Rider Down! Big Maico in hospital

IT would have made the turn.

Todays damn diesels have a mind of their own.

Today's update from a friend that lives in Houston.

"Just stopped in to visit briefly with Howard at Hermann Memorial Med Center, and ran into his wife while there. He was scheduled for surgery this morning to work on the compound fracture of the left femur, but the swelling was still to great. His intubation tube was removed, so he can eat and talk. He will be in the hospital for a while. My guess is that infection of the multiple compound fractures is a big concern. A motocross track and old sweaty gear are not good when you have bone sticking out. But he is at Hermann Systems only level I trauma center, so they should do well for him."

Latest update as of Tuesday @ 3PM

From his wife Donna: Howard is now in room 855 in the Jones Pavilion @ Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center. They had to put a drain tube back in his belly as it was hard & swollen. He's miserable - can't get comfortable - hurting, etc. They are going to try again tomorrow afternoon to fix his leg.

Wednesday night update:

Howard had surgery on his femur this afternoon and was back in his room around 6:30. The ankle is still too swollen to work on so they are going to have to address that at a later date. He goes back in for surgery tomorrow morning at 8:30 for a skin graft to close the wound on his thigh, it was too big for traditional sutures.

Thursday Night Update:

I just got off the phone with Donna...and Howard.

Today they did a skin graft to close up the thigh wound from the broken femur. Howard is going to be in the hospital at least thru the end of next week. He is scheduled for surgery on his ankle sometime next Thursday and they are going to keep him until after that surgery.

Donna said he is ready to have visitors so if you can go by and see him, please do. A little companionship and someone to talk to will do Howard a world of good.

Thursday June 14th Update:

Howard had his 6th, and hopefully final, surgery today. The ortho was finally able to address his ankle injuries. His foot injuries are extensive and his Talus was crushed. The doctor said if he had not been wearing good boots his foot probably could not have been saved. He is currently in recovery and will be moved back to his room later tonight. He will not be able to place any weight on his left leg & ankle for the next 3 months. Plans are to move him to a Rehab facility possibly as early as this weekend. Oh, and at some point this week it was determined that he also has some Thoracic vertebrae damage. He has been fitted for a brace for those. Please continue to keep Howard in your thoughts and prayers.

Howard, up to talking?

Joe, give him a call on his cell anytime. He's good to talk.