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Official Post by Eric Arnold!

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shahinpirooz

New member
Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Location
San Jose
Moto(s)
YZF 600
Hello everybody. This is Eric Arnold. First I want to take a moment to offer up my very heartfelt thanks to everybody out there who has been supportive in one way or another. I would not be able to make it as far as I have without the help of some very special people. Some of you are in the racing community and some of you aren’t, but I can’t say enough about what you’ve done for me and will do for me in the future. Thank you so much for everything.

Most of you know me as a pretty reality-based person so let’s talk quickly about where we are today. The current status, and I emphasize the word current, is that I am paralyzed below the waist. I want to put that out there very quickly because I know there’s a lot of conjecture and it’s a very scary thing for people to wonder and have that kind of thing hanging over their head about someone they care about. Accepting the full reality of the situation is the first step in actually being able to address it and start fixing it. So again, the current status is that I am paralyzed from the waist down. I have no movement in my legs at all. So I guess that makes me a paraplegic. That being said, that’s today and we don’t’ know what tomorrow is going to bring. There is a lot of swelling and damage. As the swelling goes down it is like an onion and new layers are revealed. The hope of me and everyone else is that over time and with therapy things improve and I regain some motion if not all. But for my own mental state anyway, I just need to publically acknowledge my current condition so I can keep a straight head on.

Just a quick little list of injuries for those of you who’ve been wondering, cause I know we all have a macabre streak or at least everyone has a natural curiosity: I destroyed three vertebrae, two lumbar and one thoracic, I busted and or dislocated five ribs, I ripped open an 18 inch gash in my sacral artery which is where all the blood came from on the track, and I punctured my right lung. Along with various other bruises and contusions that I know most of the racers at least are very familiar with. The good new s is most of the healing is underway. Other than the paralysis it’s all recoverable from. There’s a boatload of titanium in my lower back, as usual for this kind of injury, so it’s kind of the standard take me apart and put me back together in a much more orderly way than I came apart. I was in surgery for over 10 hours and ran through nineteen total units of blood between heading to the helicopter on Sunday and leaving surgery on Monday.

As far as the actual incident, that’s all it is to me in my mind, a pure racing incident. My bike came together with someone else’s bike on the grid, I am not sure who exactly and it doesn’t really matter to me other than I hope that they are okay. I went down on the track and some poor unfortunate soul ran over me, if not more than one. They think maybe two. But any of you who have raced know that your visual in that situation is almost none. My only hope is that in the whole accident I was the worst one injured and everyone else heals up fine and everybody moves on to whatever they feel most comfortable with in their racing career.

One reason I am writing this is that I am finally being moved out of Critical Care Unit and downgraded to the Intensive Care Unit. I am awaiting a move to Santa Clara Valley Hospital where they have a special spinal cord unit full of people who do nothing all day but deal with spinal cord injuries and spinal cord therapy. My family and I have all been told that these guys are the best in the business and there’s no place better I could be going so I am very confident about that. The current plan is for me to be there some time Monday, May 11. It’s a very regimented program, as you can imagine these should be, but there will be plenty of time for visiting in the afternoons and evenings. I just don’t know enough yet to tell you more details. Once I get settled in after a couple days and I understand the routine better I’ll post some visiting hours. During the normal daytime I think it will be busy like a job, at least that’s the way I’m looking at it, so give me a couple days to nail down the when and the where for visitations.

One of the reasons for going through this program is its intense focus on making people as functional as possible regardless of the level of mobility they regain. So I will be focused on doing everything I can to being the quality of my life back up as best I can with their help and your help.

My mom and my family have been a great support to me in this time and they have been amazed at the level of support that you all have been giving to both myself and them. On behalf of my mom, brother, and sister I just want to thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers offered on behalf of me. I am a very lucky person to have had this happen to me at a time in my life when I am surrounded by so many great people.

I will keep you updated as I can. I don’t have internet access as of yet, but I may have it at the facility in Santa Clara. If not, I‘ll continue to use Shahin, Ethan, and other friends to keep getting as much info to you as possible. Feel free to reply to these posts to let us know if there is any more info that you’d like to get.
 
Thanks for the update Shahin!

one day solid food, the next a new room, then off to San Jose, things are moving along :thumbup
 
Ummmmm wheres my spreadsheet dammit--I need a spreadsheet

Great to see you are on barf and morphine at the same time sounds like fun.

I really appreciate your courage and candor in sharing your experience of every racers worst fear.

We're with you buddy
Love Ya
Ho-miester

Hey this will perk you up--You Likey????:wtf:wtf:wtf

Some are speculating Im turning ghey--prolly true--maybe Berto can give me a "gay stress test":rofl:rofl
 

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Eric,
I'd never met you before that day on the grid but I feel for you like I would for my best friend. Your strength is beyond words and you're an incredible person for even giving a "thank you" note 1 thought in your current state.

