“In May 2011, he was in a serious motorcycle accident. The guy who caused the wreck ended up robbing him. He was left down by the bayou, 30 feet from the water. He was unconscious for two weeks in the intensive care unit at Ben Taub Hospital. When he finally came out of the coma, he didn’t know who we were for a couple months.

“Because he had a feeding tube and couldn’t breathe on his own, we had to find a long-term acute care facility for him. He was there for a few weeks until he got a little better and could go to TIRR. He and Gabrielle Giffords, the congresswoman who was shot in the head, were there at the same time. He finally got out that July, and I began taking him to outpatient therapy.

“He had what’s called a diffuse axonal injury, which is a traumatic brain injury. The doctor said he was nothing but a miracle. Because even if he recovered, those 10 percent are usually left in a vegetative state.

“It’s been a long road back. His short-term memory is horrible. He still has severe headaches. But he’s here, and we’re together. That’s what’s most important.”

— Sarah Wright

Sarah and Tyrrell will celebrate their 20-year wedding anniversary on Oct. 2. They run Sarah’s Restaurant, 3321 Market in Baytown.

Related:

• ‘I’m just so determined to make this work’

• Despite major health scares, she’s still cooking

The post ‘Doctor said he was nothing but a miracle’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’ve been riding since I was 5 years old. As a kid I had a bunch of different dirt bikes. As an adult I’ve had two street bikes. The last one, a Harley Sportster, I’ve had for 16 years. Her name is Herbie.

“I’d really like to have another one, but finances keep me patching her up. I’ve wrecked her several times. I’ve been picked up by an ambulance three times. I’ve been transported by Life Flight once. But somehow, Herbie rides again and again. And, evidently, I do, too.

“I feel like I have a purpose here on Earth. God hasn’t let me go. I’ve had so many friends who have been mangled or have died, but here I am still fully functional. No brain injuries; not that I’m aware of, at least.

“I still love riding. I’ve been doing it so long, I don’t think you’ll ever take that out of me.”

— Theresa Cain

Related:

• Kids on her school bus get benefit of the doubt
• School bus driver looking to ‘spread the love’

The post Motorcycle enthusiast not quitting anytime soon appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“About two years ago I was in a bad motorcycle wreck. I had just bought a new Harley. I hadn’t even put 300 miles on it. I was going around a curve when this guy came all the way over in my lane. He ran me off the road and I flipped five times. They thought I was about dead when they loaded me in the helicopter.

“I was in a coma for three weeks. After a bunch of surgeries on this leg they said, ‘We probably just need to cut it off.’ I said, ‘Bullshit. Y’all are fired, and I’m leaving.’ They told me I wouldn’t ever walk again. Well, you know what? God has more power than anybody. I know that’s the only reason I’m alive and able to walk today. This leg is 4 inches shorter than the other one, but a doctor made a special shoe so I can walk without a wobble.

“At the time of the accident, my wife and I had been married 35 years. But while I was in the hospital, she decided to divorce me and take everything I had. So I’m on my own. I don’t ask nobody for nothing. I get a little disability check every month. I come over here every morning and get me a Dr. Pepper and a pack of cigarettes, and I sit here most of the day. My biggest challenge is just to be able to keep walking and to get by every day.

“I have a mini-Chihuahua in my apartment, and I wouldn’t take a million dollars for that dog. His name is Chico, and he’s a really good boy.”

— Fred Roach, 63

Related:

• Wrecker driver saw his share of bad accidents

The post After motorcycle accident, he’s just trying to get by appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I had a lack of oxygen going to my blood. After I fell three times, they loaded me up and took me to the hospital. I was on a ventilator for two months.

“Whew, it’s been a rough time. I told them to just let me die. I was bedridden for about 10 months. My thyroids were real low, so I gained weight like crazy. I got to up to 380 pounds, but I’ve lost 150 so far.

“Actually, I’ve been blessed since they put this trach in my throat to help me breathe. The only problem is that now nothing tastes the same. That’s probably good in some ways because there aren’t a whole lot of things I enjoy eating anymore. Like Blue Bell rocky road ice cream. I used to love that crap, but I don’t like anything chocolate now. I also love fruit, but now none of it tastes any good.

“I’m starting to get up on my feet again with the walker. My main goal is to get back on my Harley. I love riding that thing. You heard of people taking Xanax because they’re stressed out? My Harley is better than any medicine. You get on that thing, and 15 minutes later you’re just as calm as you know how to be. I’m trying to get better so I can enjoy that feeling again.”

— Herbert Head

The post He fights health challenges to get back on Harley appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“A lady ran a stop sign and broadsided me on my Harley-Davidson. An eyewitness said she hit me on the right side and I spun 180 degrees, still on top of the motorcycle, and then she hit me on the left side.

“The EMT who helped me the most said I was on the ground kicking my legs, trying to get back up. He was sitting on me to keep me from hurting myself more.

“Both my legs were shattered. I ruptured my aorta, and I had nine fractured ribs and three fractured vertebrae.

“I don’t remember any of it. I remember leaving my house. Just 582 feet from my front door is where it happened.

“Ten days after the accident they took one of my legs. They took the other one in June of the following year.

“What choice do I have? I’ve got to deal with what I got dealt. I could stay bitter all day long, but it won’t do me any good.”

— Philip Kysar, 57

Related:

• Learning to walk again after losing both legs

The post He can’t remember accident that took his legs appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“After losing both legs, my biggest challenge was learning how to walk again with the artificial ones. You don’t realize what all it takes for the human body just to get out there and walk down that street. You really have to concentrate to do something you never had to think about before. You grew up with your legs. You started walking with your legs. You had your legs for more than 50 years and then, all of a sudden, they’re gone.”

What motivates you?
“My wife. She stays on me pretty heavy. We got married about a year and a half before the accident. She’s watched me enough and been around me enough to know when I’m fixin’ to go into one of my down modes where I get depressed about everything that happened and start thinking, ‘Why did it happen to me? What did I do wrong?’ Knowing she’s always there to support me and motivate me makes all the difference in the world.”

— Philip Kysar

Related:

• He can’t remember accident that took his legs

The post Learning to walk again after losing both legs appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“This is where I live. This is all part of the RV park. Actually, this is spot No. 1 right here. I’m numero uno.

“I moved here Christmas Day four years ago, and it’s the perfect spot for me. There’s nobody on one side. I’ve got a light pole close by, so I have free lighting to work on my motorcycle and stuff. And the gas station and store are right here next to me if I need anything.

“If a hurricane comes, you just hook up and go. If you don’t like the neighbors, hook up and go. If you want to travel and see the country, you can hook up and go. It’s a lifestyle that suits me quite well.”

— Randy Evans, 66

Related:

• School assignment led to career as truck driver

The post He likes the freedom to ‘hook up and go’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When we retired, we said we were going to travel once a month. A couple of years down the road, we hadn’t done anything.”

“Then she came in one morning and said, ‘I’m buying a Harley and I’m going to ride. You can either ride with me or stay home.’”

“I had never ridden one by myself. I’m on my fourth Harley now. We each have our own, and we’ve taken some interesting trips.”

What do you like most about riding motorcycles?
“You just come alive. It’s not like being in a car where you feel like you’re in a cage.”

“It’s the freedom. You’ve got 360 degrees of visibility and you can smell the flowers when they’re blooming. There’s nothing quite like it.”

— Jeanie and Richard DuPont

The post Their retirement is filled with motorcycle riding appeared first on The Baytown Project.