Dirt on our shoes...: Life changing event for me.

Roughly 100 days ago my whole world flipped upside down! My confidence was through the roof with my riding. I had done things I never dreamed I would be able to do. For June and July we had been spending a lot of time at the Angel Fire Bike Park. We had gotten to know the guys running the lift and Derek knew some of the regular riders. We had rode Upper Supreme DH the day before without any issues. But wait.....the day had started off good, it was our last day to be in Angel Fire before heading back to Albuquerque and starting a new contract. The last few days were so fun, the condo was amazing and getting to relax was the best of all. All summer I had been making good progress in my riding skills, which is what I had planned to do. I even got brave enough to ride Chutes & Ladders, Upper Supreme DH and some others.

The night before it had hailed really bad on the mountain, it looked like snow almost. We got caught in the storm coming back from a short hike under the lift: we went to get some money I had spied on the ground...$20!! We had to run back to the condo in the hail, quite an experience. Watching the storm from the condo was great, it was so beautiful.

The next day we wondered what the trails would be like. They were a site, broken tree leaves, small limbs and piles of hail all over the trails. Made for some unique riding situations. We met a guy and girl from Colorado and rode a few runs together. It was so muddy and the hail piles were deep in some places, really unbelievable. There was mud on everything!!! We were covered.

This day was turning out to be a challenge for me and a day of firsts also. I actually rode up on the lift by myself (1st time) and then all the way down alone (1st time), I was pumped and ready for more. Derek had gone up with a big group to ride Devinci Code, when he finished we took a small break to regroup. We headed back up on the lift excited and planning our run down. The plan was to hit Turbo Diesel, Bolder Dash, Chutes & Ladders and have a fun ride. Little did we know what was in store for us. The lift ride was relaxing as always and so beautiful. At the top we decided last minute to do Upper Supreme DH. I remember saying "Upright on 2!"

The drop was good but I am not sure how much I had my head in the game because I was going a little too fast. With the speed I was carrying I over jumped the first jump and landed on top of the next one which sent me over the handlebars. I remember sliding down the trail on my chest/stomach Superman style with Black Betty on top of me. When I skidded to a stop I could see Derek in the trail running back to me. He asked "Can you move? Are you okay?" All I said was "Get this bike off of me!!"

Two guys came up behind us down the trail (don't know their names but great guys!) one of them went for help and the other stopped riders on the trail. By this time Derek had gotten me off the trail and I was sitting on something (log maybe). I remember seeing Riley and his uncle there, they were really concerned and also helped warn riders. I heard the gator coming down the road and I could also hear someone running. The running was Creighton (bike patrol), my bike angel. He was great! Derek and Creighton wrapped my arm and helped me to the gator. It was a short ride up to the lift, never thought I would ride down the lift like this. Black Betty made the ride of shame down behind me-poor girl!

More embarrassment walking to the medical tent. The guys there were amazing and really helped us out. I am thinking this is where my elbow pad got cut off but I'm not really sure. The Angel Fire Ambulance crew showed up at this point and after getting my IV in, I was given 100mg Fentanyl for the pain and 4mg Zofran. It was decided by all involved that I would take the ambulance to Taos. Back to Holy Cross....YAY! It wasn't a bad ride, another 100mg Fentanyl prior to getting to the ER. Thank goodness because the ER doc was rude and not my favorite. The radiology crew sucked so bad!!! I had a fractured humerus and they tried to lift my arm up over my head!!! I was not nice at all in between my cries of immense pain! After all the drama in ER we headed down to Albuquerque. Funny how this split second had altered our lives BIG time.

Sunday morning we loaded everything up in the RV and headed to Oklahoma. I slept almost all the way back to Oklahoma. Derek was/is a champ! Surgery was August 13th in Tulsa, OK done by Dr. Chalkin. All went good! I now have 13 screws and a wrap around titanium plate in my left arm! The worst part was the tape and the Davol drain, which Derek removed like a pro! It was nice to shower instead of taking a bath. Again I couldn't have done this without Derek!!

Therapy was another challenge. It was hard because they pushed me so much! Redbud Physical therapy in Grove, OK really helped me. During all of this I had developed some nasty insomnia which just made everything crappy. It seemed all I did was sleep and hurt. I slept on the couch and recliner for a month and a half, no fun whatsoever! The night me and my travel pillow could sleep in the bed the entire night was so great!

So here I sit roughly 100 days later, feeling so much better. I have completed therapy and have even been on my road bike again! It was a big milestone the day I put my bra on by myself!!!! I am just getting better and better everyday. I am so lucky that all I got that day was a fractured shoulder, some bruising and a few scrapes. I could have really hurt myself that day and I am so thankful that the good Lord above was watching over me. Most people would never get on a mountain bike again or hit a downhill trail. I guess I am not most people, because I am planning on hanging out at Angel Fire next summer and bombing all the trails like a BOSS!