Keep talking to those toes - they'll listen eventually. :thumbup
 
Eric,
I'd never met you before that day on the grid but I feel for you like I would for my best friend. Your strength is beyond words and you're an incredible person for even giving a "thank you" note 1 thought in your current state.

Keep talking to those toes - they'll listen eventually. :thumbup

well said!!

when my brother and i owned Hare Racing, Eric always came by to say hi and to work on his race bike in our shop (he was one of the few people we allowed inside the shop to work on their bike, we really respected and liked Eric.) i'm so shocked and sadened by this, just happened to be looking at BARF when i saw this, my jaw dropped. now i'm depressed.:(

Eric, i'm so sorry about what has happened to you (i'm so grateful that you are still with us!!) I hope and pray that you will walk again. my thoughts are with you. I'm at a lost for words. so sad.
 
I can't say that I'm surprised, in seeing the amazing strength and focus that you're showing in dealing with this challenging situation Eric. I would have expected nothing less from you Buddy!! :thumbup

Your solid character and absolute resolve, in the way you've dealt with everything I've ever seen you do over the years (including your racing!), was but a prelude to the road you now have ahead.

I have no doubt the results that will be forthcoming in the weeks and months ahead, will be the absolute best that any human being could possibly achieve, when dealt this deck of cards.

Being a realist, in conjunction with being an absolute fighter that never gives up, is defintely the best formula for recovery from any form of injury. Based upon what's clearly reflected in your first posting here, combined with what I know of you as a person (from direct contact over a lot of years as a friend) I'd say you've got the field 100% covered!! :)

So glad to hear that your transfer to Valley Med is close at hand, where you'll be moving on to the absolute best possible level of care for your specific form of injury.

Like so many, I'll be paying close attention to forthcoming info on the visitation days/hours that best fits your therapy schedule, in eager aniticipation of dropping by to see you (hopefully Monday or Tuesday?) ...... and offer nothing but positive energy for you to move ahead.

Hang tough big guy ..... "The Ride Ain't Over!" :ride You've got a huge fan club pulling for you!

Your friend,

Gary
 
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Great to hear your own words, Eric. I'm thinking healthful thoughts about you every day, buddy. Keep your chin up and your will strong. I'll come visit you when your ready...

cheers,

-jim
 
Hoping and praying for a miracle, Eric. You've confirmed a rumor that I had heard and so hoped was off-based. My guts are torn up hearing this. At this point I'll celebrate that you're with us and that grace would have it that you are so close to that special spinal cord clinic. Sending positive energy your way, bud!
 
Not sure how to respond other then to say I am there for you Eric... you need anything call me and if it is in my power to make it happen I will do so.

I will make it down to see you when you are all settled in but I refuse to bring Jeff with me... he keeps trying to show me his ass... :shocker
 
ERIC - so sorry to hear about your injury bro...damn...proof that tough things can happen to the best people. My thoughts are with you and your recovery.

I didn't go to the track at all last year, since my spill at Thunderhill. Just took a while to get the bike together and by the time I did, I had other priorities. I remember having a bit of fun out there with you the day prior to my crash in T3 and I got a good picture chasing you around (attached below). I'll remember those laps fondly! Again, I pray for your full recovery. I hope to have the opportunity to ride with you again. My thoughts are with you.
 

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Hey Eric, thanks for posting all that information.

I have had two friends go through spinal injury recovery at the same place you are going. Jeff is a T4/T5 he was back to work in less than 6 months; he should have waited longer but the stubborn ass wouldn't hear of it.

Jeff has designed and built a gas powered wheelchair with wheelie bars on the back. He has put sand paddle tires on a P300 electric wheel chair. Well what I'm getting at is that his spinal cord injury has complicated some things in his life but it hasn't stopped him from living.

I'm praying for you and your family.

:)
 
Eric:

You're the man. I am thinking of you and will say hello when the time is right.

Ernie
 
Can't wait to see you overcome this eric, we all know if anyone can do it, you can. heal up and im touched at the level of affection everyone here has shown.
max
 
Eric, good t ohear from you!
FWIW, I have a friend who, unfortunately just came of of the spinal rehab at Santa Clara (non moto related) and he says they are first rate.
He told us not to visit because they made him work from sun up to sun down, so he was either in rehab or sleeping! But he gave huge kudos to the entire staff!
 
Eric,
I am so in awe of your strength, courage and motivation. So much so, that I actually registered with Barf just to reply to your post! Thank you for sharing your progress with us (all). AFM is a family to so many of us, we worry when one of our "relatives" is "out of commission".
Once you're in Santa Clara, I would like to visit just to give you a hug!
Also, when the time comes and your doctors feel you can tolerate it, I would like to offer you massages that may help with your rehabilitation or even as a mental boost, any time you need them.
Thinking about you with hugs and kisses...
Gracie Dorsey
Tom wants to visit you too.
 
Best wishes for yours and your family's continued strength down an unknown path.

--Simon
 
Stickied the thread. Eric, sending my best thoughts and prayers your way every night man. Thanks for sending this to all of us.
 
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