The Ride That Should Not Had Happened

Sunday. 6.00am. Alarm woke me up to the usual tune signalling it was time to get up and prepare for the Powerman Putrajaya cycling loop and running session, or BRICK as how we some of us familiar with the sports would call it. Woke wifey up as i went downstairs after shower and changing to my favorite CSC sleeveless jersey which I wore for my last Ironman in 2010. Wow! The jersey felt super loose - mainly due to the weight loss that has taken place over the past 1 year.  loaded up the bike on top of my car and headed to pick my mum-in-law up from her home. She was babysitter designate on weekends that me and wifey wants to go out and train together.

Bright Superb Morning 7am

Upon reaching my MIL's place, i noticed that she was not awaken yet. I called wifey to ask if she had called to wake up her mum, of which she said "Since 6.45am, but no answer". I started ringing the bell, calling the house phone and calling her handphone - no answers. I started to get worried as I called wifey again to see if she managed to get her. It was NO. Thoughts started racing in my mind; did she fall while going to the toilet?". "Her heart is weak, Oh God no, i hope it is not!". Many thoughts raced through my mind that morning. After about 30minutes, i decided to leave and go back home - to prepare for any eventuality. Upon reaching home and as I was about to make another call, the phone rang.
"Where are you? Already 8am, aren't you supposed to be here by 7am?", My MIL asked.
It was a mix of anger and relief, and we started laughing. Picked the MIL up and called Doc Pui San to meet her by 9am to cycle the Powerman Loop.

Babes at Putrajaya

We started off right at 9am and was lead by Pui San as she knew the route. I drop back a little so i could be near wifey which is on her 4th official outing (cycling). Weather was perfect, company was great, speed of which we were cycling were decent.

Cycle on the leftmost lane. Putrajaya is popular with cyclist because less traffic and wide road.

Because it was route familiarization, speed was not important - moreover, wifey being beginner to an extend and not gotten her "cycling legs" yet, could only go that fast. Her average has been at 20km/h, which is pretty decent. Putrajaya has many cyclists using the road as training ground. The huge roads and minimal traffic particularly on weekends is ideal and a safe conducive place to be.

Waiting at most intersection to ensure everyone accounted for

Immediately after the last photo above (taken at 9.21am), my wife was hit from the back by a motorcycle. I was just 50m ahead of her waiting for her. I looked back and all i saw was this motorbike going at speed and rear ending my wife. It was horrifying. I saw my wife being thrown over the handle bar, landed on the hard hot tarmac and i could not do a single thing. I dismounted and ran towards her. My life was in a blur. I can't recall how i felt that moment except one thing that was certain - worried.
Upon reaching her, Wifey was sprawled on the road, her left side of her face on the tarmac and she was crying in pain. Her right shoe was missing, the sunnies flung off her face, bicycle a few meters from her and the water bottle a good 10meters away. I quickly (and tried very calmly) assessed the situation.
1. Limbs are all where it should be and not in any peculiar position - ok, no broken/mangled bones.
2. Still talking/crying - ok, conscious.
3. In pain - ok. Alive.
I spoke to wifey and asked if she could move herself - my logic if there is any neurological damages, she would not be able to do so. She could and she slowly sat up in a daze - all the while crying and her face bloodied. What i saw was bad bruises on the left side of the face at the cheekbone.
And then, anger came to me.

Moving the bike to the roadside

I confronted the motorcyclist, a girl why she did not see my wife. Her reply was an unbelievable "Tak nampak" (did not see). WTF is that? My wife could had died!
My fingers were trembling as i tried to recall Pui San's name on my phone. I dialled once and there was no answer - Oh God, please do not let her keep the phone in her car! Then the phone rang and i tried as calmly to tell her what happened.
"OhShit!", her first respond.
So happened, a group of men (which i later found out was Polis from Presint 11) passing by Lebuh Sentosa stopped to check and radio-ed for ambulance and polis for back up. Pui San reached soon after and another cyclist (which i later found out his name to be Tengku Amir) stopped to offer help.
Things were in a daze and I was super worried for wifey though she appear to be talking. The moment I heard her scolding the girl - TWICE, i knew, she was lucid. Amir told me he lives nearby and will get home to get his car to take the bike. I am grateful. A stranger that stopped and helped!
Within 5 minutes, a traffic polis arrive and within the next couple of minutes, the ambulance came. Wifey was check by the medical assistance/emergency response personnel and was moved to the ambulance. Pui San checked wifey for any other broken bones or internally injured organs by pressing her back and seeking response. I told Pui San to follow wifey to the hospital while i clear up all the items on the road.

The motorbike and the girl's sibling and mother. Ambulance left for hospital.

Amir soon came with his car and took me to my car so I could load up all three bikes and then rush to the Hospital. Amir helped me to get to the IPD Putrajaya to leave the bike (as evidence) and then went back to the Hospital again. There i found out Amir is a deputy public prosecutor (DPP) and works in the AG's Chamber in Putrajaya. Unassuming. We also found out that the girl's father was a polis personnel. Amir left soon after as he has other appointment. I can not say enough thank you to him for the help he rendered - including informing me of my right to report and how i should report it to the polis.

