Conference noted::bicycle

Was this the guy without a helmet in Wilton, NH?  I think hes a Tri-dude?

Hit the rear tire of the guy in front of him.......

re: .0


Mark lives with his parents and I visited with them last night. Actually I
went there to drop off Marks glasses and to obtain an update to Marks
condition. 

Mark is still unconscious. He has a fractured skull, severe concussion and
internal head injuries.

Only the immediate family can visit at the hospital.
         

I will be speaking with them again tonight after work.


/Charlie

    
    re: .1
    
    
Mark Boyle was out with us on the Sunday Gamache's ride and was involved in
a cycling accident with some other riders he was with. We were in a ten person
pace line going 22mph. We had a nice tail wind and were really just taking it
easy at this point in our ride, when somehow Mark managed to overlap wheels
with rider who was in front of him. He went down and James who was right behind
him also went down. I was far enough back in the pace line where I could react
and go around. Neither Mark nor James were moving when we got back to them. I
saw James fall on his head and shoulders and roll over. I thought he was the
most seriously injured. By the time I got back to Mark I could tell that he was
very seriously injured.                
                                                                      
At this point we stopped all traffic in both directions to have people go for
help and the ask them if they had cellular phones in their cars. We were lucky
the third in line had a car phone. Forty-five minutes later Mark was on his way
to the hospital.
                                                                              
James was ok, just the typical road rash and a nice headache.

When I walked back to my bike. I found Marks glasses, and I dropped them 
off last night at his folks house.

We then rode from Wilton N.H. over to the hospital. When we walked in the first
person to see us was the Chaplin. Mark was already in the ICU, so no one was
allowed in to see him. 
                                                   
We notified his parents, then hit the road back to Fitchburg. A somber ride
back.

Mark races for the Fitchburg Cycle Club racing team. That morning he was
discussing his preparation for the upcoming 4 day stage race he was going to be
doing here over the 4th of July weekend. 

Mark is somewhat of a free spirit and as such, seldom if ever wore a helmet. He
has too in USCF races, but when out training I don't ever recall seeing him
with a helmet on. 

James who also went down, split his helmet in two pieces, but he's fine. My
personal opinion is if Mark had been wearing a helmet he would be racing in
that stage race next week.

Please remember Mark in your prayers.




FYI - There were five other folks in the ICU with the same type of injuries.
      All motorcycle accidents. You see there's no helmet law in N.H., the
      "live free or die" state.

    
    I hope the guy comes around soon.  It's so easy to get distracted for
    a moment or misjudge where the wheel in front it gonna be in the next
    ten seconds.  My heart goes out to his parents, family, and friends.
    Mark knew the risks and took them.  I did too, when I was 19 and after
    two days of coma, I came out.  I've worn a helmet since then, and two
    years ago the same thing happened again - except that time I smashed
    up the helmet so that only the wire bead inside was keeping it together.
    All that remains is the scars where my teeth split through my lip.  I
    photographed that helmet, had it blown up and posted in all the local
    bike shops along with the ER doctors quote that my head could never
    have taken that beating.  I firmly believe that the increase in helmet
    sales in the following months saved and will save a lot of grief,
    suffering, and lives.  I firmly believe Mark will want his experience
    to be used as a lesson to us all.
    
    Please, I beg all of you who don't wear a helmet.  Buy one and wear it.
    For less than $200 you can get the coolest, most exclusive, expensive,
    lightest, and comfortable helmet on the market.  To me, thats a price
    well worth paying to keep yourself or your wife, girlfriend, parents,
    or kids alive and well.  How much did thay pay for their last pair
    of Nikes?  Prices for helmets start at as low as $29.  Go.  Do it. 
    
                                                                       

Good News for a change, Mark became conscious yesterday morning.

He's also mumbling which I was told is also a good sign.

He has memory problems, and does not recognize anyone yet.

He did get up to go to the bathroom which the doctors told him not to do.

Today he may be transferred from the ICU ( intensive care unit ) into the 
general hospital population. If that happen he'll be able to have visitors.

Some of us made tentative plans to visit tonight. 

I'll be stopping in to see his parents again tonight on my way home from work.


