Chicago Bike Racing: Steven Vandeven seriously injured

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Steven Vandeven seriously injured

Nov 26
2008

No links today, but some sober news instead: Thursday evening a cab struck Steven Vandeven (Team Get a Grip Cycles) as he rode south on La Salle Boulevard toward Goethe Street. He sustained major head injuries. Following extensive surgery, doctors induced a coma. He remains under sedation.

The long-term prognosis is undetermined. Those of us who have raced against Vandeven, however, know that he is a fighter and a finisher. If he has any say in the matter, the recovery will be nothing short of full.

As with all car-on-bike collisions, this one could have been much worse. Join me tomorrow in giving thanks for Steven, a class act and an ace cyclist, as well as thanks for one another and for the thousands of our rides that do not end in catastrophe.

Comments

1.

Nov 26
2008

3:24 pm

Please note that Steve is still in the ICU and his doctors have restricted visitation for the time being. Please direct all inquires to Get A Grip c/o Jon Tenney.

2.

Nov 26
2008

3:26 pm

Matt Smith (Burnham Racing)

Get better, Steve. I’ve got a cold golden one waiting for you. And I don’t mean a cougar.

3.

Nov 26
2008

7:58 pm

Val (Bouledogue Tout Noir)

Ha! That’s a great picture, Matt. I hope he didn’t piss her off, with arms like that she probably could have thrown him half a mile.

4.

Nov 26
2008

8:23 pm

(2CC)

Damn man...2Cc is pulling for YOu....well you know me ...I’m not but I am near the front telling everyone else to : )

5.

Nov 27
2008

12:06 am

(Project 5)

My thoughts are with Steve and his Get a Grip teammates. Living in the city as well, I ride down there all the time. I wish him a safe and fast recovery!!

Project 5

6.

Nov 27
2008

12:55 am

Ebert (Verizon p/b ABD)

You, your friends and family are in our thoughts and prayers, Steve. Godspeed.

7.

Nov 27
2008

10:23 am

Sobering news for a Thanksgiving morning: it could be any of us at any time.

All the best to Steve and his family.

8.

Nov 27
2008

5:48 pm

(comcast higher gear)

Steve you are a class rider. I hope to see you on the roads soon

9.

Nov 28
2008

10:38 pm

(metlife cycling)

Think of you, Steve. We know you’ll dig deep to pull through this.

10.

Nov 28
2008

10:40 pm

(metlife cycling)

uh, ‘thinking’. you know…

11.

Nov 30
2008

11:58 am

That really sucks especially at Thanksgiving. Please keep us up to date so we keep up with his progress! Our wishes go out to him.

12.

Dec 3
2008

1:08 pm

(Alberto's)

Any update on how Steve is going?

13.

Dec 3
2008

1:19 pm

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo)

All I know is what his friends are posting to his Facebook page. In short, he is still disoriented and required to be in restraints at the hospital, but he is making progress and taking visitors.

14.

Dec 3
2008

10:02 pm

Seth Meyer (ReCycling)

Steve is doing better every day. Holding conversations more and also doing better physically. He starts therapy tomorrow.

The nurses warned us not to allow too many visitors or conversations in his room at once, though. We don’t want Steve overstimulated.

So, for the best times to visit (after 5pm--he will be in therapy often during the day weekdays now), please sign up for a time slot on the new Google spreadsheet: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p-RpSCPIdCJfGVW6XF9QbUQ&hl=en

We all want our chances to go wish Steve well, but we all want to keep him well too. So let’s not overstimulate him.

15.

Dec 30
2008

5:52 pm

(comcast higher gear)

any update on steve Vandeven?

16.

Dec 31
2008

8:45 am

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo)

I don’t know all the details, but he was out of rehab before Christmas and he reports via Facebook that he is “getting back to normal.”

17.

Dec 31
2008

9:30 am

Seth Meyer (ReCycling)

Steve’s at home and back to work. Has been for a couple weeks now. Still working on some things on the physical side, but, as Luke said he’s slowly getting back to normal. Keep up with him on Facebook.

18.

Dec 31
2008

10:22 am

ScottV

Thanks for the update on Steve. Unless you are a friend of Steve’s on facebook, you can’t get the updates. I haven’t ever met Steve before so I don’t think he would want to make me a friend on facebook. I know others besides myself in the Chicago cycling family that were concerned for Steve and would appreciate an update now and then.

Anyway, anyone who has access to his facebook page, can you update here every once in a while? Thanks.

19.

Jan 2
2009

10:17 am

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo)

Happily I think we’re to the point where Steve gets to recede into privacy as he continues his recovery. He checks in here now and then so I’m sure if there’s anything he wants to share he knows he can.