Sunday, June 13, 2010

man down - Crespo battles through surgery


an account by ridercali:

i feel really bad about all of this. we were riding in richmond park. finishing the first lap. probably 200meters from the main gate that we always enter traveling clockwise. i felt my back wheel start to wobble and it was crespo's wheel pushing into mine. i shouted to him and then looked over my shoulder just in the moment to see him hitting the wooden 4x4 road markers that they have all around the park. I didn't actually see why our bikes hit in the first place or how it happened or even how he came off the bike. i just remember seeing the actual impact of the fall. i knew it was going to be really bad because i saw him hit the wooden block but i never imagined it would be this serious. he was struggling to breath. i thought probably a combination of the wind being knocked out of him and maybe even a punctured lung. the guy was in so much pain and maybe even shock. he kept opening and closing his eyes, and rolling back and forth on the ground. we tried to calm him down and get him to take short small breaths so it didn't hurt as much to breath. it was awful to see anyone like that but especially the guy who's door you knocked on an hour earlier to go a ride. about 15 or 20 other riders stopped. all offering help. neither of us had a phone so one rider called the ambulance for us and was describing what happened. another rider on a mountain bike who we had passed about 10seconds before saw the entire event unfold and was helpful in explaining to the medics how exactly crespo landed. his name was Max. he took off his fleece and put it over crespo since it was cold out and neither of us had a jacket. another rider offered to lend me money for a taxi in case we couldn't fit both bikes in the ambulance.. i felt very emotional seeing how kind and concerned people can be for complete strangers in distress. we live in big cities where most of us do not even know our neighbors and we all exist 12hrs + a day in the hard world of finance where often the human sympathy element is nonexistent. people are generally good and make the right decisions. the ambulance took about 7minutes to get to us from the time of impact. crespo wanted to go to chelsea westminster hospital and insisted 2 or 3 times when both of the medics questioned his choice (it is by no means the closest hospital to richmond). i think he wanted to there because that is where Lu is going to have their 3rd child in a few weeks but I am not sure. it took about 15minutes in the ambulance to get to the hospital but for crespo it felt like an hour. he asked me every 2 minutes 'cuanto falta?' how much longer? and i tried to keep giving him an honest answer. i squeezed his right shoulder during the ride in the ambulance so that he knew i was there with him. and about half way into the ride he says. 'hey my shoulder hurts too' i just thought, great, kid crashes his bike and you think you are helping by letting him know you are with him by squeezing his shoulder, and in reality you are actually hurting him more!! it was the other shoulder that bother him. apparently he hit that on impact as well. we arrived at A&E and they wouldn't allow me to enter with the bikes so i took a cab to crespo's house. dropped off his bike with Lu and explained what happened. she gave me his phone and clothes to take back to him as crespo told me to tell her not to bother to come down to the hospital. i think he probably thought what i was thinking... few broken ribs, lot of pain, but no major surgery would be required. man where we wrong. i took the taxi home and dropped off my bike and threw on some shorts and went back to the hospital with carmen. i wasn't going to even go home but i told carmen that i would be home from the ride at 900am latest and now it was already 10am. she was worried and i had no way to call her since i left my phone at home (never will do that again). we went back to the hospital and got there around 1030. crespo was getting a scan when we got there so we couldn't see him right away. about 10mins later Lu showed up with the kids. crespo wanted to see her and had the drs. call her. i took the kids for a pizza to get them out of the hospital for an hour. when we came back we found out that he needed the operation and that he was getting taken in right away to the OR. Max Galland (good friend of crespos) showed up and took the kids for the rest of the afternoon and Lu waited while crespo had the operation.

i am going back over to see him now but unfortunately I am taking off for a week later this afternoon. if any of you guys are in london please go see the guy. he should be in the hospital for at least a week and this was a major operation. he was really out of it yesterday due to all the painkillers but I think he should be more alert today/tomorrow.

23 comments:

riderpitts said...

hang in there crespo - spleen was just extra weight after all.

RiderNOSHOW said...

Stay strong Pablo. We are with you in spirit my friend.

riderzinni said...

Crespo, the three of us are thinking about you.. recover quickly...

Howe said...

Crespo...what a horrific crash. Stay calm and strong. Your family (and the Ranch) need you in fighting form. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

rider eazy-e said...

