Best Buddy Falls Hard (Michael McGowan)

[motodad660]

Saturday April 15th one of my best buddies had a extremey bad crash. After leading the first lap of his moto he hit a jump with a bad kicker and started to go over. In a split second decision, he proceeded to let go of the bike and landed extremely hard on the down side of the jump right on his back. The bike followed him down the hill and landed right on top of him. He was taken to a local hospital in Keene New Hampshire but the extent of his injuries were so bad he had to be transferred to Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon New Hampshire. At 8:30 am on Easter Sunday Mickey began an extensive 9 hour surgery to repair an exploded L-1 disk in his back which compressed the spinal cord so bad that the doctors are not very optomistic that he will have use of his legs again. So on behalf of his wife Cindy and his 2 little children Devin & Megan, we ask all of you to keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and prayers that Michael will be able to walk again.
Thanks to all
Brian
cards can be mailed to:
DHMC
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, NH 03756

[50ccMoM]

I am so very sad to hear this news. I will keep Mike and his family in my prayers.


Please keep us posted on Mikes condition and progress.

-Angie

[Tatonka]

Brian thank you for posting this about Mike, please keep us updated.

Mike - we are very sorry to hear about your crash. You & your family are all in our thoughts and prayers, please know we are pulling for you. FWIW, my wife grew up very close to Lebanon, NH and she says you are in a very good Hospital.

BV

[Gatlin5]

Brian,

Thanks for bringing Mike's story to RiderDown. Please keep us posted as to his condition and recovery. Let his family know we are here when they can finally take a breathe from this situation.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

Joe

[motodad660]

Just an update on Mike......Sunday's surgery went as expected, It was quite extensive having to split the surgery up between 2 teams. They had to take some of his rib to help rebuild the spine....They had to make a cage where the L-1 had shattered and brace it up with Titanium..(I told Mike he should go faster now that he is a little lighter)...he chuckeld. The compressed spinal cord was repositioned back where it should be. He was then fitted for a clam shell brace which should help him start sitting in an upright position. When I arrived at the hospital yesterday, he had it on. He then went for an xray to see how everything looks. I couldn't stay long enough to hear the results, but I will call later. Also, there is some talk of Mike moving to Gaylord hospital in Wallingford CT. by the end of the week where he can begin his long rehab process.

As you may know, Michael is having an extremely tough time coping with the expected outcome of his injuries. He weeps often and is so depressed that he can not be a good mentor for his son Devin. I assured him that he has alot of support and we all will do whatever it takes to get him back on his feet. He still wishes for his kids to ride as that is the type of family they are.

Please keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Brian

[motodad660]

Its official...Mike was accepted into Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. Just got back from a visit....Man is he depressed !! Please all....send as many cards and letters as you can !! We think its just his medication trying to get adjusted to it and trying to adjust to the new hospital....It kills me to see him that way !! I try to keep positive, but its just so damn hard....Life must go on.....but please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers !!

I just don't know what else to say !! Iwill try to keep you all updated on his progress....He is in a great facility !! One of the best in the country !!
Thanks for listening
Brian

Michael McGowan
Gaylord Hospital
Gaylord Farm Road
P.O. Box 400
Wallingford, CT 06492

[Tatonka]

Brian - stay tough for him buddy. He's fortunate to have good friends like you around, as I said the other day you guys sound just like the kind of guys I hang & ride with. We're here for you & Mike - please keep us updated & tell him we are all pulling for him, he's in our thoughts and prayers!

BV

ps. I sent you a package the other day, have you recieved it yet?

[motodad660]

Just got back from seeing Mike....Today was a great day !! When we got there he was sitting up in bed. I saw that awsome smile Mike has and his famous " WHATS UP DUDE " he greets you with. The nurses came in so my family and I went out to the waiting room....next thing you know here comes Mike around the corner crusing in his wheel chair on his own !! Man from where he was exactly one week ago to where he is today taking off on his wife in a wheelchair is unbelieveable....His spirits were way up today even though he is starting to come to the realization of his long term prognosis. His wounds are healing from the surgery. When he moved to Gaylord, The doctor they assigned to him was on vacation, but the doc will see him tomorrow. Then the real work begins and I think we will all get a better idea of the extent of his injury and recovery time !! As I said in my past posts, Gaylord is a top notch Spinal Injury Rehab Center and we can't ask to have Mike in a better place.
I'll keep you updated......
Brian

[Tatonka]

Brian - that's great news! Attitude is everything & it sounds like he's got a good one. We're so glad to hear that he is in a good Rehab Center also.

Everyone in the RiderDown family is pulling for ya Mike!!

[Gatlin5]

Fantastic, Great news Brian. It's amazing what a few days can bring. I hope he continue's to progress. Be prepared though there will be good days and bad and he'll need his friends for both.

Look forward to the updates.

Our thoughts and prayers will still be with Mike and his family.

Thanks,Brian!

