14/09/2016
Hello everyone....I want to thank you all for the outpouring support of Sam during this trying time. As you know, he was amidst a routine ride out at Chula Vista BMX on Saturday September 10 when he looped out in the rhythm and was airlifted to a hospital to care for the neck injury he sustained. As athletes, accidents like this are a risk we take every time we get out there, and there's no way to predict or prevent when they occur. They are just that, accidents. Although I was in Minnesota at the time of the incident for my charity MS Race For A Cure, Sam luckily had the helping hands of good friends and Chula Vista BMX track operators Tyler and Kasandra Brown by his side immediately to tend to him and keep myself and his family updated until we could arrive. Fortunately, I was able to get right on a flight and be there that same night when he was waking up from his successful surgery, and his family arrived late the next evening. With his team of loved ones at his side, Sam is currently out of the ICU in a stable condition and handling this like the champion he is. We cannot thank you all enough for the posts and messages, he is fully coherent and asks to see them often. They are truly a source of comfort and inspiration to Sam and all of us💞.... He actually joked that he didn't think he had so many friends! 😊
For now, Sam needs lots of rest, recovery and feelings of support, so please keep sending all of those positive healing thoughts his way, and we will update again when we know more. 🙏
I also want to say a big THANK YOU to all of those who still participated in my charity event either online or in St. Cloud, and to the volunteers who took the reigns of the event in my absence, and rallied together for (what I believe was) our most successful fundraising effort yet. It is gestures like this that confirm to me that we have the best support network possible and will get through this together. 💪