"Just wear your damn mask..." (jimal)
11/06/2015 at 14:53 • Filed to: None
2
2|
"Just wear your damn mask..." (jimal)
11/06/2015 at 14:53 • Filed to: None | 2
| 2 |
Remember Markus Niemelä’s violent sprint car accident at Perris Speedway last year? After first reporting that his only injury was an concussion, a year later, Markus himself reports that the crash was in fact career ending. From Facebook:
One year ago today I went to a car race that ended up being the last race of my life. Subsequently today marks the first anniversary of my brain injury. This is the reason I can’t race anymore and I guess this is the first time I post on my Facebook about it.
At first, after the crash, I thought I had gotten just another concussion and some bruises. Symptoms didn’t get better though and as soon as I got home and in MRI they found that my brain had suffered permanent injuries in 3 different spots and that my head had practically dislocated from my spine and ended up in a different position (4mm rotated and 2mm offset) which is also permanent.
My next ‘regular’ concussion would have radical consequenses, they said.
They also told me I’m very lucky not to be dead. I agree. Also, if there’s ever good time to get a brain damage - this was it. My newly started business with running events have kept me busy and I haven’t had much time to worry about anything. The events have gone very well and turns out this I can do ok outside of racing, too.
Naturally after having been racing for 25 years, it hasn’t been a minor change.
This has been by far the weirdest year of my life. There are obviously significant changes in my cognitive function, such as memory and focusing, but also in personality (some of which I don’t really like myself). It’s really like getting to know yourself and your limits all over again in a life that’s very different from your past.
Although the brain won’t heal I feel I’ve already beating the brain damage. It’s very rare one gets a change to start his life twice on a different playground and I’m very happy of this opportunity and quite looking forward for the adventure. I’ve also got an awesome wife, family and friends. I know I don’t say this often but thanks for being here y’all! I know I suck at staying in touch but I’ll try to get better at it.
I’m not sure where i was going with this post so I’ll stop writing now.
kanadanmajava1
> Just wear your damn mask...
11/06/2015 at 20:27 |
|
That guy also has a weird record of racing with a go kart for 15 hours and 667 km (417 miles). He did it during a 25 hour race (in 2013) that he tried finish as his team’s sole driver. He passed out after 15 hours during a pit stop due exhaustion and was taken to a hospital. Despite his severe exhaustion he was leading the race with several laps.
He is a quite tough guy.
Jayvincent
> Just wear your damn mask...
11/16/2015 at 20:35 |
|
It’s been a year, so... dude, why’d you TURN?
Too soon? I’ll see myself out.
I don’t know about brain/spine injuries, but today we know physical and vision therapy are definitely key to recovering from concussions. Wish they knew that 40 years ago when I had mine...