Sunday, September 28, 2014 It has been one week since Mike was flown to St. Mary’s hospital from the Palm Beach International Speedway where he crashed his motorcycle on the back of turn 6, around 1:00 on Sunday, September 21st. He still has no memory of the crash except for glimpses of the ride in the trauma hawk and brief excerpts from his time in the trauma center. I realized just yesterday that Mike was not aware that Dr. West was the Trauma Surgeon that saved his life. The Trauma nurses on duty last Sunday came to check on Mike and introduced themselves. They were called up to Mike’s room to check on his new development, a blood clot in his swollen right arm. The trauma team told Mike that they recognized him from the Airplane Repo show the minute he was brought into the ER. They were impressed with his stoicism and ability to quietly take the pain when the procedure was performed to insert the chest tube. I am not making this stuff up, really. Of course, the trauma team was not aware that it is routine for Mike to give himself stitches, ride a rattle snake bite out at home, or to forgo the doctor when the end of his finger is bit off by a tiger. I guess he is pretty tough. We are sitting in the room with our son Devan, on this Sunday as it crawls by just as the week has done. From the hospital window we sit on the side line watching the bright sun change position slowly, giving measure to the hours. Today’s X-Ray still reveals a small pneumothorax in the top of his right lung with no change, so the suction must remain at a higher level. The clavicles and broken ribs are very painful and his right arm is extremely swollen. The damaged arm has undergone numerous X-Rays and sonograms in search of fractures and today, a blood clot was found. Mike will remain on blood thinners, elevate the arm and will be closely monitored. All of these complications, the lung and the clot are not allowing Mike to go home. We are hopeful for good news soon. As for this week we have met some amazing people who have gone out of their way to make us both comfortable. Great friends who have reached out and the get well greetings from Children have made Mike cry. It is very emotional to be down this hard and long and all of the prayers and love have meant so much. We are sorry if there is anyone that we have not thanked properly for the love, thoughts and prayer. Hospital life is very busy. I have always considered myself a private person but when Mike decided to work with Discovery Channel and Undertow Films on Airplane Repo I realized our lives would change. I wasnt sure how, or how much it would change, but I knew I needed to share Mike and our world with the public. I have known for years that Mike is a unique person, with exceptional talent and drive and I am glad that others get the chance to know him. He inspires me daily. Many have texted or messaged me with thanks for the updates. One night I was not going to post and a text came in, I have not seen your post yet, is he all right? That text spurred me on to write even when I was too tired. Many have asked me to inform Mike they are keeping up with his condition on social media and these messages assured me, I was doing the right thing. This week I have felt more like Jacqueline Kennedy then Valerie Kennedy as I answered messages from India, the UK, Ireland, and some really great fans in the US. Through this experience I got an inside look at how Mike’s fans feel about him. There is a lot of love out there for Mike. I hope that I am posting appropriately and it will ultimately make him proud. I know there are some pictures of Mike in the hospital and I hope they don’t come off as too much, like a bad Latin tabloid. Some people are squeamish about illness and medical procedures. I am trying to tell his story as honestly as I can. Writing has helped me focus on doing something positive for Mike and gives me an outlet. I am enclosing a few pictures from the week. St. Mary’s has a rich history and is the renowned Trauma center for the South Florida area. I can feel the presence of the priests and nuns dressed in full habit attending to patience in days gone by. St. Mary’s started as a 50 bed hospital in 1938 and has grown to a huge compound covering many acres. Many modern buildings are mixed with an old residence that housed the sisters that worked at the hospital and the original buildings are engulfed by the large modern facilities. I mentioned Jacqueline Kennedy earlier; well we are not the first Kennedy family to stay at the hospital. President Kennedy and Jacqueline paid a visited to St. Mary’s to see his father Joseph Kennedy who was hospitalized in 1961. At 1:00 Sunday, I found the chapel down stairs and gave thanks. I am grateful as I look back on this week that I am not writing a very different story to family, friends, and fans.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:31:14 +0000
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