172 replies to this topic

[digyourownwhole]

Update from Randy's son Allan:


Randy is showing eye movement and his eyes are partially open. When we talked to him he began to move around and his heart rate / blood pressure increased. I held his hand and told him to squeeze it, and he did! His eye movement is not coordinated yet though, but I know it'll get there. Thank God for every step towards recovery and keep those prayers and positive thoughts coming. -Allan

[jroseberry]

16 months ago my 37 year old sister Lynn Roseberry Kezar suffered a massive stroke and spent 6 weeks in the Barnes Neuro ICU.  She has recoved physically probably close to 95%.  Mentally she still has problems with aphasia, and does not read or work with numbers well.  But, she is alive, well functioning, and able to care for her 30 month old son.

On Tuesday, June 28th my 40 year old sister Anne Roseberry Bradley also suffered a massive stroke (same type) and was declared brain-dead on Friday, July 1st.  Her wake and funeral are this coming Tuesday.  She is leaving behind a husband, 5 year old twins, and a devistated family.

I had heard about Randy's crash on Justin Maciekowicz's facebook page before my sister went into the hospital.  I forgotten about the incident until I overhead biking-related talk in the waiting room and put two and two together.  Both my sister Lynn and I had the opportunity to talk to Randy's wife.  She is a very strong woman and we shared fear, grief, and support.

I have seen both the best and worst outcomes from the Neuro ICU but can say without a doubt that their standard of patient care is outstanding.  They do absolutely everything they can - true state of the art treatment, with love and compassion.

I am encouraged to hear of Randy's continued improvement over the past weekend.  I ask that you please keep him in your heart and mind as treatment and recovery is a very long road.  Randy and his family will continue to need your support for some time.  If there is any group that can provide this, I know it is our mid-west cycling community.

And to be somewhat selfish for a moment, if you can spare a thought for my brother-in-law Matt and niece and nephew Meghan and Hunter, I would appreciate that as well.

[Sherkat]

I'm really sorry to hear of your loss, wow---and if you really want to be selfish, you might want to get a scan or something, eh? They have a great crew of people up there in neuro, but not everything works out well.

Glad to hear some positive news on Randy's front!

[CyclingStemCell]

First of all, to jroseberry, my deepest condolences on your family at this time.

To Randy's family I'd also like to offer my sympathies and prayers.  I was in a bad crash too that fortunately didn't result in any neurologic damage of any sort but I still remember the looks of absolutely panic on my family's faces when they first saw me so I can only imagine what Randy's family is going through now.

The question of what happened ultimately is probably not very helpful.  In the Apple Pie Race where I crashed, practically the whole field went down.  Whether it was a rock, or a gust of wind, or crack in the road, a slight shift of weight from a dehydrated racer, or a shoe that slipped out just a bit to easily, the point is that all of us on bikes, especially those who race, are riding faster and faster bikes with higher and higher levels of physical fitness.  Any of a thousand details, many of which may have had nothing to do with Randy, could have been different and none of this would have happened.  But when everything comes together just the wrong way, really bad things can happen.  To this day, I have no idea what I should have done differently in that race (and I don't know if anyone involved has any ideas, either) other than "I shouldn't have done that race."  But hindsight is always 20/20.

Again, my thought are with all of Randy's family and friends.

[rich pierce]

James, we'll be lifting you all up in our prayers.

[Mark EWERS]

Quote

I just spoke to Randy's nurse.  She felt that he is a little more awake.  She had him the night before and he seemed to open his eyes more when she suctioned him.  I asked if both eyes were opened and she said that they both would open and move toward her voice.  Yes, Lord!

[Mark EWERS]

More good news, and a wait and see...

Erin Gillespie said:

They are making a few changes this afternoon. They have taken him off the cooling IV fluids. They want to see if he is going to spike a temp without them. (nurse thinks he was going to either way). They ate drawing a bunch of cultures now. They changed the settings on his ventric so it has to reach a higher pressure before it will drain. They are also changing his IV fluids in order to start bringing his sodium down to a more normal level. He continues to open his eyes more...especially with his mouth care. Nurse just said his lungs looked better on todays chest X-ray. Specific prayer request for no fevers.

