On April 12, 2003, I took a bicycle ride with my good friend Stark Smith. This was to be the first training ride of many in 2003. Just 6 miles or so into the ride, I wasn't really drafting close to his wheel, but I also wasn't watching closely enough. Stark stood up to pedal, and his bike momentarily slowed as a result. Suddenly my front wheel was caught hard against the right side of Stark's rear wheel. I actually put enough pressure on the handlebars to hold myself up instead of falling to the left as was about to happen. Thank goodness that didn't make Stark wreck! When my bike finally came clear of Stark's rear wheel however, I couldn't keep from crashing over to the right side. I slammed down to the pavement when I was going 15 to 20 miles per hour. I managed to get up by myself and get the bike to the side of the road. But it HURT! Stark picked up my water bottle and came over, and asked how I was doing. I told him my right leg and my hand were hurt. He asked if I had hit my head and I said, "I don't think so". Stark said "look at your helmet". I took it off and saw what you see in the pictures below. I broke out the cell phone and called Ann to have her bring the JIMMY and take me and the bike home. I asked Stark to help me lie down. WHOA it hurt in my right hip. After Ann arrived, I took out the cell phone, and lying there on my back, I called 911. In a few minutes, I called them again and asked where the ambulance was now! It showed up shortly. One main point to emphasize right here. As much as I would LOVE to blame this on the REDNECK in the Pickup Truck that harassed us a few miles earlier, or blame it on ANYBODY but myself........the facts are this. I wasn't watching well enough, and I caused this wreck single-handedly! I don't think I can even sue Augusta County for making the pavement that damn hard!
Harry's Hurting Horrendous Hip Injury (No way to make THIS page very funny or very pretty! And not recommended reading. But I kind of want this to be the last time I have to tell the whole story)
THE INJURIES AND THE SURGERY
At AMC they took x-rays and they very rapidly determined that 1. I had severely fractured my right hip, and 2. it was beyond what THEY could handle. The did wrap a big bandage around my right hand. After some delay, an ambulance took me to UVA where I lay on a bed out in the hallway for some considerable time (UVA wasn't going to accept me at first and it looked like I might go to Roanoke or Richmond). I think at UVA lots of the staff thought my main problem was the hand injury. I was again shuffled off to x-ray. Each time I was transferred the pain was excruciating, and I counted 12 times I was moved that day starting with the first transfer from the ground to the stretcher. Fairly late that Sat. evening, they drilled a hole through my right shin (with a hand-drill) and inserted a steel rod crossways through it. The final move of the day was up to a hospital room and bed where they hung 35 lbs. of weight off the end of the bed from that steel pin. I was told both at AMC and UVA that the hip was shattered too badly to install an artificial hip, and that repairing it would be difficult and I would probably need an artificial hip within 2 years. The femur had actually pushed through the hip joint and shattered it.
I first met my Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. David Kahler, on Sunday. By Monday, he was a little more optomistic about his plan for repairing the damage to the hip. (They had already rewrapped and put a cast on the broken bone in my right hand. I still say I would have gotten back on the bicycle and finished the ride if just the hand was injured. Ann says that just proves how stupid I can be). On the morning of Tuesday, April 15th they started the operation. During the operation, clots from the injury site broke loose and went to the heart. Suddenly I had no blood pressure. They halted the operation for about 15 minutes and started me on blood thinner. The clot pumped through the heart and some parts of it deposited on the lungs where they showed up as dark spots in an x-ray. They resumed the operation and put things back together. I ended up with 2 steel plates and 5 steel screws, plus 24 staples in a long incision down my right groin where they had entered to do the repair. I then remained at UVA hospital until April 23rd. I came home using a walker and Crutches.
