Steve Hall update

I just got back from Chattanooga where I went to visit Steve Hall after his motorcycle accident. As Steve drifted in and out you could tell he was still very alert and he was in a large amount of pain.

Even with the pain his mood was still very happy and upbeat. He was glad to see us and wanted me to make sure and tell people how thankful he is for all the prayers, the calls and for the visitors. Always with his eye on the prize he wanted to also make sure I kept on campaigning hard and not let up because of him. What a trooper.

We kidded Steve that he didn't have to go to such great lengths to make sure handicapped people would be still able to park their cars in their front yards (A hot issue that Steve supported on city council). He was able to grin at the little joke.

The worst part was, since the accident he has had the hiccups. As you can imagine with 8 broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade, 2 crushed vertebra, 2 other breaks on his spine and all his other bumps and bruises, this was never a pleasant experience. They have him in a brace and are hopeful this will be able to do the trick as surgery would extend the recovery process. Steve is also diabetic so if he were to go the surgery route the recovery time would be even longer. There is also talk of putting cement in his back or possibly an epoxy of some sorts if the healing of the crushed vertebrae does not go as hoped.

It is almost spooky how less then a week ago I was on Steve's TV show and we were talking about people who ride "The dragon" (a famously curvy road for bikers). When Steve's bike slid out he was on another famously curvy road in Oak Ridge called "the devils elbow" Steve was not hot dogging it but the rear of his bike just slid on some road gravel. He hit his breaks but he got out of the gravel and when the rear end of his bike hit pavement it whipped him up in the air 10-15 feet and head first into an embankment. His injuries appear to be similar to a stubbed toe except it was his head that hit first and stubbed the rest of his body.