Close friend in BAD wreck

[hollywood]

One of my best friends (known her for 25 years) had a very bad motorcycle wreck on Saturday.

We were on a charity ride to benefit the local food bank and we were almost to the end of the run. Janet had gotten ahead of me due to traffic. We usually try to stay together as much as possible. There was a small curve and I could see a bunch of bikes parked on the road and people waving bikes on past. Irene (my other riding buddiy) is a cop so she pulled off as did I since I have had the Red Cross classes, we wanted to see if our help was needed. We ran toward the fallen rider only to realize it was our friend, Janet. My heart went up in my throat.

She was out of it but starting to try to move and we both kept talking to her - telling her not to move. She was complaining about her leg and hip. But hey I was happy she was talking and pretty coherant. (She had on a helmet). Finally the ambulance got there and about 10 cops. The paramedics asked me to help them roll her over on the back baord. I was suppose to lift her leg as they rolled her. I could tell there were major problems with the leg.

Irene went to the hospital with Janet while I handled all 3 bikes. Harley came after Janet's wrecked bike and I called another friend to come ride Irene's Harley home for her. I asked the other riders who saw it happen to tell me what they saw. Basically it seems that Janet went a little wide on the curve and sideswipped the Jeep Grand Cherokee that was coming the other way. The impact spun her off they bike. (Harley Softail Deluxe). The entire left side of the bike was smashed in. I believe the crash bar is probably what shattered her leg.

At the hospital, they sent Janet into emergency surgery to stabalize the leg.
She had shattered her femor, a gash that went all the way through the bone near her knee, shattered hip joint, boken ribs, and a collapsed lung and got 3 units of blood. She came thru the surgery fine (rods and pins) but she is facing the real hard surgery later this week. She is in ICU. They let us in to see her for a few minutes 4 times a day. I think they will fly her to San Antonio on Tuesday for the major reconstruction by a orthopedic trauma surgeon.

I really think the most dangerous time for any rider is when you begin to think you are good at it. Janet doesn't remember the wreck much less why she went too wide on the curve. So we may never know the true reason. I do know that Janet had improved her riding skills greatly in the last couple of years and her confidence was high. Maybe too high.

Please be careful out there. We worry about the other guy so much but we need to remember the most important aspect - ourselves - in this equation!!!!

Please keep my friend in your prayers. She is also the primary caregiver for her elderly mother. All of our friends are stepping in to help out but I am afraid her mother may have to go to a nursing home for awhile.

Thanks
Dianna (Hollywood)