Story #3

Exercise 2, Chapter 11
Marsha L. Taylor, 37, was on a routine bicycle ride when she was struck by a car from behind, sending her shooting through the air.

Taylor recalled riding down 72nd Street when she suddenly felt something hit her, sending her air bound. That was her last memory before waking up in the hospital with multiple injuries. The doctors assured Taylor that her injuries were nothing they couldn’t handle but she had received many broken bones from the accident. In total, her injuries included a mild concussion, a broken neck, six broken ribs, a broken arm, and a broken pelvis. The doctors expressed the most concern over her broken neck.

Taylor stated, “One doctor said I had what they called a hangman’s fracture. She said it was a miracle that I wasn’t paralyzed.”

Taylor spent a couple weeks at the hospital before being sent to a rehabilitation facility where she began experiencing unexpected complications. In addition to the broken bones, the doctors discovered that she had also received internal injuries during her accident. They found that her intestines were perforated and both her liver and gall bladder had received injuries. All these complications caused Taylor’s skin to begin changing to a shade of bright orange. “When my mother saw me, she said I looked like a Halloween pumpkin,” Taylor remarked.

If it were not for the complications, Taylor’s hospitalization would have been reduced to only two months instead of four. While still in the healing process, she is required to attend rehabilitation three times weekly.

Taylor began bicycling when she was in college but did not participate in any serious cycling until after graduation. She became a member of cycling groups, began actively participating in weekend rides, and even rode in some races. She has ridden in the annual Governor’s Bicycle Tour and the United States tour. In total, she estimates that she may have ridden around 3,500 miles in the last year. Taylor expressed that bicycling is a major part of her life and something she cannot comprehend living without.

Taylor believes that it is important to take precautions in order to stay safe while bicycling. She encourages fellow cyclists to wear protective clothing and, especially, helmets. “I never ride unless I have a helmet. It probably saved my life this time,” Taylor said. She is anxious to get rid of her crutches and back on her bicycle as soon as possible.