Versailles man thankful for life one year after accident nearly claimed his life
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

"Every day that God gives us that we can get up, move about and do everyday things - we've been blessed." Bryan Trowbridge, 43, gives these words of advice from his big chair in his modest home near Versailles one year after an accident that nearly claimed his life.

Although the morning began as any other on December 10, 2004, it would quickly change the lives of Bryan and his family forever. He made his way from his home on CR 250 W to US 421 and began his usual journey to Versailles to work in his parent's business - Ron Dee Printing - where he was employed as a pressman.

Bryan doesn't remember the 27,000 pound dump truck that slammed into his vehicle. Matter of fact, he didn't know he'd been in an accident until 41 days later when he came to in a hospital bed immobilized. "I knew who I was, but I didn't know why I was there," Bryan said as he described his first glimpse at life from his bed at the Southern Indiana Rehabilitation Center in New Albany.

Staying up into the wee hours of the morning, Bryan found out from his wife, Terri, what had happened to land him in the shape he was in.

He had suffered a broken neck and back, his left shoulder was shattered, his left arm broken, elbow dislocated, had a crushed heel and ankle, severe laceration on his hand (from a jar of homemade goodies he was taking a friend) and the most debilitating injury - a traumatic brain injury, first described by the doctors as "just a few small spots of blood we need to keep an eye on."

Bryan's life had changed. He was hooked up to a respirator and was being fed through a stomach tube. His left side was paralyzed. "I was hooked up to more hoses and tubes than you can imagine," he remembered.

"His prognosis wasn't good from the beginning," related wife Terri, who went back to the moment she got the call. Bryan's brother, Gary, called Terri at the NMLRA where she works as Director of Publications. She was told her husband had been in an accident and she needed to get the King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison and fast.

The problem was she couldn't get there fast on that particular morning due to the foggy, rainy weather. The weather had also prohibited Bryan from being transported by helicopter to expedite his medical care. Terri remembers seeing Bryan's parents' car ahead of her and began praying the man she met and married would live.

Arriving at the hospital in Madison, Terri knew her husband was critical. After he was somewhat stabilized, he was transported to the University of Louisville where he remained in Surgical ICU for over a month.

As the couple talked about their ordeal, Terri cried and laughed as she recalled all the medical decisions that were suddenly thrust on her. "I had limited knowledge about medical things," noted the mother of two. Quickly she would learn that she had to sign papers, make decisions and leave the rest to the professionals and God. The wedding vows Terri took in the 80's would be tested. "Until death do us part" was nearly experienced and "in sickness and in health," she has truly known the meaning of.

"She's the best," Bryan said with tears in his eyes as he talked about what he has gone through and how important his family is to him. "They were all right there, encouraging me," he said.

Bryan wanted to live. That was the bottom line from the moment he knew what he had to face ahead of him, he wanted to see his children, son John, who is ten-years-old, and daughter Becky, now a senior at South Ripley High School.

The debilitating accident left Bryan with multiple injuries and obstacles that could only be faced through family and friends, excellent medical care and a faith in God that could not be shaken.

He would face several surgeries, staff infections, fevers that had him put on a "cold" bed, pneumonia (two times), and pain "that would send most people scrambling to their couch with prescription strength pain killers on a good day." Bryan noted that while at SIRH it was a "big treat" to get crushed ice a few times a day, since he had been sustained by a feeding tube for weeks.

Bryan never wavered. His therapists began working with him. "They came in at 4:15 a.m. and every hour thereafter," he laughed, as he recalled gruelling days of getting himself just to the point of being able to take that first step. The brain injury had left him with a lot of work to do as well. A host of medical professionals worked with him, but Bryan says this, "God was with me that morning (of the accident) or I wouldn't be here today."

At first Bryan was so weak he could barely hold his head up and couldn't talk very well. He remembers a therapist working with him on third grade level math problems. "That was easy. I just remembered tricks a third grade teacher, Mrs. Miller, had taught me about doing word problems, and I had it made," laughed Bryan. Actually, a couple of times, the therapist had the wrong answer written down and Bryan corrected her. He was coming around, slowly but surely.

"I remember Terri bringing a copy of the paper (the Osgood Journal) to the hospital and I saw the picture of the accident on the front page," he remembered. "When the therapists saw it they were shocked that I had lived," he noted, adding, "I think they took my injuries a lot more serious after that."

"I couldn't wait to get home. I wanted to get back to Versailles - to my family and friends." Bryan's determination showed in his progress and what medical professionals said would take at least eight or nine months, only took one. From the time he came out of the coma on January

20, and began to realize what had taken place, he would work so hard that on February 21, he realized his dream of getting home. There was still a long way to go - but he was home!

Bryan talked about the "unexpected burden" he felt had been placed on his family due to the accident. He noted that the children stayed with their grandma and grandpa and were shuttled back and forth to see him by family and friends.

Both Bryan and Terri were thankful for a host of people who helped during their trying time. "We're afraid to start naming names..." they didn't want to forget anyone.

The teachers and administrators at South Ripley were instrumental in keeping the children on track during this time. Of course Bryan's parents, Ron and Dee Trowbridge and brother, Gary and sister, Kari and husband Mark Taulbee, were all great, as were Terri's mom and brothers and sisters. There was the bus driver, the neighbors, co-workers, the community, churches and more that joined together to pray and support this family in their time of tragedy. "Living here is the best," Bryan noted.

Terri noted that the ladies at the Holton Branch of the Napoleon State Bank had prayer every morning for Bryan and his family. She had called the church they attend - New Marion Baptist - and a prayer chain immediately began. "Everyone was just great, God heard all the prayers and we are so thankful," Terri shared. Bryan has a stack of cards nearly three feet high and received numerous calls and well wishes.

The couple was thankful for the expertise of the local emergency personnel and their quick response. "All the rescue people were great, if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't be here," noted Bryan. He said people just don't realize what these volunteers do on a daily basis. "They don't get paid, don't expect a thank you, they just serve." He wanted to make sure they get a big THANK YOU from him.

The accident has left Bryan with permanent disabilities, but he says he at least can walk - even if it's slow going - something doctor's weren't sure he'd be able to do. He does have some short term memory loss, but can recall everything from his childhood through the present. "Just don't ask me what happened a little while ago," he laughed. He still sees doctors and more surgery looms in the future.

"The people at the rehab hospital were so positive, I'm just now really realizing how bad I was hurt," Bryan said.

At this season of miracles, Bryan is thankful to be home with family and friends. He's glad to have the opportunity to share Christmas with his loved ones.

"I'm a miracle," Bryan stated simply. A miracle is the only explanation for the complicated medical challenges Bryan faced. The miracle gave him back his life even if he'll never be the same as before. "I wouldn't trade my life for anything," he concluded.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Bryan Trowbridge and son, John, enjoy a moment together in front of the fireplace. They are thankful to be together. John says he really missed his dad when he was in the hospital and Bryan says his children and family were his incentive to get out of the hospital and come home.