MY TURN: 'Friends' rally around injured cyclist

Dear unknown “friends” in Coeur d'Alene,

I want to thank you for coming alongside us late on the evening of July 4. While returning with friends, and our almost 15-year-old granddaughter, from some of the best, certainly the closest fireworks we’d ever seen, my husband had an accident on the bike trail along the river near the University of Idaho. 

Riding in front of Paul on the crowded path all I heard was a crash and stopped immediately to see who we could help, and it was him! 

Instantly, other riders stopped to help. Cyclists formed a protective barrier to keep others from plowing into us. (Thank you, fellow riders!) Paul was momentarily unconscious, but as I removed his helmet a women knelt beside us and asked a few questions, which he answered correctly, assuring me that in time he would be OK. She pulled a Band-Aid from her pocket and instructed me to wad up a tissue in an attempt to stop the profuse bleeding from the right side of his face. I said, “You seem to know what to do.” She responded with something like, “I’m a pediatrician but I can handle this too.” That gave me a smile in my spirit as well as a great deal of comfort in the moment. (Thank you, doctor!)

But now what?

Thanks to my girlfriend nearby, a man had been asked to call 911 (thank you, sir!) and EMTs from the university arrived in minutes followed soon after by an ambulance. Their calm efficiency and gentle treatment of Paul, along with instructions for me and our granddaughter to ride our bikes home and drive to the ER where I would find Paul (and his bike!), gave me great confidence that all would eventually be well. (Thank you EMTs!)

And then at the ER we had a great team of four guys — three nurses and a doctor all ready to handle the traumas of a night like the Fourth. You made a potentially scary situation quite calm and manageable with your skill and explanations. CT, X-ray, tetanus shot and diagnosed concussion, amnesia, stitches at and above eyebrow, major facial lacerations with swelling and sore jaw but miraculously no broken bones! (Thank you, gentlemen!) 

Paul and I moved here in June of last year, after 17 years living and working in central and southern Europe. We have been quite amazed by the openness and kindnesses of the people here. Thank you all and God bless you for standing by us.

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Sue Johnson is a resident of Coeur d'Alene.