Our Fellow Triathlete

Many of you have asked for updates on the cyclist, Kirsten, who was injured at the race on Sunday. I do not know her personally, but because of the blog, I have been in contact with a family member, a cyclist who was there on the scene and I spoke briefly with her husband.

What Happened:
On the bike course – on that last screaming downhill before Peachtree Industrial Boulevard – one of the riders heard a crash behind her, turned to look and saw Kirsten on the ground. The rider ran up the hill to Kirsten and she, along with a few others including an ER nurse who stopped, immediately began to work to help Kirsten.  No one that I have spoken with knows precisely what happened to cause the crash.  We do know that the tire was flat and the wheel removed by those who assisted her – in order to help Kirsten out of her bike – the tube had to be deflated to release from the brakes and the front wheel removed, because she was entangled in the bike from the impact.

Kudos to the Iron Girl race officials – they made it to the scene BEFORE the police or emergency vehicles.

By the time the emergency responders arrived, at least three athletes, one of whom was the ER nurse and another trained in emergency first response, had helped to stablize Kirsten.  The rider who stopped said that the ER Nurse had the situation completely under control – even when there was difficulty with Kirsten’s pulse, the ER nurse was able to get that pulse to return. [*This is just an account of one individual in an emergency situation, so bear that in mind.]

What Next:
Kirsten has experienced broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. I learned from one of her close friends that she had surgery on Sunday evening. As an update, her vitals are looking good right now and she can move both arms and both legs.

The doctors performed an assessment just a few hours ago to see if Kirsten’s  breathing tube could be removed. They wanted Kirsten to be able to follow COMPLEX COMMANDS. Meaning “Kirsten, raise your arm and show me one finger.” At this time, she is not able to do this – she was only able to follow one of the commands, such as raising the arm. The doctor reported that things are “good, but concerned.”  She also has a small blood clot on her left side, but it is not presenting any threat.

After speaking with her husband this evening, they have learned that she has experienced trauma to both sides of her brain and possibly the temporal lobe. Right now everyone is playing a waiting game and hoping.

What is Needed:
I contacted Kirsten’s husband to find out what we could do. I have this blog and I should darn well use it for something other than complaining.

“Nothing right now, but pray in the morning, in the afternoon and at night,” he said.

So that’s what we’ll do -sending prayers for Kirsten and her family. The big prayers right now are for her to perform complex commands in order that the breathing tube can be removed.

This story hits close to home for me… as I am sure it does with any of you who ride a bike and participate in triathlon.  

We all get wrapped up in racing, in speed and in pushing forward – sometimes we need a reminder how dangerous this sport can be… how we must always remember that we are human racers… and stopping to assist Our Fellow Triathlete may just save her life.

40 Responses

  1. My heart just sunk when I first read about her crash. Thank you for getting updates for us. I am clear across the country in Utah, but I will be sending all prayers/thoughts/good vibes, etc., to her and her family. Please keep us posted and let me know if there’s anything I can do. You’re awesome Meredith for finding out info for us.

  2. Ugh. No one saw it happen? Is she an experienced cyclist? That hill was scary.

  4. I have been and will continue to be in prayer for her and her family. Thank you for keeping us informed.

  5. Tears in my eyes. I hope she is okay. At least I know as a triathlete she is strong and resilient, those are in her favor. She will be in y thoughts as well as her family.

  6. I was in this race and had no idea there was an accident. Everyone I know is praying fervently for Kirsten.

  7. My heart really goes out to Kristen and her family. I was in this race on Sunday and heard whispers of an incident, but no details were available. It really is a sobering thought that it could have been anyone of us in this position. I definitely will pray that Kristen makes a swift recovery.

  8. Thank you for sharing this update. I’m sure it’s helpful to her and her husband to know that people are sending all positivity toward her. I hope she goes from “concerned” to “on the mend” very soon.

  9. Thank you for posting this, I am so sorry to hear about this accident. I will keep Kristen & her family in my thoughts and prayers this week, and also the doctor’s working with her to assist in a speedy recovery.

  10. Thank you for providing this detailed update. I was among the riders who happened upon the scene after Kristen was taken to the hospital. We prayed and are continuing to pray for her recovery.

  11. Gosh this is so awful to read. Thank you for keeping us all updated on this and I am continuing to pray for her

  14. Meredith — thank you so much for this post. I came by the crash shortly after it happened and have been searching for any information that I could find about the rider. It gives me chills to think that it could have been any one of us and my heart goes out to Kirsten and her family for having to endure this terrible accident. Please keep us updated on her progress.

  15. I will join you ladies in praying for this athlete, and also ask that you throw in a little extra prayer for the race director, Jim Rainey. I have known him since my daughter started racing at 12, now 8 years ago. He takes the safety of his racers seriously, and this will be a tough one for him.

  16. Absolutely – I have spoken to Jim several times and finally met him over the weekend, and I agree with you. And if you’ll notice – the race officials were the first responders to the scene (not the police!), which speaks volumes for how well this race was organized and the safety considered.

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  19. Kirsten is a cousin of my wife and we are so deeply concerned about her. thanks for the info you have provided as the family is in shock and not able to handle the deluge of calls of anxious relatives, your updates are very welcome. Thank you again and keep her in your prayers.

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  24. My thoughts and prayers are with Kirsten, Rodney, Lilly, Ann and Elp Walker.

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  27. Our prayers are with Kristen and her family. Also a big thanks to God for putting an ER nurse and other first responder in Kristen’s life on that day. It also goes to show what can happen when there is team work. Please keep us posted.

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  29. Is there an update on her? With this race quickly approaching I was thinking about her.

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