Ed Downing Crash

[Pugslyyy]

Road Dogs posting -

Smith and Claude and Others:

Wednesday night on the Oh Melo Velo ride out of MacGregor Village in
Cary, our friend Ed Downing crashed and is now at Duke Hospital in
Durham. Early indications are that he may have broken his left femur or
had complications with his socket where he had a hip replacement several
years ago. I don't have a room number yet but I'm sure it will be
available tomorrow. Jeanne and Nancy Knight went over to the hospital
tonight. Home number is 851-4264. After the crash Ed was very coherent
and pissed that he went down. Morphine helped to ease the pain.

As one of senior members of our area cycling groups, Ed has always shown
incredible spunk and a fitness level that few of us can imagine when we
reach the ripe old age of 71. I'm sure you share my thoughts wishing Ed
and Jeanne the best in his period of recovery to ride again some day.

Please pass this along to the NCBC, Road Dog and Grits email groups.
Thanks,

Gregg Warren

[Michelle W]

Here's the text of an email received from David Cole

All,

Some of you know this already, and some of you don't...

Ed Downing had an accident last night during our weekly Wednesday night
'O Melo Velo' ride. He was heading east on Martha's Chapel Road and was
preparing to turn around. At that point, the sun was directly behind
him. Ed could tell that there was no car behind and started his turn,
but he didn't see the cyclist overtaking him. Ed was moving at slow
speed but fell to the ground and broke his femur at the point where the
stem is attached for his artificial hip joint. The other rider (from a
different ride) appeared to be unhurt.

A group of OMV riders, including myself, arrived on the scene shortly
after the accident and called 911. The emergency personnel took Ed to
Duke Medical Center. The good news is that Ed's bone doctor there says
Ed can be made well. They'll do surgery tomorrow or perhaps Monday,
depending on a variety of factors. Ed had already planned to have his
hip joint surgically adjusted in November, so that work can be done now.

I visited Ed this morning and he was in good spirits, given the
circumstances. He's comfortable as long as he doesn't have to move.
He's in room 6110 at Duke, phone number 919-681-6110. Ed's likely to be
bored for a the next few days as he tries to sit still in a hospital
room - he'd probably like to hear from you.

The Rockin' Comet Ride for Monday is still on (see
http://www.ncbikeclub.org/calendar/ncbc0507.htm ), as are the OMV rides.

Regards,

David

[Pugslyyy]

Thanks for the update Michelle. I know Ed won't be riding for a while, but it sounds like he'll be back in the saddle eventually so I'm glad for that.

Hopefully he'll come out and see us before or after one of the OMV rides before too long though.

Jon

[Michelle W]

I'm sure we'd all buy him a beer if he came out! Maybe he will.

[Pugslyyy]

I just talked with Ed, he sounds like he is doing as well as can be expected. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) with discharge on Tuesday.

He had hoped to be out soon enough to meet us on the ride on Monday, but it doesn't look like that will happen.

All told, it should be an 8 week recovery. Since Ed was planning on having surgery on his hip later on this year, he may not really lose a lot of time - just taking it earlier in the year. They'll do the procedure on his hip now as part of the overall procedure on Friday.

Anyway, Ed's number is posted and I know he likes hearing from his groupies so if you can't get out to Durham to visit him consider giving him a call.

[JayC]

Thats great news considering. He'll miss out on all the 100 degree cycling weather, which may not be such a bad thing.

[Zonda]

I spoke to Ed yesterday. He was a little foggy. He was more worried about finalizing the plans for the Monday ride than his injuries. I'm planning to visit him tomorrow if he will let me.

Looks like I'll be bringing the cue sheets for the 54 mile route. It's on his computer and David has to go to his house Sunday to print them then will get them to me.

