Region 4 members still on the road to recovery

[HRTV]

I know that everyone is deep into there own worlds right now with mid summer nationals taking place all over the country but lets not forget to check in on some of our finest members that are still at home and on the road to recovery after having very scary wrecks.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Hunt Leavitt and Dick Tyndall two very nice guys that are still at home trying to recover, lets try to give these guys a shout every now and then just to say hi and let them know we are still thinking about them.

[racerchic3z]

We are all definately still thinking of you guys! And glad you're both doing well! I hope you guys can make it to some races as soon as possible!

Stacy

[HRTV]

Hey Dick and Hunt lets here an update on the two of you, I hope that you are both doing well on your road to recovery please check in from time to time so that we know you guys are ok

[Dick Tyndall]

Still kickin'.............

First I'll say that I am getting better at typing with one finger on my left hand; second, I am getting use to doing things left-handed that I had never tried ( I guess you know by now that I am normally right-handed ). And third, I am improving every day with rehab twice a week for my neck and my right arm. When they pulled me from the water in Sharptown I could not move my right shoulder or my arm, but I could move my fingers, hand and wrist. PLUS MY NECK HURT BIG TIME. I actually tore the ligamints between the C-7 and T-1 vertabrae in my neck. A piece of bone between these two was removed and replaced and I now have these two vertabrae connected with a titanium plate and four 22MM screws. The nuro doctor said I was lucky to be alive, much less not paralized. I wore a neck brace for six weeks, which will probably hang next to my helmet in the garage as a reminder. I have quite a bit of movement in my shoulder back and some in my elbow, but I am still unable to lift my hand upward. With the rehab I am doing I have seen A LOT of improvement. They tell me to keep working and be patient...........nerve injuries like this take 12 to 18 months to heal. I go in for another test in a few weeks which will tell us more about how much damage is still there.
I have been in contact with Hunt Leavitt and he has certainly been an inspiration to me in my healing process. What I am going through is NOTHING compared to what he has gone through and is going through now. I am sure that he will let us know how he is progressing here on hydroracer.
And don't forget about Abby Pond..............she broke her left arm at the Nationals. Gary came by the other day and took me to lunch ( nice to have friends who think about you! ) and said she is doing well.
As I have said before, I have a great respect for the people who race these boats. I always wanted to know why my Dad loved racing them and I managed to overcome a life long fear to find out first hand why he liked the hydros so much. If I had it to do over I wouldn't do it any different.
Thanks to everyone who has called, emailed and come by the house to check on me.............it has meant a lot to know that people care about you.
Keep all of the injured boat racers in your prayers...........they really do help.

[csh2z]

Love your attitude Dick. Glad to hear you are making progress. Hope to see you soon. Lock Haven?

Hunt, Can you give us an update ?

[Guest]

Things will get better!!

Dick,
Hang in there! I was at the same place you are now 18 years ago. I know what you are going through.

Never give up hope. The doctors know so little, they gave up on me after 6 months of tests. They said I would never use my arm again, absolutely no nerve activity in my right arm. After it looked pretty grim to me, I got a phone call from an ex-stock racer I didn’t know. He told me how he improved from a similar accident after a number of years. Keep the faith buddy! Keep trying to move that injured right arm. Stay right handed. Left hand butt wiping is a *****!

Just two weeks ago I got feeling after 18 years in my right index finger. It takes a very, very long time to get the nerves reconnected.

A note to Dick’s buddies – Keep in touch with this guy, he needs to hear from his friends. His’ body pains are nothing compared to the bouts of depression what will follow. The what if, should of done, and why me crap that follows an accident of this magnitude. Call him, don’t forget about him.

Bill

[nicf14]

Hang in there Dick! It all gets easier with time. Trust me
Left handed butt wiping never feels right!

[Check-book]

Funny how everyone seems to be on the same wave......... just today I was thinking about Hunt and Dick - hoping that the rehab was coming along and that the spirits were still up. Check-book has never faced what you have to deal with, but has held the hands of those who have. Keep the faith, it does wonders. And remember that we, all of your boat racing family, are pulling for you. You can't beat that!!

Augustine Racing

[Dick Tyndall]

Thanks.............

for the encouragment from John, Bill, Nic and Pat. All of you have been around racing much longer than I have so I know you have seen it all. My "mind-set" is much better now than it was when I got out of the hospital. My rehab is very encouraging every time I go. I am still the same person I was before this happened. I still like to make people laugh, I still catch hell from Gary Pond............life hasn't changed too drasticly. I do miss being able to go out to the shop and make parts, etc. But hey, everyone needs a break now and then, right?
Pat, I want to thank you and all of the other Augustine's who pitched in to help get my trailer packed up that day after my spill. My wife was so worried about how all of that was going to get done and how she was going to get it back home. She came back to the hospital that evening and I asked her who packed the trailer and who was going to drive it back home? She said Gary, Matt, some others she didn't know and " a whole bunch of Augustine's " had packed the trailer up and Aimee Pond was going to drive it home. Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help. Boat racers really are family.
Oh yea, getting back to something Bill and Nic touched on............left handed butt wiping is a whole new experience!

[abbypond]

So good to hear from you Dick. I am glad your rehab is going well, and hope to see you soon!

[ryan_4z]

Oh man do we need help. Reg. 4 was weak enough, now our drivers are dropping like flies!!!! Maybe we could come up with a One-Armed Racers class.

Seriously, I'm glad to hear that all of our injured racers are doing better. We all wish you the best. And no Abby, you won't be ready to race by Lock Haven.

[Hydroglobe17J]

Abby, watch out Ryan is still trying to get back in ASH,Fat Boy!
Dick and Hunt, I think of you guys from time to time and hope your both doing better. Now I added another to my list, I'm thinking of Wyatt Nelson too!