.......my 16 year old son, G.
G has been a cross country runner since middle school, but running his Junior year of High School almost didn't happen.
On March 4 of 2013 around 9:00p.m., the car he was riding hit an icy patch of road, slid sideways and was t-boned by an oncoming mini-van. G took the brunt of the impact breaking both femurs (one of which protruded through his thigh), resulting a concussion, and causing many other bumps and bruises.
He was in the O.R. for 3-4 hours being put back together using titanium rods inserted into his broken bones, using 46 surgical staples to close everything up.
He then spent the next 36 hours in the ICU on a ventilator and wearing a neck brace as a precaution. In the 37nth hour he regained
consciousness, slightly.
On March 8 in the morning, he was moved out of the ICU and into a regular hospital room and by the end of the day, the nurses helped him to not only stand, but take a couple of labored steps.
March 11 would be the day G would be released, and on the 29th all 46 staples would be removed.
With the use of a walker, April 3 was G's first day back to school, much to the delight of students and faculty alike, and the relief of family members.
Something to note:one of the First Responders to the accident happened to be his Cross-Country coach.
During his many visits back to the doctors for check-ups, G was told he could probably participate in the 2013 XC season, but not to expect much, but to just "take things slow" and not get frustrated by what would more than likely be a "non-record setting season".
His first day back, G told his coach (who was more than pleased to see this student/runner walking again) that he was indeed going to participate in this year's season. Which he did.
The school year ended, and during that following summer, G did in fact get some practicing in, putting in a few miles here and there, and was able to get some sprinting in, and when the 2013-2014 school year started, G did start the XC practices with the rest of the team. But these practices were more intense than what he'd been "putting himself through", and with the help of the coaches input, G decided that he was not going to run for a few meets, but continuing to practice in the hopes of joining the rest of his team at an XC meet.
And that day did come.
September 14, 2013, G ran his first meet at the North Fayette Valley Invite.
His times weren't stellar by XC standards, but in all actuality, just the fact that this boy was actually RUNNING six months after suffering two broken legs was in my opinion incredible.
Three days later, the Osage Invite would see G again running, and his time was consistent with his time at the prior meet (21:39), however his "1 mile" time had increased by 16 seconds.
Six days later, we traveled to the Nashua-Plainfield Invite where G's "1 mile" time increased another 31 seconds (47 seconds faster than his first meet), and would again see another consistent overall run.
The next 3 meets would be pretty consistent and at all meets his overall placing was impressive, always finishing in the first half of the pack.
October 17 was the North Iowa Conference and this year it was being held here in Osage.
Seven months after being involved in a pretty bad car accident, G would finish 23rd and close out the 2013-2014 XC season a mere 3 seconds over his personal best from the previous season.
All in all, he is pleased (as are the rest of us) with his performance this season.
Taking things slow, not (overly) pushing himself, G was able to come back from something that should have stopped him.
In this case, telling him he can't do something ("won't be setting any records"), but then him doing it anyway, is a good thing.
It's a great thing.
