The brain is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, one of the functions of which is to protect it from light trauma, but more severe impacts or the forces associated with rapid acceleration may not be absorbed by this cushion. Concussion may be caused by impact forces, in which the head strikes or is struck by something, or impulsive forces, in which the head moves without itself being subject to blunt trauma (for example, when the chest hits something and the head snaps forward). Wikipedia – Concussion
The clocked turned to 1:10pm – Looking around I said, ‘I think you can start the time from now, that I actually remember things.’ How much time had passed since the accident? Unsure. What had happened? Unsure. How… Well, lets say the questions remained unanswered.
The plan was pretty certain today. We were going to head into the Pako Fest in Geelong West as a family and enjoy a walk around the busy area, maybe even sample some foods. But there was a bit of time to kill before we headed into Geelong, so the boys and I went for a ride.
We are rather blessed to live where we do, just up the road is an old railway which running beside it is a rail trail. A nice track that only stops to cross roads, but it otherwise it is an uninterupped ride alng some rather nice scenery to either Geelong or Queenscliff. So we rode up the hill and turned onto the trail towards Queenscliff.
Somewhere between there and the first road, I was riding with the two younger boys, and Nathanel had shot off the front. Joking I said to the boys ‘lets close the gap’. So we started off to catch Nathanael, and really the next thing I remember is sitting on the couch at home.
The crash has been erased from the memory banks. Being helped by a gentleman from the Bellarine Peninsula Railway is completely forgotten, all that remains of that help is a dirty t-shirt from my supposed blood nose. My boys were amazing, walking a severly concussed father home – I can’t remember walking home.
My father-in-law looked at my when we got home, and just kept wondering where I got my sideburn from. I hadn’t had one of those before.
Face Injuries
What happens next is a mixture of dream and real. I think Josh and Jem came past – Josh must of, becuse my previously broken road bike is welded up. Lots of questions were answered in a haze. I slept a lot. I moved in pain a lot. I chatted a bit. People fussed about, and went on with a semi-usual day.
My wife got home from the shop to find me dazed on the couch. She was asking questions to, and in my concussed state I’d answer as best I could. The curly one was when she asked if I remembered she was pregnant. I stared blankly, ‘How long have you been?’ I asked, ‘Did I know that already?’ – I think she knew then that the concussion was rather bad.
How the crash happened eludes me. My mind is remembering in echoes of black and white. Possibilites of yesterday are just that, I could only remember to intro to this partly because I have decided thats what was happening, and from what I could piece back together from questions I have asked. My Saturday literally vanished.
My injuries are a side burn on my face. Black eye, possibly from when I blow my nose the right side of my face blows up too. Gravel rash on my right knee, shoulder and both hands. Not too bad for a crash, but the worst I have done in some time, the last crash into a car door didn’t leave me like this…
My boys were so awesome. The three eldest helped me up, and with the help of the railway man got me walking. We walked all the way from the rail trail home, down a busy street. And I can’t remember a thing about it. They did so well, I’m a proud Dad.
Sorry about the rambliness of this, while it only happened yesterday I’m still recovering both mentally and physically. I’ll use that an an excuse for rambling a bit.
Will post photos when I find a camera.