Steve Ross - UPDATE
Hi Team, please accept my heart felt thank you for all your support to Brenda and myself both through well wishes, prays, and financial support. I have always felt loved and supported by this team, but have not realized how much until this accident. I want to apologize for not updating you on my medical condition, but as you can imagine I have had a lot on my mind. I understand Brenda took the lead on that, and updated you as things progressed. My injuries are 1) Hemopneumothorax, 2) Left lateral chest wall contusion with 8th - 12th multiple rib fractures, 3) Splenic artery/vein tear which was embolizied/coiled to slow the bleeding. Initially they were concerned/considering removing my spleen and plating a few free floating ribs. Positives are - no head, spine, or clavicle injuries.
But after 4 days of observation all is starting to stabilize. BW remains low but stable and the Docs are more optimistic that the chest tube can be removed tomorrow. They will observe for 4-6 hrs to make sure my lung stay's inflated and if all is good, I will be discharged with my spleen in place and no plating on my ribs. "I was told I was to fit to repair 
."Work works".
We will be driving home - no air transport - discouraged of course. It is usually a 16 hr drive, which will be made longer due to the fact that we will need to be stopping more frequently so I can rest. The main issue here is....."Will we still be married when we get home, poor Brenda 
"? Time to give you guy's the deets on the accident. In all I did not loose consciousness during the accident and had the where with all to reach out and stop my Garmin (typical type A athlete).
I saw all this unfold right in front of my eye's with no space/time to stop this from happening - just minimize the damage. I seen a stopped silver tow truck with a red car attached to my left and a volunteer on my right. All of a sudden the volunteer motioned for the tow truck to cross the road in my pathway that I was entering. "Why" I was thinking. I pressed on my back brake then front brake, swerved with line of the vehicle and impacted the towed red car upper body at a high rate of speed (Garmin registered impact at 27. 9 mi or 44.7 kms) . As I said, I did not lose consciousness and I heard all the conversations going on. The one I keyed in on was someone saying to the volunteer "why he let the tow truck go through"? and he answered "I thought he had time". Onsite medical was there quickly and packaged me up for transport to Erlanger trauma hospital where I was attended/assessed quickly,chest tube inserted, CT scan, then off to cath lab, and embolizied to stop bleeding. Again to all my teammates, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support and well wishes. Brenda and I cannot say enough about this team being almost like family and feeling the love by all ! Time to start the long march to a speedy recovery. Guess the hilliest marathon in Canada is out in 4 weeks, dang !
Comments
Steve, wishing you a speedy recovery!!!!
If there is anything you may need please feel free to reach out.
You actually Stopped the Garmin....that is priceless.
glad you are basically ok.
having a spleen is nice. lots of places probably would have just removed it. so good that you had the embolization option.
best to a good recovery.
Showing us great strength even in a time of great injury.
Heal fast my brother and always KMF.
SS
Glad you are in one piece and that you WILL heal from this.. Leaving town with no extra hardware at this point would be a long term blessing. Safe travels & keep the good reports coming!
In all seriousness...you are pretty banged up but the fact you'll make a full recovery is very fortunate. It sounds like your crash mitigation likely kept things from being much, much worse. It's hard to say that given the crash sent you to the ICU, but given your fitness and what sounds like great medical care being able to go home less than a week later is remarkable.
All the best for a speedy recovery and cheers to B.....you will owe her BIG TIME once this is all said and done
The hilliest marathon in Canada might be off the table, but I'd bet you can still rock rock the ICTT!
So nice to hear that you are doing better. I think your marriage will survive but you are going to owe her some serious BLING!
So glad you're getting patched up and looking to get home soon! A fellow told me about "the biker who got taken out just before transition by a truck" on the run. I said a prayer immediately! It looks like it was answered...fine care for the athlete that crashed..our own Steve Ross!!!
We all know you'll be in good hands with Miss B on the way home, but I fear you may be in debt to her for a while.
Steve, glad to see your on the mend and headed for home. I saw an athlete being tended to when i went by and had no idea it was you. Krista and I will continue to pray for your speedy recovery.
Thank goodness you stopped the Garmin...LOL
Steve, so glad you are on the mend. Hope the drive home wasn't too bad and that your marriage is getting stronger through the challenges of this traumatic experience. Sounds like you have a gem in that relationship though. I don't know you yet, but have been thinking of you and pray for your speedy recovery of body, mind and spirit.
Hey Steve! Thanks... so great to get the update. I was watching the tracker and saw the updates stop... still can't even fathom that a tow truck got between you and transition. Glad to hear that everything has stabilized. Don't let them come after you for any damage to that red car.
Seriously... keep us posted and best of luck with the road trip!
Steve, you are a boss. Reading your report and Garmin turnoff made me think of the above link. Recover like a champ and as many others have said, please let us know if there is absolutely anything we can do to help out.
Sometimes not a joke. I got a bill (paid by my homeowners' ins from 0$) for $917 from the US Govt for ramming the rear end of one of their pick-ups on an Army base. I was still in the ICU when the invoice arrived!
21st Century trauma care is quite amazing. The knowledge, quick thinking, and experience of so many people in so many places has saved a bunch of our athletes from devastation. Now we add Steve R to the list, knowing he will deal with his rehab with the same upbeat, disciplined approach that enable him to be riding his bike @ 28 MPH in the first place. Civilians (i.e., non-bikers) just don't comprehend the power of a time trialist in heat. They see us, and think our speed equals a little kid on a tricycle?
Don't forget to get USAT involved, so they can pay their share of the bill, i.e., anything not covered by insurance. That one-day license fee is basically an insurance policy.
Given EN's experience with bad crashes, I foresee a PR in your future.
Steve and Brenda, I'm so sorry this happened. I hope both of you take care of yourself in the coming weeks and months.
Steve, I know the road ahead will be a challenging one but you will come out the other side stronger.
I'm so glad this wasn't worse and that it sounds like you got taken care of quickly.
Heal up. Hoping you make it home safely.
@Al: I remember your crash happened but didn't recall that detail about the bill for damages. Amazing! I was just kidding. It certainly is true that you and several others on the team are role models for coming back stronger than ever. Great advice and insight as always, especially about the USAT coverage.
@Steve: again, hope everyday is a little (or better yet, a lot) better! Safe travels and keep us posted.