[Linda]

This is great news as soon as I read this thread and seen the mans name was Mike I knew he'd be O.K. since my hubby's is also a Mike broke his neck 5 years ago at a local state park called Croom and this past March broke his left femur pretty bad and wanted to race this past weekend but the wife wins again!!!! So take it easy and are prayers are with you! Mike & Linda

[motodad660]

Mike seems to be improveing more and more everyday...although still at Gaylord his therapy is going well.....He has been using a standing machine which holds him up and releases pressure so he can stand on his own using his hamstring muscles.He has also bee using the paralell bars to help him walk...his right leg seems to be the strongest at this point in time and not much from his left leg. His spirits are up and he is getting better and better with that wheelchair.....Please all...keep the prayers coming !! They seem to be working.

There will be a websight up for Mike hopefully by Friday or sometime over the weekend....check it out at www.MichaelMcGowan67.com. There will be some updates posted there about Mike's recovery as well as some information about his family and friends...there are some recent photos of him and his family taken just a few short months ago....there will also be a section dedicated to helping with financial donations to help him and his family through these difficult times.
I will try to keep you all informed of his progress !!
Brian

[Gatlin5]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the update and the great news. So glad to hear he is moving along so well in his recoverery and really rather quickly.

We'll keep a look out for the web site.

Give him our best and we'll keep the prayers coming!

Joe

[motodad660]

Hi all,

Just an update on Mike...thanks to all your thoughts and prayers, Mike is comming along very well with his rehab. He has some more movement in his legs, but lost the feeling and use of both his feet....he was able to walk with help 3 lengeths of the parrellel bars and is a very determined young man. Over this past weekend, he was able to get a day pass to come home for the first time since the accident. I was there Saturday picking up his son for the races and when we walked out of the garage, there was Mike. He surprised us all. He then came home again Sunday. His spirits are up, but spent alot of time in the garage looking at his bike. Anyway the websight is up and running, check it out at www.michaelmcgowan67.com
Thanks again
Brian

PS..anyone wishing to send cards may do so to Michael McGowan
Gaylord Hospital
Gaylord Farm Road
P.O. Box 400
Wallingford, CT 06492

[ps91]

Brian, thanks for the updates on Mike. This is a terrible thing for him, and his family (and friends), to go through. I am glad to hear how determined he is with the walking exercises. Time, determination, good doctors, and patience are the key for him now. He is lucky to have you for a friend!

Best wishes,
Sandy

[TwinTurbos]

Brian,
I grew up in a little town called Thetford, Vt which is just about 20 min. away from Dartmouth Hitch****. When my husband told me where Mike was I knew he was in good hands. I was so sorry to hear about Mike's accident but was encouraged to hear that his spirits seemed to be up. I believe attitude has a lot to do with recovery. Staying positive and having patience will be key for him.
As a wife with two small children, I am also thinking of Mike's wife and family. It's hard for me to even imagine going through what she is going through. Let Mike know he is in my thoughts and prayers and let his wife and children know they are as well.
You have done a great job keeping us up to date on Mike's recovery. You are a good friend!

[motodad660]

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS AND WORDS....ITS BEEN A DIFFICULT ROAD SO FAR AND I AM SURE ITS GOING TO GET MORE DIFFICULT BEFORE ITS GETS BETTER...HIS KIDS ARE WONDERING WHATS GOING AND THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING SOME ROUGH DAYS WITHOUT DADDY. I BELIEVE CINDY(MIKES WIFE)HAS BEEN LETTING THEM TALK TO A COUNSLER AT THE HOSPITAL. I BELIEVE THIS IS HELPINS A LITTLE, BUT WHAT CAN I SAY THEY ARE JUST LITTLE GUYS...DEVIN IS 8 AND MEGAN IS 4...DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVISE ON WHAT MORE TO DO FOR THE CHILDREN ??? WE HAVE BEEN TAKING DEVIN ONCE IN AWHILE AND TOMORROW WE ARE GOING TO BRING MY DAUGHTER EMMALEE FOR A VISIT WITH MEGAN. THEY ARE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS, I HOPE IT TAKES MEGANS MIND OFF OF THINGS FOR AWHILE.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE
BRIAN

[Gatlin5]

Hey Brian,

Any more updates on Mike. We've been thinking about him a lot.

Joe

[ltlmac70]

And I know how difficult a time everyone is having through all of this. While supporting the injury victim, and God knows he needs it right now, don't forget to uplift his family as well. They need all the emotional support they can get, or they'll no help to him for the long haul. God be with this family...

Man, motocross can be so hard to love sometimes!

ltlmac70

[ltlmac70]

The kids will need as much normal activity in each day as possible. Though life will be drastically different, I think it's vitally important for them to see a lot of normal too. They need to see the concept that the foundation of life remains the same even if the details have been completely and permanently altered. Their feelings are ok, Mom and Dad have feelings that are ok, and things are emotional right now, but the bigger picture is that "life" is still ok. Different, yes, but still ok. Everyone searches for light when seemingly surrounded by darkness, even little ones. God bless everyone involved!

ltlmac70