Sandia Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc.

First the good news:  Yolanda Smith is at home this morning and is recovering well after her accident in practice on Sunday.  She has broken her T7 vertebrae .... again .... but is walking, talking, and hurting.  She thought she had broken ribs but x-rays were negative on that, so it's only the one vertebrae and it is expected to heal well.  The bad news is the doctors have told her that if she breaks that vertebrae again she might expect to stop walking, so she's seriously contemplating her future in motorcycle racing right now.  I'll let her update this moving forward.

Now the not so good news:  Chris Frei was admitted to UNM Hospital last night and is in pretty poor shape.  I spoke with him on the phone this morning, so at least he is lucid and coherent, though his speech is a bit slurred, probably from pain killers if I don't miss my guess.  He told me they're going to do surgery on his left elbow this morning to "close the hole".  I don't know what that means, exactly, but it doesn't sound good to me.  Oh...and he also has compression fractures of T12, L1, and L2 vertebrae, seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung, blood in his thorax, and has a broken scapula.   Several SMRI members, Dennis Parrish, Tracy Riffe, and I, went to see Chris at UNMH today and he's in good sprits considering the pain he's in.  Steve Brown has also been in and is working to get Chris back home.  Chris is at UNM Hospital in room 618 if you'd like to go by and see him during visiting hours..  I'll keep everyone informed as I find out more and as Chris' situation develops. 

Everyone else who had an off left under their own power, and there were plenty of them.   I'll try to check on everyone as the day passes. 

For those of us out of towners', do you know if Chris's family needs anything in his absence?  I'd like to send something but not sure he really wants or needs a box of chocolates or flowers?  Maybe a good movie instead?!  Also for YoYo too - if you have contact info for us?

I spoke to Chris briefly last night.  They finally had an opportunity to shoot comprehensive x-rays and he hopes to be cleared to sit up soon.  (Fingers crossed).  He's been cleared to eat and drink, so that's a huge step forward as it means they obviously don't intend to put him under anesthesia anytime soon.   They got his elbow joint flushed yesterday to eliminate the possibility of infection and got it closed up, so that's sorted.  He's hoping to be released in a day or two to undertake the journey back home to El Paso.

I'll try to keep you updated as things progress. 

Thanks for the updates Scott. 
I do hope he can make a safe trip home.

Last update for a while, and it's a Deusey.  Chris' x-rays from last night were evaluated and he's been cleared not only to sit up, but to get up and walk around!  After a little more scrutiny this afternoon he'll be released into the care of Steve Brown who will load Chris into Chris' rig and take him home to El Paso where he can sleep in his own bed tonight!!!!

Chris' recovery will likely take several weeks or months to complete, but he's on his way.