Chris White, #268 from Gunnison CO

[Alix17White]

Hello all!

My name is Allison, and I'm the wife of Chris White. If you ride in Colorado, especially in the Grand Junction, Montrose, Gunnison area, you've probly heard of Chris. He works on motorcycle suspension thru a business called WR1 Suspension, tho we're currently in the process of changing the name to MVP Suspension. Chris knows no strangers, and has no enemies, that's just how he is.

Anyway, if you're at all plugged into the dirt bike community in Western Colorado, you've probly heard about Chris' accident. Word spread thru our small town like wildfire, and thru our circles of friends all over the country just as fast.

Here are some details: On April 1st, Chris was at an Enduro in Grand Junction, Colorado. He raced, and by all accounts, did pretty well. He didn't fall, or if he did, he didn't mention it. After the race, Chris was working on a bike for a client, apparently started to feel dizzy and dehydrated, and sat down for a minute. Our son Aaron found him a few minutes later, sitting upright in a camp chair, seizing. EMS was called, and he was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. They couldn't do much more than diagnose a stroke there, so they transfered us to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood in Denver, Colorado, which has one of the top stroke centers in the nation. Chris went into surgury at 3 am the morning of April 2nd, and the neurology team performed a basilar artery dissection to remove a clot which had totally blocked the blood flow to his brain. His brain had been without oxygen for aproximately 11 hours.

The surgury went well, and we were transfered to Critical Care. They pulled the breathing tube out on Wednesday, and Chris was taken off the tranquilizers that were keeping him in basically a medically-induced coma and allowed to wake up. He woke up saying ""I've gotta pee!" Over the next 5 days, Chris amazed us all, including the Doctors. They said "It'll take him weeks to monthes to speak clearly, be able to sit up, stand or walk." Chris did all of those in 2 days! It really serves to show just how determined he truely is!

Now, 3 weeks and 2 days after the stroke, we are living at home, climbing stairs all the time (we live in a split-level house), walking, talking, going to church and support meetings, seeing friends, eating without assistance, etc, etc, etc. It seems there's nothing Chris can't do if he puts his mind to it, and he has definitely put his mind to healing!

To anyone who knows Chris personally, feel free to look me up on Facebook and friend me. I'm posting regular updates on Chris' condition thru my page there.

Thank you Rider Down for the support, both in calls and financial aid. The next 6 monthes to a year are going to be hard, but we will see the other side!!!

Ride On friends, Ride On!

[Tatonka]

We're pulling for you Chris!

[Tweetysd]

Glad to hear your doing so well. Praying for you and your family. Keep the faith. Your a miracle.

[RDixon]

I hope the best for both you and Chris. As the wife of an injured rider, I can appreciate some of what you are going through. Lots of up and down days for you both. We tried to make sure one of us was always positive if only to help the other back from the negative side. But lots of hard work and improvements (no matter how big or small) will help your spirits every day. You will both be in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck.

[Jay#14]

Wow! So happy to hear things are so much better and getting better everyday! Stay strong Chris and family too!

Jay

[TwinTurbos]

Glad to hear Chris's recovery is off to a speedy start! It sounds as though you have a lot of friends there to support you as well. We're thinking of you!!