[Zonda]

Here is another update on Ed from Frederike:

I just returned from a visit at the hospital. Ed is still in good
(realistic) spirits. He needs some sleep as the leg seems to cramp when
he falls asleep and then it really hurts and wakes him up. But he does
not mind phone calls and visits. He wants to sleep at night.
The good news is that he is on the surgery schedule for Friday at 3:30
pm. He is very happy that he does not have to wait till Monday. Keep
your fingers crossed that the schedule will not change.

His phone number at the hospital is: 681-6110

[Michelle W]

Here is another update on Ed from Frederike:

I got a phone call from Jeanne that Ed went into surgery early this
morning. The fracture was not a simple one, but as of 2:30 pm he was in the
recovery room. He probably won't be back in his room until 6 pm-ish

[Zonda]

Photo (http://www.trianglecycling.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=248&c=5)

I visited Ed this morning. He is doing o.k., but you can tell he’s in a lot of pain and not upbeat as usual. The surgery was more complicated than expected. Once they started surgery, they discovered the break on his femur was worst than they thought. They went ahead and fixed his previous hip replacement, which was already bothering him. He planned to have it looked at in November and most likely redone. They replaced 3 of 4 parts or whatever you call them. He can’t do much for 6 weeks then they will assess it after that. The doc was there when I arrived and was explaining the break was much worst than expected and Ed would have to be careful and take it easy.

He didn’t get much sleep last night. He was very happy with my visit, but after an hour and half asked if I could go because he was about to fall asleep. I took him a plant and a box of candy, which he quickly said to hide so no one could see it and brought him the card I had everyone sign last night. I told him we were riding Monday in his honor. He was sleepy, but very happy.;)

[Zonda]

Ed has already left a message to see if David and I finalized me getting the cue sheets for tomorrow. He is so worried about the ride and that everything goes as planned.

He will get out of the hospital Monday or Tuesday.

[Zonda]

Another update from Frederike:

I saw Ed yesterday afternoon (Saturday) in the hospital and he was still
somewhat disoriented from the deep anesthesia on Friday.
Today I visited at lunch and he made more sense again. The PT had
already made him move from the bed to the recliner. I don't know many
details about the surgery itself, but he has a brace on that leg up to
his waist and he is not supposed to bend at the hip for more than a 60
degree angle.

He managed to get from the chair back into his bed (with the PT's help)
later on. Ed has a slight fever and they gave him antibiotics and he was
supposed to get 2 units of blood this afternoon because his hct was very
low (23%) and he needs to be strong to recover better.
We will see what the Dr. says on Tuesday about a timeline and about
going home or to rehab.

He is well enough now to get phone calls and short visits. Just make
sure you are healthy and don't bring any infections or viruses to him.
He's in room 6110 at Duke, phone number 919-681-6110. Don't call after 8
pm.

If anyone has a small DVD player that we could hook up to his hospital
TV, let me know, and we can try to make it work. I have not asked the
nurses yet, but it looks like it can be done.

Jeanne is holding up ok. She spends many hours at the hospital and tries
to get a lot of phone calls answered. Please don't be offended if you
don't hear back from her immediately.

[Pugslyyy]

I went to visit Ed on Sunday afternoon. He was in good spirits and I would say definitely bouncing back from the surgery compared to Saturday.

[Zonda]

Latest update from Frederike:

I talked to Ed about an hour ago.
He was moved today to rehab at REX

REX Rehabilitation Center
4210 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
Room: 108
Phone: 919-784-4812.

He will see his bone Dr in the middle of June and is supposed to get
better, stronger and more mobile in the meantime. He has not seen the
PT at Rex today, so he does not know yet what the detailed plans are.
There will be "supposedly" 2 hrs of patient care contact in a day, so Ed
will have plenty time to talk to you over the phone or during visits.
Better check first if he is in his room or out for PT.

[Pugslyyy]

That's where my Dad went after his hip op. I hope he has a good roommate, as I remember all the rooms there are only semi-private. My Dad was stuck with a guy who moaned all day and all night!

