John Madigan - Accident Update 29 Jun PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 29 June 2009 00:00

Update 29 June

From John:

"Open letter to everyone

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for the kind thoughts and and best wishes
conveyed to both my wife Kathryn and myself since my altercation with a car around the uni somewhere.
Also, happy to have had so many cheerful visits from fellow club members, sorry that I missed you
Garry, and the cards, scratch tickets (won $7), food and drink were also welcome. Good news, for me,
is that I am now back at home and getting better by the day but it will be a long rehabilitation,
"no load" on the broken left leg for up to twenty weeks, sixteen to go, and no solid food for another
four weeks. A condition of my early release was that my mental state was OK, some will probably
question whether my mental state was OK before the accident. The test was answering twelve questions
correctly three days in a row, something that I couldn't manage but they sent me home anyway. Other
good news is that I can stay up to watch all of the live stages of this year's Tour de France, that
is if I can get the "set top box" to work for SBS2. Once again, thanks to all, and as I won't be
riding for a long time I might just become a fulltime commissaire as soon as health permits! "

 

Update 22 June

 

John Madigan leaves hospital today Monday 22 June- less than 3 weeks after his horrific crash.

 He is in great spirits and has begun to “walk” with the aid of crutches. The bones are healing
and the surgery scars look wonderfully well.
 

Still eating “mush” through his broken jaw, he gets back to the comfort of home where his
recovery will continue.

John would like to thank all those people who have visited (and may continue to!). It has been
of great support to him. He is particularly glad he received the prize for the volunteer
official for the first part of the year. Though his bike is smashed to bits, the $500 he feels
will be better spent on medical bills than something nice at Velos!!

 

HPRW are planning some fund raising activities to assist John through this period of
rehabilitation and members are asked to support these ventures.

 

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Update Friday evening 12th

John has made great progress, the casts have come off his arms and he is in
good spirits, talking easily and cracking jokes.
John was very lucky that a doctor heard the accident and was on the scene
almost immediately. Apparently John's bike was 25 metres away and he hit
the car on the passenger's side front.

 

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Update from Willow Friday 12th:

John came out of ICU on Monday lunchtime 9th June. He is talking and
feeling much better. He underwent a further 4-5 hours of facial surgery,
jaw and mandibles, on Wednesday 11th June and it appears that this
will be the limit of surgery for the immediate future. He is off
the morphine-on-demand and receives pain relief less frequently.

His appetite is returning and has taste sensation. With both arms in
plaster he requires some assistance eating the soft diet but the
determination he displays on the bike is no different to the way he
wants to attack his food unaided!!

Kathryn has been by his side for the past week and has asked to pass on
her deep gratification for all the positive thoughts and wishes people
have given her and John. She is more than appreciative of all the efforts
people are making. It seems as though he will be in hospital for some
weeks to come, but there is no definite time line at this point. With
the multitude of fractures he has and the general trauma he has suffered,
his body will take some time to recover.

John is now housed in;

RBH – Ward 7A bed 35.

Visiting hours are 10.00am – 8.00pm and he is ready now to accept visitors.
I suspect he will tire quickly but greatly appreciate a “hello” form anyone
who has time to do so.

 



 
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Well respected HPRW club executive member, commissaire and competitive rider John
Madigan suffered a serious cycling accident last tuesday.
 
John was on an early morning ride at Indooroopilly when he was hit by a car.
 
Details are a little sketchy, but we know he has multiple serious injuries and many
broken/shattered bones.  He is in the Intensive Care Unit at the PA hospital where he has undergone
11 hours of orthopaedic surgery (pins and plates).  John is occasionally conscious but remembers
nothing about the accident.
 
Naturally all club members' thoughts are with John and Katherine at this time.
 
The club will keep you informed of any further developments.
Last Updated on Monday, 29 June 2009 05:01