THE RECOVERY
I returned to work using a wheelchair to get around by May 15th. I worked part-time (going in late and leaving early most days) because of the continued pain. I had another surgery on June 24th which left 25 staples down my right hip, and 10 more at the previous site. At this time they determined the hip was healing well, but that the Sciatica Nerve bundle had been rubbing against 3 of the screws. They removed 2 screws and backed out 1 other. As of December 24th, I still have numbness in the right leg and foot. I still have pain, mainly in the foot caused by the damaged nerves. I have a common condition called "dropfoot", I can't raise my right foot and wear a plastic orthotic device to hold it up. I'm still taking a fair amount of pain medicine and I'm receiving shots along the spine every few weeks (called a Lumbar Sympathetic Block) to block the shooting pain. I may eventually have another surgery to relocate a tendon and allow me to hold up my right foot normally. Hopefully the nerve pain and numbness will eventually go away when the nerve ends finally reconnect.
ABOUT THAT NEW BIKE
Yes, I have ridden my new custom-ordered TREK PROJECT ONE bicycle almost 400 miles since the wreck. It was actually ready to pickup the day of my accident. The first question a number of bicycling buddies asked when they heard about my wreck was "Was he on his new bicycle?". NOPE, I was on my old TREK 2100 and it was barely scratched. ITS FOR SALE INCIDENTALLY! The new bike is Red with Yellow Flames, and it says HARLEY HARRY right on the frame. I have ridden it almost 400 miles in 2003, and I plan to ride it a LOT further in 2004.
Short version
I had a bad bicycle wreck 4/12/03 that shattered my right hip and required surgery but have recovered amazingly well. I sincerely appreciate all the help from friends and especially from Ann during 2003. I realize I'm very lucky I wasn't hurt worse and that I have such good friends and loving family. Yes, there are still some problems with pain and with "dropfoot", but I'm riding a bicycle, riding a motorcycle, driving a car, working full-time and living my life fully. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and an outstanding New Year in 2004.
CAUTION! Reading beyond this point gets boring. I guess I really wrote the long version below to remind myself of where I've been and how lucky I am to be where I am now!
ABOUT THOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate the hospital visits by over 60 different friends and family members. I appreciate the calls, flowers, and the dozens of get well cards. And of course am indebted to Ann who waited on me hand and foot when I first came home. What I found unbelievable was how members of the bicycle club took care of all the lawn-mowing, the food brought by, the visits to keep me company, the people at work that helped me manuever on crutches and a wheelchair, etc. Stark even came and reinforced our stair railings so I wouldn't take another fall. NOPE, I didn't get that BMW SUV I kept asking for whenever someone said "let us know if there is anything we can do". But what I did receive from friends and family was far more valuable, your unwavering support and friendship. I also appreciate all those who cared for me in ambulances, and all those who took care of me medically. To all of you, let me say one more time, THANK YOU.
ABOUT THAT Helmet
When Stark told me to look at the helmet, I took it off and first saw the slightly shredded plastic. Then inside I found a big hunk of foam completely broken loose but still in place. At 2 other points the foam was cracked all the way through. I never had as much as a bump or a scratch on the right side of my face. I had no dizziness or concussion. I obviously hit my head almost as hard as I hit my hand and hip. As I told the HOG chapter, I believe in everyone's right to make their own choice about helmets. But this helmet probably saved my life, so my choice will be to wear a helmet on a bicycle or on a motorcycle.
I first met my Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. David Kahler, on Sunday. By Monday, he was a little more optomistic about his plan for repairing the damage to the hip. (They had already rewrapped and put a cast on the broken bone in my right hand. I still say I would have gotten back on the bicycle and finished the ride if just the hand was injured. Ann says that just proves how stupid I can be). On the morning of Tuesday, April 15th they started the operation. During the operation, clots from the injury site broke loose and went to the heart. Suddenly I had no blood pressure. They halted the operation for about 15 minutes and started me on blood thinner. The clot pumped through the heart and some parts of it deposited on the lungs where they showed up as dark spots in an x-ray. They resumed the operation and put things back together. I ended up with 2 steel plates and 5 steel screws, plus 24 staples in a long incision down my right groin where they had entered to do the repair. I then remained at UVA hospital until April 23rd. I came home using a walker and Crutches. 
