
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Never met you, or did I?
Anywho, Godspeed and get well soon.
bentstrider08.24.09 - 5:13 pm
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Good to know you're in good spirits. Take care and hope to see you on a ride soon.
-Dexter-08.24.09 - 5:22 pm
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Dude, i fucking love you like a brother.
Call me tomorrow/ later.
TheDude08.25.09 - 2:32 am
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glad to hear you are doing better and you are ready to ride again!
i was planning on visiting you when you moved to kaiser, but i got tied up that weekend. are you back home now?
snowcone08.25.09 - 2:37 am
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@ roadblock...hate to nag, but you weren't wearing one at RWNN..tisk tisk! xoxo
@anthony - wow you went through a lot, but i'm sure we'll see you on your bike again. heal up soon!
tomato08.25.09 - 10:48 am
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Thanks a shit ton to everyone for all the support from all you cats here. Anyone could be so lucky to be a part of a community like this. I'm currently in the process of trying to bail my bike out of the Burbank PD evidence department. I'm hoping to get a copy of the police report while I'm at it to fill in the gaps of everything I can't remember, which is actually everything. Supposedly there were three other witnesses to what happened that night so we'll see what's up with that.
I have just scheduled an appointment with my and orthopedic surgeon Thursday so I can get my foot operation underway. I also have an appointment with my neurosurgeon Friday because I have been leaking brain fluid out of my right ear and would love for that to stop.
Aside from that it's just percocets and popsicles for me at the pad so I''ll be sure to keep you posted if anything exciting happens...or not exciting because I have nothing better to do.
vigilAnthony08.26.09 - 10:21 am
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you are bad ass and an inspiration!
i keep waiting for the day when it'll happen to me, it seems like it's only a matter of time in this psychotic city, i hope i react like you and have the gonads to just keep on truckin'
ride on indeed =)
natefrogg08.26.09 - 10:48 am
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Bump to get this inspirational story above the "ATTN: whore"
TheDude08.26.09 - 8:08 pm
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If the doc who was talking about wolfpack was your eye doc, I bet it was an opthalmalogist that I turned onto the wolfpack when I stopped for some food on the westside on the way home from the ride one Monday night. We talked for quite a while about MR and wolfpack and social rides and such. He didn't strike me as the type who was going to enjoy a social ride, so I told him about the site and said he should check out wolfpack or one of the hustle rides. Tha'd be really cool if he was still talking about coming out for a ride.
ideasculptor08.26.09 - 11:52 pm
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Had the chance to talk to Antony today, and he really seemed like he was in good spirits about the whole situation.
He can't really get out of the house much, so I officially call for a ride to his house.
Respect, brother. 'Nuff said.
TheDude08.27.09 - 4:20 am
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That's the spirit, lad. Heal up. Heal RIGHT. Don't go too crazy and ruin your FUTURE ability to ride by being overenthusiastic now though. Listen to your orthopedist, they'll know what'll mess you up and what won't.
Ask me how I know.
ephemerae08.27.09 - 10:51 pm
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How you been feeling, Anthony?
Hope you are getting better, our thoughts are with you.
Helmet convert FTW!
TheDude08.30.09 - 2:31 pm
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Hey Chris I'm doing alright man thanks. I had surgery on my ankle last Friday and am now in AZ recovering at my parents house. I will be back in LA on the 13th. Doc said I will stuck with this cast for 8 weeks which blows because there isn't much more I can do besides watch tv which is driving me crazy. So not my style but what can you do?
I am still planning on doing the El Tour De Tucson. All 109 miles of it. I asked my surgeon if I would be able to do it and he said my ankle will be fine, but he doesn't think I can get back into shape in the one month I have to ride before the race. I had begun training for this in May so I can't just give up now. So it's on...and he can suck a fatty.
vigilAnthony responding to a
comment by TheDude
09.4.09 - 10:14 am
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So you're ankle's good... what about the brain fluid? Any updates? That sounds pretty serious. It usually doesn't exit the ear. Can they put it back in there? Does it grow back?
It makes me sick whenever I hear about this kind of thing. All joking aside, it's excellent that you're largely ok, and will eventually be fully ok. Very glad it hasn't changed your opinion of the riding lifestyle.
...hasn't changed my opinion of Armenian chicks in Benzes either, incidentally.
cagerhater09.4.09 - 3:10 pm
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My ankle isn't good...yet, but it should be within 2 months. The brain fluid did stop leaking out of my ear but right now my ear is my biggest concern. It rings all day and I can't hear too well with it. My neurologist couldn't tell me if that's a temporary thing or not. He said the busted membrane that was letting the brain fluid out has healed so that's good news but only time will tell if the rest of it it will ever be back to 100% normal. He said it could be another month before we know for sure. Not the answer I wanted from a "neurologist". I was hoping someone with a job title that I can barely spell would have a better answer than "I don't know". Very frustrating to say the least, but it is what it is.
vigilAnthony responding to a
comment by cagerhater
09.5.09 - 1:09 am
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I too know how frustrating the medical experience can be.
Luckily you are young and strong, and you have the support of everyone around you.
We got your back, man, you just say the word.
TheDude responding to a
comment by vigilAnthony
09.5.09 - 1:39 am
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I too know how frustrating the medical experience can be.
Luckily you are young and strong, and you have the support of everyone around you.
We got your back, man, you just say the word.
TheDude responding to a
comment by vigilAnthony
09.5.09 - 1:39 am
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Bamp for epic crash recovery.
TheDude10.14.09 - 6:25 pm
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good luck man. i too are in a similar situation. i got doored recently and it pretty much crushed my elbow. had surgery, they put in pins. doctors say i may only have 2 thirds motion when it heals. no idea yet how riding will be.
buckchin responding to a
comment by vigilAnthony
10.14.09 - 6:50 pm
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Thanks Chris. I just saw the foot doc yesterday and he said I should be walking in about three weeks. So I'm hoping to be out riding again by sometime in November-December.
Sorry to hear about the elbow buckchin and welcome to the titanium enhanced riders club. I've learned that some doctors just don't know what the hell they're talking about as far as medical predictions go, just ask TheDude. So hang in there and best of luck on a speedy and full recovery.
vigilAnthony responding to a
comment by TheDude
10.14.09 - 7:33 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!