Friday, Jun. 27, 2008

June 27

Dear Editor:

On Father’s Day, I was enjoying a bike ride along one of the trails of Grapevine Lake when I lost control of the bike and took a hard fall into the nearby brush.

Immediately, I knew I was seriously injured because I could not move my body below my neck.

It was a little past 5 p.m., the sun was bearing down, and after 20 or so minutes I became concerned that I might not be found right away. I could hear cars driving along nearby Kimball Road as well as fun seekers enjoying their afternoon of boating all less than about 50 yards away.

I was calling for help but in my weakened state, knew my voice was not carrying very far. Suddenly, a man jogging along the trail heard my call for help, confirmed that I was injured, and immediately found a way to summon 911.

With the ambulance on the way, this Good Samaritan came to my side, helped clear the brush from my face, blocked the sun which was becoming quite hot, and gave me water to drink.

I don’t know who this Good Samaritan was, and while he may feel he did nothing out of the ordinary, it sure did not appear that way to me.

I am indebted to your kindness and quick reaction, and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have been diagnosed as a quadriplegic, but I will fight back to the best of my ability.

A sincere thank-you once again, I’m sure you know who you are.

— Joe Groh, Grapevine