/Charlie 

I stopped in to see Mark's parents last night on my way home from work. His
mother and sister had just returned from the hospital. They told me Mark was
much better and that he was not in intensive care, but rather had been
transferred out into the regular part of the hospital.

Myself and Peter Cunningham who was with us Sunday when this happened went to
see Mark last night. He looks great compared to when I last saw him. He is also
talking now, single words and some VERY short sentences. He did not know who we
were but I think he figured it out after awhile. 

He cannot remember anything from Sunday on. His short term memory is not
working. He did not remember seeing his mother and sister who had been there a
few hours before us. He misses his dog. Told me he's going home tomorrow. He
wants out. His spirit is good.  Other times he seemed to drift off and not 
hear us.

He still under a 24 hr watch. There is someone in his room all the time unless
he has visitors. They do not want him getting up. He still has nine staples in
the back of his head.

He's come a LONG way from Sunday. We did not see any doctors so I can't tell
you anymore than this. He's improving in a big way. He can hear, talk, and move
around. He looks good.

I made tentative plans to see him again Friday night. I have to fix my bike
tonight the front derailuer cable broke yesterday, and its food shopping night.

I'm going to stop in and see his mother tonight and will post my last update
tomorrow. I'm on vacation next week. If I get my PC fixed at home then I'll be
back on the notes conf. Its all in pieces right now. I'm changing from a high
tower to a mid-tower and replacing my mother board with a P133 mother board.
This will be one of my TO DO items to accomplish while I'm on vacation.

This Sunday's ride from Gamaches in Fitchburg at 8am. We might all ride up to
the hospital and visit Mark, then ride back.
                                                   


/Charlie 

    
    Hi,
    I spoke with his cousin Joey this evening and he told me that the
    doctors informed Marks parents that they expect Mark to make
    a 100% recovery. Mark will need to be hospitalized for 3 to 4
    more weeks.
    thank you for keeping us updated.
    
    Debbie

I stopped off to see Marks parents last night on the way home from work.

They spoke at length with Marks doctors yesterday and while he currently has
short term memory loss they expect him to make a 100% recovery. 

He will need to take some medicine for a long time to prevent seizures.
His ability to recognize colors may be diminished, and his math abilities may be
diminished as well.

Mark will also need to be hospitalized for 3 to 4 more weeks for therapy and
rehab.

Some of the FCC folks will be going to visit him tonight. The doctors indicated
that lots of visitors are good for him. It will make him stretch his memory and get 
those brain waves moving.

Been awhile since my last update. Been on vacation and working on my PC
here at home. Also working on my "honey to do list" which is keeping me
busy as well.


I went to see Mark this past Saturday and basically there has been no change in
his condition. His short term memory is not good. He still does not know who 
I am. People who have just left visiting him, he does not remember seeing them.

I'm on vacation for two weeks. So I'll slip updates in here as often as I can.

I just got off the phone with George Gamache who went to see him 
yesterday. Basically his condition is unchanged.

While in seemingly good physical condition, his short term
memory continues to be a problem. They have left as "register"
in his room for visitors to sign in case he remembers someone
or something. He seemed to grow tired quickly so he left Mark.

 Chip

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been on "vacation" painting the house 
and garage.

I have been to see Mark three times since my last update. Yesterday I was there
to visit him and his sister and a friend were there as well as Maria from the
Fitchburg Cycle Club.

I'm happy to report that he is making very good progress. He knows who I am now
and is a lot more lucid than he was a week ago. His memory at times is very
good. 

His doctor feels he'll be out in 7-10 days.


/Charlie

 
I stopped over Mark's house last night and his mother told me that Mark
is coming home from the hospital this afternoon. He'll be under a lot of 
restrictions, like no driving, lawn mowing, no machinery tools.

He'll still be under some medications and therapy.

I'm planning to stop by and see him on my way home tonight.  

I'll pass more news on next week.

    How is Mark doing now that some more time has passed?  What is his
    outlook now, if any?  And the Dr.?
    
    rich

From what I understand, Mark is pretty much back at
100%. He's riding. That's a great sign.

I haven't seen him yet. He didn't show up on the
club ride yesterday.

Chip

    ...begs the obvious question: is he wearing a helmet now?

Funny you ask. I asked the same question. An acquaintance
saw him standing with his bike (not riding it at the time).

He wasn't wearing it at the time.

Chip