[Zonda]

I hope he has a good roommate, as I remember all the rooms there are only semi-private. My Dad was stuck with a guy who moaned all day and all night!

My guess is Ed wouldn't be the easiest roommate to have!!

I didn't visit Ed tonight. I forgot I had a doctor's appointment after work. I'll see him tomorrow and deliver the poster. Here is the latest update from Frederike:

Ed has settled in at REX Rehabilitation Center
Room: 108; Phone: 919-784-4812.

He is getting PT and OT attention at least twice a day and has already "walked" on his crutches the length of the hallway twice. They do a lot of upper body exercises with him to strengthen the muscles he needs using the crutches. The average stay of similar injuries is 10 days (according to a chart in the place), so we can count on Ed being there at least till next Tuesday.

[Zonda]

I visited Ed this afternoon. He is in much better spirits than last Saturday. He didn't seem as restless. Guess he has accepted the long recovery ahead.

I took the poster and he really liked it. Thanks Michelle for creating the get well poster and suggesting we get everyone to sign it!

[Pugslyyy]

I stopped by to visit with Ed today after the ride. The rehab is progressing according to plan, and he's hoping to be released Friday. Since this is Ed, there is no hope of him being released early for good behavior :)

Anyway, Ed is doing fine and I think appreciates knowing we haven't forgotten about him. It's a lot easier to stop by and say hi now that he is back in Raleigh.

[Michelle W]

From Friederike --Ed is making good progress with his PT and is getting stronger and more comfortable manipulating the crutches.
Right now the Rex rehab center is under a modified "lockdown". They had
an incident of Norovirus and no visitors are allowed in. No idea if that
will be lifted tomorrow or how much later.
If you are planning to visit - call first. 919-784-4812.
Ed is hoping to find out by the end of the week when he can go home.

[Pugslyyy]

That went through the nursing home where my Mom is, and I caught it. Not a fun thing for anyone even in decent health, so you can understand them wanting to take all appropriate precautions. Thanks for the update.

[Zonda]

I was supposed to visit Ed tonight and take him a meal from Hot Point Deli to give him a break from cafeteria food, but he called and told me about the lock down. We are going to try again Thursday.

[williamtash]

What is a lock down in a rehab place for someone split or make a brake for it

[RickF]

What is a lock down in a rehab place for someone split or make a brake for itNo, no one is on the lam, but there was a Norovirus outbreak, and they do not want it to spread. Norovirus is the nasty GI bug that runs through cruise liners and college dorms every once in a while.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus.htm

[williamtash]

I forgot about the problem runnung around the area

[Zonda]

Just got in from visiting Ed this evening. He was a chatter box and is definitely feeling much better. I took him a pizza from Hot Point Deli and he thoroughly enjoyed it! We had a nice visit, but he revealed that his favorite Slow Spoke is...

Jon T.(pugsly)!!! Gasp!! Jon has cast his spell on Ed! Jon went to physical therapy with him last Saturday. I've only been visiting and bringing chocolates and pizza!!:eek:

He gets out of rehab tomorrow around 10:00 and looks forward to being home.

Next week is his birthday, Friday, June 15. Usually, the Wed. OMV ride is a time trial that week to celebrate his birthday, i.e., 71k ride for his age. It's not likely we will have the time trial next week since it will be hard to notify all of the riders that it is held at a different location and he hasn't prepared a cue sheet. Also, there are new riders who attended since his crash. He's still trying to work it out, but I think it will most likely be held on another date.

[KarenG]

any plans, as far as the slow spokes, for his birthday?

[Zonda]

I have to wait to see if he pulls off the time trial. I asked him to come and meet us at the Ale House next week, but he said they always go to the Eldorado. He hasn't give up on the time trial. This is a long time tradition. When he decides if it's a go, I can try to get something going. He will have so much to catch up on at home, I didn't want to press the issue.

[Zonda]

Ed's crash story and xrays, http://ohmelovelo.dnsalias.org/Happenings/2007/Crash.html