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                                               Brother Larry Ritchey                      " Free Spirit " Artist: Jillane Curreen

 When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,  to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are.  They are there for the reason you need them to be.  Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.  Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.  Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.  What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.  The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.  

There are many different responses to crisis. Most survivors have intense feelings after a traumatic event but recover from the trauma; others have more difficulty recovering — especially those who have had previous traumatic experiences, who are faced with ongoing stress, or who lack support from friends and family — and will need additional help.

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In a second, victim's life changes forever

In a second, victim's life changes forever

Special to The R-C Claude Kelly is pictured in Montana prior to the accident with his grandsons Steven, 11, standing, and Sam, 8, on his lap. Sam, nicknamed 'Bubba' as a baby by his older brother, celebrated his birthday March 21 at the intensive care unit in Reno after his grandfather's accident.

by Sheila Gardner, sgardner@recordcourier.com
April 6, 2007

Claude Kelly of Reno liked to spend his weekends outdoors, riding his motorcycle on Northern Nevada's back roads, metal detecting and taking walks in the woods.

He used the downtime to relax before going back to work in retail sales at an auto wholesale parts company in Reno, according to his son, Jason Kelly.

That all came to a crashing halt March 18 when a white pickup truck swerved into the southbound travel lane of Foothill Road and knocked the 60-year-old Kelly off his motorcycle.

As a result of the accident, Kelly's left leg was amputated and he has been hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno where the bill is adding up at the rate of $15,000 a day.

"There is nothing good ahead," said Jason Kelly, a plumber's apprentice who lives in Montana and raced to his father's side the day after the accident.

He said doctors estimate it will be at least six months before Claude Kelly can put any weight on his leg.

He has had two surgeries on his left leg which ultimately was amputated below the knee.

'From the top of the thigh, it was pretty well shattered," his son said. "There were six steel plates in there holding it together.

"At this point, it's still so swollen, he can't put a cast on it. It's all pinned together. The other leg looked pretty good. He has really bad road rash all over him and he has pneumonia now from sitting in bed and some strange rash up and down his back."

Claude Kelly also has been unable to speak.

"He couldn't tell us what happened. Right after the accident, he was doing good just to keep his eyes open," Jason Kelly said.

The driver of the truck, 26-year-old Kimberly Eugina Garcia of Gardnerville, is to appear in Douglas County District Court on April 17 on a charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death, a felony.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol, Garcia said she swerved as she looked down at her cell phone, but she later recanted the story.

Officers said Kelly was thrown to the ground and Garcia fled the scene without stopping despite a flat tire and damage to her truck.

According to court reports, Garcia had received a 180-day suspended sentence last year for her second conviction of driving under the influence.

She received her first DUI conviction in Carson City for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, according to court reports.

She tested positive after her arrest and said she smoked marijuana on March 15.

"I was down there the Monday right after it happened," Kelly said. "Dad was semi-coherent. I think he understood why we were there, but it was hard to tell."

In the three weeks since the accident, Jason Kelly said his father is more alert.

"He can tap his fingers once for 'yes' and twice for 'no.' He's still in the neck brace because of a breathing tube," Kelly said.

His father had difficulty with the anesthetic, Kelly said, which was impacting his chest muscles and making it difficult to breathe on his own.

Kelly said as soon as his father is able to breathe on his own, he'll be out of ICU.

He plans to ask his father to come to Montana to recuperate.

In the meantime, Jason Kelly said his 85-year-old grandmother flew to Reno to stay with her son who has lived in the area for more than a dozen years.

Even with a limited ability to communicate, Kelly said he can tell how frustrated his father is.

"He's getting pretty belligerent in ICU," he said. "He's real active."

Kelly said he was grateful to his father's friends and colleagues for keeping him company since the accident.

"There were maybe six or seven people a day stopping by the hospital or calling the house to see how he was," he said. "He has some very good friends."

Re: In a second, victim's life changes forever

----- Original Message -----
From: Jack and Diane
To: bikeraccsurvivor@bacsuv.com
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 7:23 PM
Subject: RE: Article on Reno Man, Claude Kelly, being hit by a 'hit and run'


Dear Sir:

We just wanted to write and say 'thank you' for posting on your forum, the article about Claude Kelly being struck by a hit and run driver, that appeared in the Nevada-Appeal newspaper in March.

'Skip' is our cousin, and has survived the accident, although he did lose the lower part of his left leg. He is currently in rehab and continues to improve each day and we do appreciate your thoughts and concerns for him.

We are former riders ourselves, and do understand the dangers of riding. We hope that through unfortunate, senseless tragedies such as this, other's eyes will be opened to how quickly one's life can change in a heartbeat, if we don't pay attention to our responsibilities on the road.

Everyone, please be careful and watch out for the 'other' guy.

Again, Thank you, Jack and Diane Evans

Re: In a second, victim's life changes forever

----- Original Message -----
From: Garry Van Kirk
To: Jack and Diane
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: Article on Reno Man, Claude Kelly, being hit by a 'hit and run'


Jack and Diane,

Thank you for your reply, I do believe in the importance of giving support to those in need after a catastrophic injury! So needless, this happens to frequently these days.

I hope you pass onto Claude our support for him and wish him well through his rehab, we are thinking of him.

With greatest respect,

Garry Van Kirk
Bikers Accident Survivor Forum
www.bacsuv.com