Crash and burn

The Motorbike Accident that was bound to happen

I suppose it was only a matter of time really, even though I feel comfortable and enjoy riding a motorbike, I still need a lot more practice on the sandy, dusty, rough, bumpy and stoney roads.

Basically, Jenny and Sovie (other Soma volunteers) and I planned to take an hour and a half journey to have lunch. I was extremely excited, my first weekend in Soma after spending prrevious weekends camping on the beach at Kartong. 20 minutes into the journey, I was trailing the girls and road was dusty. I came over a rise, travelling about 50km/hr and at the last minute saw a piece of metal on the ground. I didnt have time to swerve and hit it. After the impact, Im not exactly sure what happened. I believe I flew into the air ahead of my bike, landed on my head and did a few rolls. Bike followed behind me. I was quite relieved I could stand up and felt I could get back on the bike, still believing I was invincible. With one arm I manged to lift the bike upright and assessed my body and the bike. The front of the bike was a bit bent, indicator light cracked and the top of my helmet was scratched and a small part came off. The girls finally realised I had crashed and came back. I still felt I would be able to ride on but my arm was aching and I couldnt bend or move it, thinking this pain would quickly pass. After sometimeI confronted the fact that my arm was not good, I couldny even get a lift on a bike back home as I couldnt move it.

We arranged a lift back with a friend from Peace Corps and another Peace Corps nurse assessed my arm. I could feel my fingers but could not bend or twist it. I still believed I would be fine and not to worry. As the day progressed no improvement was made and medication was necessary. We arranged for VSO to come out and pick me up in the next morning and head to Banjul hospital, about a 4 hour journey just to make sure my arm wasnt broken.

I was fine all day, in a bit of pain but in good spirits. In the evening, 11 hours later I had a panic attack, which scared the life out of me. I felt hot, tight in the chest and then felt like I couldnt breathe. My body went all tingly, dizzy and i couldnt stand up, convinced that I was going to die from not being able to breathe. I finally overcame this, but it left me shaken. I then felt another attack coming on and manged this one a little better.

With support from VSO, I went to the clinic that evening for a check up and then slept outside at the Peace Corps nurses house, I needed to have fresh air and open space around me.

The next day we travelled to Banjul hospital and after time there having x rays and doctors looking and prodding my arm they declared it wasnt broken, elbow was twisted and arm ligaments damaged. They put my arm in plaster and wrappped it up. I took the plaster off after a week and only used the base for protection.

So my motorbike riding days are over for at least 6 weeks. I am happy to say my arm movement is improving all the time.