For those of you who havent heard, I had a biking accident Saturday night that landed me in the hospital for 3 days. I was released yesterday and am recovering quickly, so I am deeply thankful.
Because I have heard so much that was not true (ie, PB was hit by a motorcycle), I will fill you guys in on what really happened:
Saturday night, at around 7, I had just finished final preparation for Sunday's message. I knew I had about an hour left before the sun would set, so I rushed to try and get a 10 mile ride in. I had just gotten a new pair of bike shoes that clip in, to where you get power on the upstroke as well as downstroke.
Enter the problem. The guy who sold me my bike told me that I needed to take some time to lean against a wall and get a feel for using the shoes. But, true to my nature, I rushed out to beat the sunset and thought, "I'll figure it out while I ride." So I clipped one foot in, then the other, and realized instantly I was in trouble.
It took all of about a second to fall with a bone crushing THUD onto the street.
I immediately knew I had broken a rib, as I couldnt breathe and the pain was searing. Stubborn as always, I managed to pick up the pick and determined I would ride it off and ride through it. I rode about a mile and a half and was practically passing out as I could not breathe. I was by myself and could sense something was very wrong inside, so I decided to take myself to Emergency at West Florida Hospital. I called Deb on the way and she met me there, as well as Pastor Roger to tell him to get my notes as he would have to probably preach my message in the morning.
As I stiffened, it got worse. They took xrays and the doctor came in and told me: Its not your ribs. You dropped a lung and this is much more serious. He told me simply, "This is going to be a long, painful night for you."
Great.
I wont go into the gory details of them putting the lung tube in without anesthesia, but the doctor was right. Agonizing is about the only word to describe it.
Thankfully, I had a ton of prayer directed my way and my lung was back up by Monday. They took the tube out Tuesday and I was able to go home. I will have a pretty good scar on my side where the tube went in, but considering the fact that the doctor said if I had NOT gone in I would have been dead in the morning from the fluid compressing my heart, I am not complaining. :)
And, Lord willing, I am preaching my message this Sunday!
I want to publically say how great my wife Debbi was through this. She was there morning til night, took off work, to be with me. When I was scared as you know what, she comforted me and relieved the fear. I am thankful for her.
My kids as well were there alot. Michael even said he had a great gift for me whenever I got out: TRAINING WHEELS. :)
I am probably not going to be able to make this years triathalon, but I intend to keep training for it. I am sure my new training wheels will help.
Love you guys and thank you for all the prayers. See you Sunday!!
PB