Cycling Accident: Update

[Keith A]

Last Saturday (12/9), Keith was in a pretty serious cycling accident. He was on his normal Saturday morning ride that he’s been doing for decades. He was going about 30 mph when he struck what we believe was another cyclist’s fallen water bottle, and he went over the handlebars. He landed face first on the pavement and was knocked unconscious. He was taken by helicopter to a local hospital and put on a ventilator, in the ICU, for two days. Three days later, he was moved out of the ICU and into a room in the PCU. He’s continuing to look better each day, but he’s got long recovery ahead of him. Once he’s discharged from the hospital he will likely be at inpatient brain rehab facility to continue the recovery process.

We (his family) wanted to make a post because earlier today he started asking about his cycling forum.


-The Arbuckle family.


Update:

Keith is continuing to heal each day. This week he’s gotten out of bed and walked from his bed to his hospital room door using the walker. He was also finally able to get a shower for the first time in over a week. We were also able to have a nurse bring him down to the hospital lobby so his two infant grandsons could see him for a couple of minutes. Additionally, we learned earlier this week that Keith has pretty severe vision issues stemming from the crash. Apparently there are two issues with the vision, one is related to the brain injury and the other is related to injury to the eye itself. The most severe of the vision issues are in his right eye where he can basically only see movement. The ophthalmologist who treated Keith said that it could take up to six months for the issues with his vision to hopefully heal.

We also have a definitive date when he will begin in-patient rehab, which is great news because Keith is ready to get out of the hospital (today is day 11). Tomorrow, Thursday, Keith will be transported to an in-patient rehab facility a couple hours north of here. He will remain there for the next several weeks in order to heal, rehab, and rest. His wife will accompany him and stay in family housing unit there to be with him every step of the way. After that, I’m sure there will be some out patient rehab.

I know that the go fund me link for Keith has been posted in both threads. I just wanted to note that the go fund me is legitimate. Burt Gordon is a very close family friend, neighbor, and member of their church. He asked their youngest daughter if he could do that for Keith and his wife before he made it. By no means should anybody take this as asking for any donations, but we merely wanted to reassure any who may have donated that it is in fact legit.

More importantly, Keith has been moved beyond words by the outpouring of kind words from everybody through all of this. Just earlier today he was asking his wife today about the forum and he was astonished by all of the kind words of encouragement from everybody here. It has been so kind for him to hear how many people care about him and his recovery.

-The Arbuckle Family