*Groan*

[geminigirl]

Phone call from my mother tonight...

"Your father and I are sitting on a bench, outdoors, having a romantic dinner... at Huntington Hospital."

Okay...1. Huntington is nowhere near their house and 2. My parents don't do romantic dinners, especially not outdoors and 3. What?

Apparently my younger brother, who has already had a difficult year (split with his longtime girlfriend, hospitalized for bipolar disorder several times, serious reaction to one of his medications, fired from his job for "taking too much sick time" and hasn't found another yet, etc.) got himself a motorcycle (big mistake for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is that he's not the most attentive person and one needs to be extra vigilant on a motorcycle) and managed to get into a very serious accident tonight.

He's in surgery right now to repair his busted shoulder, and damaged knee. Apparently the accident was serious enough that, according to the hospital staff, this type of accident often leaves people dead or with traumatic brain injuries.

My brother lives alone, so the recovery from this should be interesting.

Mom and Dad are supposed to go away for three days tomorrow, and I almost certainly won't be able to get a flight out of here tomorrow...thought Mom says not to come up. We'll see what happens after the storm passes, and if Mom changes her mind.

The story that Mom got from my brother as she passed it on to me was that he was riding the bike, someone in a car pulled out in front of him and stopped, and he hit the car and was thrown from the bike.

(This also reinforces my objection to zedrikcayne getting a motorcycle. It's not that I don't trust him on a bike, it's that too many drivers don't know how to share the road with motorcycles.)

*sigh* Family.

Comments

[barking-iguana.livejournal.com]

I hope he comes out of this shaken in mostly good ways. And that it doesn't greatly add to your stress.

[n5red.livejournal.com]

Bummer. When I was riding a bike, I was always hoping it would kill me outright if I was in an accident.

[jpallan.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. What's his prognosis?

[geminigirl]

It seems to be good, from what I heard today. His helmet prevented serious head injury, but he's covered with lacerations, his shoulder is broken and his knee required surgery. He should be released from the hospital in the next day or two, and then of course the recovery and rehab.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

yike. best wishes to all.

[whobunkyboo.livejournal.com]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the ADA in place specifically to prevent situations like your brother's (fired for taking too much sick time)???

I'm sorry to hear about his accident. I hope he recovers quickly.

[geminigirl]

IANAL, but I would think that some sort of medical leave would have covered his absences. I'm not sure if he didn't pursue it or if it was done in such a way that he couldn't get medical leave or something else.

[puzzld1.livejournal.com]

So sorry, hon. Tres scary!

If you remember I sold my motorcycle before I got pregnant with Molly and promised that I wouldn't get another til she was 18. It's now been extended until Lizey is 18.

[geminigirl]

I do believe that you replaced it with a Buick. :P

I figured you had extended the motorcycle moratorium, with Lizey's birth.

Tres scary indeed. At least he was wearing a helmet.

[tisiphone.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I'm glad to hear he wasn't too badly injured, motorcycle versus car accidents can be really, really bad. :(

[aliki.livejournal.com]

Brian still owns two bikes (a Suzuki and a BMW) and I dont' feel comfortable letting him ride it on highways. It's not that I don't trust his driving--- I really REALLY dont trust other motorists! I see so many people making illegal turns, switching lanes without signals, and in general, not paying any attention to bikers or cyclists!

[vix.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, I hope he recovers smoothly. Cycles are just so scary to me. And anyone who chooses to ride one without a helmet should really have signed their donor card, because that's the first thing I think of when I see them.

Hoping things come out well for your family. Keep us posted.

[geminigirl]

Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet, which prevented serious head injury. He had surgery on his knee, he's covered with lacerations and has a broken shoulder. He'll be out of the hospital in a few days, and then will have to deal with recovery, rehab and whatever else is involved.

[mac-arthur-park.livejournal.com]

Keeping y'all in my thoughts and prayers.

[wait.livejournal.com]

Oy.

[cmariewt.livejournal.com]

Jeez!! Here's to your brother having a quick recovery!