Accident helped cyclist organize priorities in his life

He remembers the day it happened. It was the day after the 2007 season opener for the St. Louis Cardinals. The team had won the World Series the previous October, and he was excited to be at the game. But on April 2, 2007, then-21-year-old Kellan True of Cape Girardeau would lose many memories in an accident that broke 26 bones and damaged 11 vertebrae.

A lifelong cycling enthusiast and newfound competitive racer, True was finishing a practice ride the day before a race. He was heading home along the south side of Broadway when he crossed Clark Avenue. A turning car hit True on his left side, throwing him from his bicycle. He was severely injured, with bruising and bleeding to his brain, a punctured lung, broken bones and damaged vertebrae. Two of the vertebrae in his neck were so damaged that doctors said the injuries should have left him paralyzed. He had a punctured lung from broken ribs on the left side of his body, a broken eye socket, collarbone and sternum. His left ear had to be reattached. He had three skull fractures, and a cut on his neck missed his carotid artery by a couple of millimeters.

Worse still, True couldn't tell anyone who he was. The severity of his injuries had caused memory loss. Employees at Saint Francis Medical Center recognized him and alerted his parents, whom they knew because True's father had worked at Cape Radiology.

Over the next week, True improved in intensive care.

"The doctors came up with the conclusion that I was at least fit enough from my biking that my body just kept holding on and didn't really want to die," he said.

He still couldn't remember how he had ended up in the hospital.

"I kept asking the nurses and my family over and over where I was and why," he said.

True spent weeks in the hospital. As soon as he returned home, he began trying to walk. At first, he could walk for a period of five minutes or so. He gradually worked his way up to 15 minutes. All he wanted to do was get back on his bicycle. He was told racing would likely be out of the question.

True built his strength through physical therapy and using the pool at HealthPoint Fitness. He began by walking in the water, then running. Soon he was mimicking pedaling a bicycle and began lifting weights to help his back and neck injuries.

As his physical condition improved, True also worked to overcome mental conditions that resulted from his brain injuries. He lost many memories from his life before the accident. He still suffers from mild speech problems, although he said he knows he has come a long way. Soon after his release from the hospital, he had trouble with math problems and reading. He has now recovered those skills and attends Southeast Missouri State University, where he is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.

Less than a year after his accident, True mounted his bicycle once again for his first race. His father was there, watching.

"I got my butt killed, but I could tell how proud my dad was of me," he said.

True has now recovered physically to the point that he races most weekends, with much success. He often places or wins in competition.

"It was all I cared about," he said. "It was all I wanted to do when I was hurt, so I pushed myself, because I really believed I could race again."

With the aid of friends and fellow cycling enthusiasts, he founded a campus sports organization last year at the university known as the SEMO Cycling Team. He is now the president. He also rejoined the team associated with CycleWerx in Cape Girardeau, where he is employed.

He has discovered a way to use his new desire to give back to people.

True works with John Dodd, the owner of CycleWerx, to mentor teenagers who show an interest in cycling. He will often accompany them on rides and give them tips on how they can improve their cycling performances. The teenagers also have the opportunity to travel with True when he competes in races. True said he likes becoming good friends with the people he helps and is glad to help them gain opportunities for cycling experience.

True thinks the accident and his experience with recovery helped him prioritize things in his life, like his education.

"I had trouble at one time reading a book. Now I want to go to grad school. I really want to make something out of myself."

True said he hopes others who hear of his experience of recovering from brain and other physical injuries will remember to always do things that give them true happiness.

"None of this should have happened how it did. I shouldn't have been able to walk or ride a bike. This helped me in a good way. It changes your outlook on life to know that it could all end very quickly," he said.