Stephen Rowland: A traumatic brain injury after a motorcycle accident has made me think

Here I am lying here in the trauma unit at Vanderbilt trying to write this article.

My 12th vertebrae is cracked, my wrist is fractured, I have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury, and I have some road rash on my abdomen and my shin. I’m just thankful to be alive. A lot of motorcycle riders who broadside a car don’t live to tell about it.

I actually don’t remember anything about last Thursday when the accident happened. My trauma affected brain has blocked every remembrance of it. Bystanders said a lady at the gas station suddenly spurted out in the road right in front of me. I was probably doing about 45 mph and didn’t see her sudden action in time. I hit her car and got all banged up in addition to losing consciousness.

Bystanders tried chest compressions on me. The helicopter arrived and life flighted me to Vanderbilt. My first memory was a nurse at Vanderbilt trauma unit asking if I knew where I was. I figured I was at Vanderbilt but didn’t know anything beyond that.

I actually had bleeding on the brain; I’m glad that healed up quickly. Physicians had to determine if my vertebrae and wrist needed surgery. They said the fractures are small enough that they should heal with just physical therapy. That’s good news — no surgery. Some people call me lucky; others “blessed.”

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I’m 64 and never had a major motorcycle accident. I’ve had close calls and near misses, but not an accident. I thought at my age I had so many years of experience that I most likely would never suffer one.

Boy was I wrong!

I’ve heard guys say there are only two kinds of bikers — those who have been down and those who are going to. Pretty pessimistic in my opinion. It is a good reason to always wear protective clothing and good helmets. I think my 3/4 old fashioned helmet saved my life.

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The more I think about it, the more I realize I need to be around to take care of Susan. Riding motorcycles has just lost its luster for me — despite there being four in the garage; despite belonging to the Christian Motorcyclists Association; despite serving as chaplain for the Knights For Christ; despite riding it to work to save on expensive gasoline.

I always knew it was dangerous, especially now that so many drivers are distracted by their cellphones and their dashboards. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen drivers straying into my lane. That’s not counting road ragers and people playing “NASCAR” swerving immediately in front of my vehicle when there’s an opening just big enough to squeeze in. Motorcycles are often simply not seen.

That lady didn’t see me even though I had three headlights and a bright orange safety vest with an orange striped helmet and googles. If you can’t see that coming, you need a vision test. When people are so eager to switch suddenly in your lane or jump in suddenly from a side street, it may not matter what fluorescent colors you wear.

I’m considering giving motorcycles up, but I’ll have to talk to my wife about that; she owns two herself. We met for the first time motorcycling out at Henry Horton State Park. Our marriage ceremony had motorcycles up front (Christian Motorcyclists Association friends). It’s sort of a lifestyle — not easy to give up.

That time might have come. I’m sure there’s an old 60’s or 70’s hot rod car out there that we would enjoy. We would still financially support CMA because they do such a good job with the money — supporting Missionary Ventures, getting Bibles into restricted counties, showing the Jesus film, giving jungle pastors off road capable motorcycles to spread the gospel to other villages in the jungle, etc. It’s a really good organization and we have a lot of friends in it. Leaving the world of motorcycling behind is a weighty decision.

I’ve got some serious discussions to have with Susan. It may be that she thinks it’s much safer to ride in a group rather than as an individual, I’m not certain. Wish us luck, or better yet pray for us.

Pray for me — I’m moaning and groaning every time I slowly get up or sit down with this cracked vertebrae.

God bless y’all and be safe out there.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Traumatic brain injury after a motorcycle accident has made me think