[digyourownwhole]

Update from Lisa and Allan:


Just got here this afternoon, about 4 o'clock. Randy had a g-tube put in (feeding tube), to help his body get more nutrition. His left eye is opening more than his right eye, probably due to the swelling on his right side. His eyes are still moving horizontally. He is wearing a boot to prevent foot drop. The neuro-surgeon just came in and they will clamp the ventric (brain drainage shunt) and see how his ICP will develop and whether fluids will accumulate in his head. They will do a tracheotomy tomorrow afternoon. They removed the cooling IV fluids to see if he would develop a temperature. His temperature right now is 38.4 Celsius (slightly elevated). The CT showed no changes with regards to his brain swelling. Keep the prayers coming. (Lisa & Allan)

[ladybug]

Tonight at CW Dirt Crits there is a card for Randy at registration table if anyone wants to sign it.

[digyourownwhole]

Update:

Randy had a CT scan this morning, and there were no changes.  This afternoon he had a tracheotomy.  This was done to make it easier to wean him off the ventilator.  He looks much different now without all the tubes in his mouth.

[agillespie]

Hey guys,

I just registered here to let you guys know how awesome you are!

My name is Allan Gillespie and I am Randy's son from Germany.
I heard about the accident on Sunday night (German time)
and was obviously in complete shock. I flew over on Tuesday
after the US Embassy in Berlin had my passport ready, to be
with my dad when he needs his friends/family the most.  

I want to tell everyone how much I and everyone else (especially Lisa) appreciates
your support, may it be prayers, kind words, cards, flowers or even money.
Even though the situation is really bad, your support and love
has made all the difference in the world.

I will be updating the Caringbridge website whenever
I get a chance and as long as I can stay in the States.

Thank you and God bless you all.

-Allan

[dirtT]

Thanks Allan for the kind words. You are also in my prayers as is your whole family.

Edited by dirtT, 07 July 2011 - 08:44 PM.

[stlbiker]

Today was a good day for Randy.  The trach surgery went well.  His ICP is still below 20.  If it stays that way for 24 hrs, they will remove the drain from his brain tomorrow.  A neurosurgeon resident came in to examine Randy tonight while I was there.  He was great.  He explained alot of things and was very positive. A concern that I had was his corneal reflex.  They open his eye then touch the cornea with a q-tip to see if he will blink.  He had not been blinking, however the left eye did blink tonight-the right did not.  Still a baby step and we will take it.  He does have a touch of pneumonia-typical for his condition.  I've been trying to massage his feet and hands when I am with him. He did open his eyes when I massaged his feet last night.  

On a side note, Sam our son, won his baseball game.  Randy would have been so proud.  He tried his hand at coaching-but that is not his thing.  He's too competetive. Go Liberty!

It is so humbling to read your prayers, words of love and encouragement.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

God Bless

Lisa

[stlbiker]

So I remembered the name of a cyclist that recovered from a brain injury..Saul Raisin..on a whim I looked him up on FB and sent a friend request.  He accepted and I sent him a message asking if he ever had time could he sign Randy's guestbook.  He messaged back and the next morning CALLED ME!!  Wow what a surprise.  He wants to be kept up to date on how he is doing.  Amazing is all I can say.  He was plane hopping on his way somewhere and took the time to call me and was wondering why I seemed surprised.  Nice guy to say the least.

[Mark EWERS]

stlbiker, on 08 July 2011 - 05:54 AM, said:

So I remembered the name of a cyclist that recovered from a brain injury..Saul Raisin..on a whim I looked him up on FB and sent a friend request.  He accepted and I sent him a message asking if he ever had time could he sign Randy's guestbook.  He messaged back and the next morning CALLED ME!!  Wow what a surprise.  He wants to be kept up to date on how he is doing.  Amazing is all I can say.  He was plane hopping on his way somewhere and took the time to call me and was wondering why I seemed surprised.  Nice guy to say the least.

It is so good to see these good reports of progress coming in. Steady steady progress. A little at a time, and to the better, each one.