Story 3

Injured Bicyclist Released From Hospital

Marsha L. Taylor was released from the hospital Tuesday after a bike accident left her in the hospital with multiple injuries.

The accident occurred while Marsha was in Pine City after her U.S tour. She was taking a ride on 72^nd Street when a car hit her from behind and she was thrown from her bike. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital.

Marsha suffered multiple injuries from the accident including a mild concussion, a broken neck, arm and pelvis as well as six broken ribs. “They were especially concerned about the broken neck,” she said. “One doctor said I had what they called a hangman’s fracture. She said it was a miracle that I wasn’t paralyzed.”

A few weeks later, doctors discovered that Marsha was also suffering from internal injuries. Her intestine was perforated, and her liver and gall bladder were also damaged. These complications had caused her skin to turn bright orange. “When my mother saw me, she said I looked like a Halloween pumpkin.” Marsha went back to the hospital and now has to attend rehabilitation three times a week.

Marsha, 37,  has been riding bikes since she was in college. While looking for work, she often killed time waiting for interviews by riding her bike. She eventually became involved with other riders and participated in many races. “Since then, it’s been a major part of my life. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without bicycling,” said Marsha. She has ridden over three-thousand miles so far this year and participated in the annual Governor’s Bicycle Tour and a U.S. Tour that has taken her across the United States

Her attitude toward biking has not changed since the accident. “I still want to ride,” she said. “If I could, I’d be out there right now, but it’s hard to ride a bike when you have to use crutches.”