In This Issue It Only Takes A Second Pete... Through the Eyes 1999 Bike-a-thon Success Sponsors Sought It's A Party! Circle of Care in Chicago PWP in Iowa! |
The Spokesman
| A newsletter of the Pedal-with-Pete Foundation |
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Fall 1999
The Spokesman
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Editor's Note: On June 25, 1999, Pete Zeidner, founder of Pedal-with-Pete, suffered a serious accident while riding in the Great Ohio Bike Adventure (GOBA). He spent two months at the Cleveland Clinic following surgery to repair a chipped vertebra in his neck. He has made good progress following his initial paralysis. At this writing, he continues rehabilitation in a Berea care facility.
I began the summer with my annual ritual of going on GOBA, a six-day cycling event which tours different spots in Ohio every year. It draws 3000 cyclists from every part of the country. The fifth morning was especially nice and cool with the sun shining through the trees. By noon I was halfway through the day's ride and was ascending the last steep hill. My front tire was trying to "pop a wheelie"-that's how steep it was! As I was descending the hill, I noticed a sharp turn to the right with a van parked at the curve. On my recumbent, I could not lean into the turn. Consequently, I tipped over and landed in the ditch.
The next thing I remember, I was in an ambulance. I was taken to an area hospital for testing. At that point I was feeling very scared and afraid. I couldn't move a muscle in my body and did not know what was happening to me. After being x-rayed, I was released with no apparent broken bones in my body. After spending a very aggravating and painful day at home, an MRI showed that I had injured my spine and needed surgery. Thanks to Dr. Albright I ended up at the Cleveland Clinic where I had spinal surgery. A screw was placed in my spine.
Then the slow and painful process of rehabilitation started with excellent therapists, Joe and Mike. They were really top notch! From not being able to hold up my head and needing two people to lift me, I have made tremendous progress. In the nine weeks in the Clinic, my left side has virtually come back to where it was. Unfortunately, my right side is not recovering as fast.
I am currently at a nursing home/rehabilitation center working and making steady progress. But the progress is excruciatingly slow compared to the first month after the accident. With the help of God, I hope to return to my apartment soon and continue therapy there. I have every intention of making a full recovery and my hope is to get on my bike again and ride in the next GOBA.
After getting his story from him and his friends/family, I am challenged with this patient that had no muscle activity on his right side. My evaluation noted that Peter was not able to stand up by himself, let alone sit up, without the total assistance of two or three people. Our nine weeks together began on that day with Peter motivated to walk once more.
Five days a week and three hours of therapy a day (physical and occupational)... Peter became absorbed in every session, giving 110% every day. We started with strengthening his strong side as well as teaching him how to compensate so that he could complete functional activities. Simultaneously, we began weight-bearing activities to stimulate his weak side. Peter's personality and emotional being never faded, with humor always being a part of his sessions with me. One example I will never forget is when we put Peter on a Tilt Table for the first time to stimulate standing. Once standing at an almost vertical angle to the floor, he requested that I get him a beer and leave him there until Monday. All of our sessions had some sort of laughter incorporated in them.
As the weeks passed by, various muscles started to become alive again in his right shoulder, hip and trunk. Electrical stimulation was used as well as the weight bearing activities to assist his muscular return. Peter especially like the shock therapy, stating that we zap him every session. The biggest breakthrough came when Pete was able to sit up without any support at all. This was not enough for Pete, as he always asked when he will walk again. His motivation to return to his prior lifestyle exceeded anyone I or any of the therapists at the Clinic have treated-a definite role model to all patients.
Peter progressed to standing with little assistance, walking on his knees almost independently, and operating his wheelchair by himself (what a sight to see him driving like a madman). We were even able to get Peter to ride his bike again. He was and still is loved by all the therapists, technicians, and other patients he came in contact with.
I imagine that when meeting Pete for the first time, one would probably feel sorry for him, noting their problems aren't bad in comparison to poor Peter's; life is not so bad for them. Well, guess what, life isn't so bad for Peter either. He is getting back on his feet once again only to conquer his goal of cycling across the country. Pete loves life and people and only wants to return to his independence very soon. I am sure Pete would not want anyone to feel sorry for him. He has more vim and vigor in life than most people I know. To him I say "Live life to the fullest and conquer the world". For knowing him is to know that he will.
Joe Boncser, M.S.P.T.
The Cleveland Clinic
The prize for most dollars turned in on ride day went to Dana Fraze and family of Cuyahoga Falls. They rode AND brought their friends AND gathered many pledges and donations. Second prize was won by Wendy Fox of Alliance. Special thanks to all the Pedal Partners who "rode" with Pete via your caring contributions. A list of all Partners, Sponsors, and In-Kind Support is enclosed. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
And now it's time to plan for our RIDE 2000! Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 20, 2000. We'll be meeting at Fred Fuller Park in Kent. More information after the first of the year-but plan NOW to join us!
Helen's friend Charlie Taylor, owner of C. T. Taylor Construction Company, graciously agreed to open his Hudson home and act as host for the evening. Charlie's magnificent brick home on a thirteen acre estate really set the tone for an elegant evening. What started as a modest wine & cheese social turned into the party of the summer! How can I adequately describe it to you... Valet parking and red carpeted entrance stairs, huge displays of fresh flowers, music filling the evening air from the grand piano, blue water sparkling from the pool, and tables laden with shrimp, caviar and crudités...groups of people talking, laughing, playing a golf game, or having their portraits drawn by the "nut man"! Undoubtedly, the sweetest and most memorable event of the night was Pete's arrival. No one knew for sure whether the policies of the Cleveland Clinic would allow him to try such an undertaking, but Pete prevailed. It was wonderful to have him with us for that one special evening. He looked very handsome, and we could all pretend, at least for those few hours, that the awful events of the past summer had never happened. As always, Pete was the life of the party and the best possible embassador for the organization.
This single new event netted thousands of dollars for Pedal-with-Pete. As President, I want to thank the generosity of the people who made it such a tremendous success - Charlie Taylor, Jack and Gail Male, and Laurie Betzhold. And a special word of gratitude to the spirit, energy and drive of Helen Rosenberg, who truly put it all together. Let's do it again next year!!!
Susan Higgins DeFago, President Pedal-with-Pete
Presentations were made by physicians, patients, board members and friends who shared research findings, projected outcomes for the future of children's health care, and an overview of what the $77 million contributed in 1998 to the Circle of Care hospitals has helped to accomplish. As a guest at the conference, Pete also enjoyed an architecture river tour of the city and a gala dinner on Navy Pier with performances by Burt Bacharch and Dionne Warwick.
If your group would like to sponsor a ride, don't hesitate to contact Pedal-with-Pete. We will be happy to answer your questions and work with you.