Ranch united we stand in face of your massive crash Crespo.

No one should be afraid of calling you a RIDER.

You have the stamina, strength and all the support of your family and friends around the globe to lead through your recovery period.

Hope to see you back on the saddle soon!!

Stay strong- your friend, rider eazy-e

riderturbo said...

If it ain't bumpin' it ain't ridin'. Hold tight, think positive and get well soon. Our thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery. - Turbo, Mama & Zoe

Unknown said...

Pablito, estamos todos pensando en vos para tu pronta recuperacion. Vas a estar bien ya que sos un coloso. Todos los Cukiers te quieren mucho y te mandan un gran abrazo (aunque no apretamos fuerte porque te debe doler todo!!) FUERZA loco y paciencia para recuperarte bien
El Cuka

No_rider said...

Crespo you are in good hands mate! Lu just sold you bike on eBay for few pennies, sorry.

burritoman said...

Crespito,
todo el apoyo desde BA! Te quiero fiera,
recuperate pronto.

Cuquito

burritoman said...

Crespito,
todo el apoyo desde BA! Te quiero fiera,
recuperate pronto.

Cuquito

Juani said...

Vamos Pablito fuerza!! Que todos te quieren ver recuperado sobre todo proximo/a integrante de la familia. Los alzaga

ridersimone said...

Gute Besserung, komm schnell wieder auf die Beine!

Anonymous said...

bueno Pablo mucha fuerza todo va a salir bien desde aca te mandamos todo nuestro amor toda la familia esta con vos cariños...besos la abuela y todos nosotros pendientes de vos.

Herni said...

Crespo, increíble las vueltas de la vida man! En cuanto salgas del Chelsea tenemos asado, malbec y guitarreada a full. No podes decir que no..!
HG

Anonymous said...

Pablito mucha fuerza. desde aca estamos todos pensando en vos y tu recuperacion. Rogamos que este sea un nuevo camino, abandones la bici y te dediques al asado y al vino.

te mandamos un beso enorme

P. Jonix y flia

Anonymous said...

Pablito,

Aguante!
Vas a salir de estas y mas fuerte que nunca.

Abrazo grande

Agustin y Mechi

Unknown said...

Fuerza Jean Paul!!! Te queremos mucho. Desde ahora mas Golf, Truco, y asado (incluiria Fly-Fishing pero corres alto riego que alguien XXX te rompa un dedo...)

Mike, Ale y pequenos.

Rider SharkBite said...

Crespo, hombre, really sorry to hear this. But I can tell you first hand from the SharkBite experience that this will make you stronger. Nobody chooses for things like this to happen, but some pretty amazing things will come out of it in the end. Starting with the amazing healing power of the human body. And of the support of friends...like all these blog posts show.
I will see you in the hospital ASAP. Maybe I can pass along some of my hospital tricks and know-how.
We are with you man. Remember: every day is a positive improvement from here on out.

alemoyano said...

crespo querido, te mandamos un abrazo desde chile con uti y los chicos, nimo y dale para adelante vieja... Ale

reimon said...

Aguante DUDDDE!! lo que no mata fortalece...el 'por crespo que se cayo de la bici' esta incorporado en la oracion familiar diaria de juana y ciro.
ps. designer hospital gown for the next photo shoot dude...your lifetime fashion icon reputation is under scrutiny

Unknown said...

ridercali's parents said....
In our thoughts and prayers.Hoping for your quick recovery.

Anonymous said...

Pablito!!!! Se te quiere mucho. Todos los que te conocemos estamos pensando en vos y esperando una pronta recuperacion. Este accidente no es nada para vos...como gran rider que sos vas a superar esto con no mas esfuerzo que una leve pendiente en la bici! Espero que pronto puedas estar con Lu y disfrutar del nacimiento. Bueno abrazo grande, estamos con Pollito aca en los Hamptons y manana nos mandamos un buen ride en tu nombre!

Rider Lito from the big apple

riderzinni said...

i saw ridercrespo yesterday evening.. he is definitely getting better. his mum and dad were there and they were pleased with the progress. the doctors are monitoring one of the kidney and hopefully he will be fine. the doctors think that he might need to stay in for another 10 days. Lu is due on Friday by the way.... I will keep all of you posted....