| Mark Garvey, #335 from Bear, Delaware, was seriously injured March 12, 2006 while racing at the Spring Classic in Lake Whitney, Texas. Mark suffered fractures to both his neck and back, and a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He spent 1 week in the ICU in Fort Worth, TX and then through a very generous donation from a local contractor, Mr. Harry Simione, Mark was flown by special medically equipped jet to Philadelphia, PA and was taken immediately to Jefferson University Hospital. Jefferson is one of the top hospitals in our area for Spinal Cord Injuries. From almost the moment he arrived, he was surrounded with a team of trauma surgeons, neuro surgeons, and specially trained nurses who began evaluating his injuries. The very next day, March 21, Mark underwent surgery to repair the damage to his crushed thoracic vertebrae, and relieve the pressure on his spinal cord. They inserted two 12 inch titanium rods on each side of his spine to stabilize the fracture. Surgery went very well, and within another week Mark was transferred to Magee Rehabilitation Hospital to begin the first of two parts of his rehabilitation. His first stay at Magee was five weeks. Unfortunately, he had to remain in a brace (a horrible contraption called a clam shell) that went from his chin to his hips, keeping his head, neck, and spine all immobile for 8-10 weeks after his surgery. The only time he could have it off is if he was lying in bed, and then he still had to have a collar on his neck. I am sure Mark will tell you this one of he worst parts. During the first five weeks at Magee, he spent several hours a day doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and learning about his injury. Because of the brace, he was limited to how much he could actually do, so he came home for 5 weeks, to allow him time to heal. It was good for him to be home, and of course, one of the first places he went, even with the brace and equipment, was to our home track Blue Diamond. He got a video camera, and started taping his friends riding. Finally, the doctor cleared him from the brace!! Mark went back to Magee for 5 more weeks. He worked very hard building back up his upper body strength, learning how to balance himself, and move his body without the use of his legs, and to adjust to the world around him. Through out the entire stay, Mark worked extremely hard and exceeded everyones expectations. Mark was discharged from Magee at the end of June. Just in time to attend a benefit race held for him at Broome-Tioga over the July 4th holiday by Abbie Bardo, a close friend of Marks. It was a huge success, and people were extremely generous. Mark was able to purchase a 4-wheeler with some of the money raised and is now riding it. He is currently doing outpatient physical therapy several days a week, and catching up with school. Although his paralysis has not changed, Mark is determined to continue doing everything he did before. One of his goals is to purchase a new bike, and adapt it for him, so that he can be riding again soon. This is an amazing kid, who has more heart and determination than most adults I know. |