Johann at the Polis Station. I removed the front wheel to minimise the chances of it going "missing".

IPD Putrajaya - Traffic Division

About an hour waiting outside for wifey with Doc Pui San, a Medical Officer (aka doctor) came out to inform us about Wifey's condition.
"Fracture kat tulang belakang (fracture at backbone). We are not sure stable or not stable", he told me and Pui San.
I felt the world crumbled around me. Time stood still.
"Kita dah inform specialist untuk tengok", He said before leaving.
That was the longest 2hours in my life before I was allowed to see wifey.
I was shown the x-ray by the Ortho specialist of which she could not confirm (due to resolution of the x-ray) if the fracture was fresh or old. She was in the opinion that wifey should be warded for observation with CT Scan done soon.
"But our CT Scan is not working sir", She said.
Knowing that myself and wifey has hospitalisation insurance, we decided to discharge at own risk and plan to bring her directly to Damansara Specialist.

Face bruised but still in high spirit

Taking extra care to drive carefully and having wifey sitting in a reclined position, we arrived at DSH and was placed in the A&E. The MO came and arranged for CT Scan after finding out that was the next course of action. CT Scan was performed within the next 30minutes and the Ortho specialist came in within 45mins of admission. The doctor confirmed that there was a fracture at T12 Thoraic backbone. The fracture happened at the front portion of the bone where it is thicker and though fragmented into three parts, missed the spinal cord. 
Which was a relief.

OK. Can smile again.

Wifey were ordered at least 24hours in-ward observation to ensure that the lower limbs do not feel numb, pins and needles etc which could indicate a pinched nerve or injury to the spinal cord. Doc Azman, which were supposed to meet up with us that afternoon for home cooked dinner came to visit us in the Hospital. Wifey's painkiller started to wear off and she was given another jab. Her lower back was bruised and there were a lot of pain radiating from the waist area. 

The more serious injuries

October 8 was our wedding anniversary and it was spent in the hospital. I am just glad that there wasn't anything more serious than :
1. Fractured T12 that misses the spinal cord
2. Concussion
3. fractured cheek bone with burst capillaries around the eyes and cheek.
4. multiple bruises on arms, legs, ankles which will be a pain when taking bath.
5. road rash on right shoulder that will be a pain when wearing bra.
6. Bruises above the lips consistent with kissing the tarmac.
7. Bruised lower back and bum, which makes it difficult to lie down flat and even walk.

Other wise, everything is superfine.

Happy Anniversary Darling!

Wifey was discharged the day after and we went to the IPD in Putrajaya. Walking was a pain and she can manage small steps - reminds me of the time she just gave birth. The painkiller given by the doctors were the only defence between pain and comfort. After the report was done, we were allowed to collect the bicycle and the girl that hit wifey too, could collect her motorcycle. We found out that the girl is an undergrad in a nearby local uni and just gotten her license about a week before the incident. She was apologetic and personally called wifey up to convey her regrets.

Material damages were mostly on the bicycle. These are replaceable unlike a lost life. We will try to claim for the repair/replacement from the Girl's insurance - which in our opinion is appropriate. 

Minor but not taking chances on the integrity.

broken rim and brakes.

possibly broken RD as it hyper extend in a way i never seen any RD did

The helmet that wifey wore that day was new. It actually saved her head from more possible head injuries. I inspected the cracked helmet and found that it broke into no less than five pieces (i initially thought it was three). The right side, which her head apparently landed first, were compressed by at least half an inch at certain part, deforming the helmet. There was indention marks on the helmet caused by the strap.

Broken into a few pieces and you can see the indention clearly. Noticed the compression on the thickness of the helmet on the side of the helmet.

The left side of the helmet with original thickness of 1-inch

the right side, compressed

The left side thickness in comparison to a key

The left side, which were compressed visibly.

The above shows why cyclists should wear helmet. In a very lucky accident like these (as in NO fatality), the helmet saved wifey from further serious injury to the head. Even with the helmet on, wifey is still feeling sore due to this knock. 

There is a few things that we learnt from this incident:

1. The incident where my MIL did not wake up and delayed the cycling outing were likely fated and a subtle way to get us to consider cancelling it. We are rarely late for anything if appointments already made.

2. Bring your IC or a photostated IC or any sort of documentation to prove your identity. Wifey forgot to bring hers - for the first time!

3. If you have no hospitalisation coverage - consider to get one. 

4. No helmet, no ride! This is no excuse. We saw a group of cyclists without helmet cycling around Putrajaya!

5. Always make sure your handphone is charged. Mine ran dangerously low that morning.

6. Never cycle alone. We were glad we did not!

It has been a week since. Wifey is slowly recovering and it will be another long 7 weeks before wifey will be so-called recovered. At the moment, the bruises at the back, the dizziness due to the concussion and the vanity of the cheekbone takes priority to heal.

And we can only hope the fractured T12 will also mend itself by then. Don't wait up too long, wifey will be back soon - and chasing after you.