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by Edward Schaeffer 3rd

Hi, my name is Edward Schaeffer 3rd. I just wanted to tell you about
my worst injury. Thought it would be fun. Anyway, this all happened
memorial day of last year. I had bought a brand new downhill mountain bike,
totally tricked out with all the greatest parts you could get. It was about a
$1000 bike that I was lucky enough to get for about $350. So, I had been
riding it around my neighborhood and was growing tired of the lack of
challenge.
After a heated argument with my now ex-girlfriend I decided to vent my
anger and take it to the very rough back trails of our local lake, Robert E.
Lee (Lake Roland). It had just rained heavily that morning so there was
alot of mud and deep puddles of water, but nothing I couldnt handle, right? So
after riding around for about an hour or so I hit some of the big
hills. I came around a corner going as fast as my tired legs would take me and
down this hill I went. I got about half-way down and hit some muddy patches
and lost control of the bike and steered right into a tree.
My head was the only thing to actually hit the tree, and if I had been wearing a
helmet, I probably would have been stunned but ok. I blacked out for a moment
from the strike and when I came to saw a large pile of rocks coming my way.
My bike had come out from under me and I landed on these rocks rolling
about four times. I laid there and thought to myself, "Am I dead?", but soon
a dog that had been in the stream next to the hill brought me back to
reallity by licking my face. I jumped to my feet and right away saw nothing but
red.
I had spilt my head open enough to require ten stiches. I also had
more than a few deep bruises and cuts in various places from rolling in the
rocks. My brand new bike had also gone into the rocks and turned into
a twisted piece of metal. I had to walk for about thirty-five minutes in
order to reach any help, bleeding the whole way and ditching my "bike"
about half-way before getting to light headed. The end result was the loss
of alot of blood, a mild concussion, alot of healing, and still dealing
with head pains, blured vision and dizzy spells that I have had a CT
(Cat-Scan) for. It showed nothing and I will be going back for more test soon.
Thats it, could have been alot worse yes, but it was still pretty horrible.
I still wonder to this day how I didnt die.

Edward T. Schaeffer III