Randy Savely displays his new Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic and his new leg
When everything finally came to a stop, Randy Savely sat up, thinking, "Well, I'm alive."
A couple moments later he noticed his boot laying in the middle of the intersection.
"That boot don't come off," he thought. Then he turned to the driver who had hit him and asked for his belt to use as a tourniquet on his leg.
At that early morning hour on March 8, 2007, life changed forever for Randy and Joan Savely. Randy lost his left foot and lower leg, and he and Joan gained an understanding of what is truly important in life: friends and family and people who care about you.
The accident and the hospital
Randy needed to be at work early that March day, so, with only one car, he decided to let Joan sleep and take the Harley. They worked close to each other so normally they went together.
Riding east approaching an intersection, Randy saw the car coming the other way, looked to the left at the car stopped there, and looked back to see the oncoming car was turning into his path.
Awakened by the phone, Joan hurried to the hospital. Randy and Joan are ABATE members, and word flew out through the ABATE grapevine so that by 7 a.m. Joan was joined by 15 friends who sat with her the entire time until Randy came out of surgery at 3 p.m.
Before going into surgery, Randy informed the surgeon that "I will walk and I will ride again."
The doctor replied, "You do understand that we're going in the operating room and I'm going to amputate your leg?"
Randy replied, "Doc, you do what you've gotta do, I'm going to ride again."
Under other circumstances, they learned later, the surgeon probably would have removed the leg to above the knee. Considering Randy's determination, the doc worked extra hard to save the knee, and he was successful.
"The doc was awesome," says Randy. With the knee still attached, he is able to bend his leg, which makes a world of difference sitting on a motorcycle.
Joan was with him through it all. "She put up with more than I did," Randy says, and when Joan came in his room one time looking obviously exhausted he told her to climb in bed next to him and sleep.
"I hadn't slept in three days," Joan says. Randy kept the nurses away and Joan slept there the entire afternoon.
During his hospital stay, Randy has a constant stream of visitors. Most were friends and acquaintances, but one day he noticed someone he did not recognize in the hall in leathers, just standing there.
"Do I know you?" Randy asked.
"No," the stranger replied, "I just heard a brother had gone down and I wanted to see how you are."
The two talked awhile and Randy has never seen him since.
"It choked me up, holy for crying out loud. You feel so insignificant, but then you feel so important to some people."
"It's changed what's important in our lives," says Joan. "There are so many things that are just not important any more."
Randy had four surgeries in the week following the accident, and whereas most patients would have stayed in the hospital for three weeks, he recovered so well and so quickly that he was released after one week. Far from being the end, however, this was just the beginning.
Part 2: The road to recovery
Part 3: Back in the saddle, and the Randy Run
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Comments
Very touching. Sometimes it does take a tragic event to see what is truly important.
I feel sick and intrigued all at the same time reading this article. I look forward to the rest of the story (parts 2 & 3) anticipating a happy ending on two wheels which makes it interesting. Randy and Joan best wishes, I commend you for your determination and inner strength to get up and ride again, no easy task under the circumstances. I know the biker community has its divisions sport bike, touring, cruiser, metric and what have you but we are all brothers/sisters with a simple passion for the road and the ride whether its on two or three wheels. I salute the rider who took the time to give a kind word during a time of need. Ken don't keep us waiting to long on the follow up...ride safe all.
I can't wait to read parts 2&3, touching indeed! You really have got to love the sport to want to even get back up on the horse. I had a dear friend who crashed on his cycle and sustained some very serious head injuries (yes, he was wearing a helmet) and he got back on a cycle just as soon as he got the green light from his physicians. Talk about a trooper! Love your column Ken!
AmericanBiker said it just right. Reading that is appalling and amazing, all at the same time. Looking forward to the rest of it.
What an article! I can't wait for the next two parts. Randy and Joan are two terrific people, I know because I've known them for years. (Randy and I were childhood friends.) They are doing wonderful work with the Randy Run. I went out for the first one and I told him I'd be out again but haven't managed to get out there. Thinking of all you guys! Ride safe!!!
I am so glad you recovered so well! I love and miss you Uncle Randy!
"when Joan came in his room one time looking obviously exhausted he told her to climb in bed next to him and sleep.
"I hadn't slept in three days," Joan says. Randy kept the nurses away and Joan slept there the entire afternoon."
After being married 29 years to a self centered, cruel ‘Preacher’ for 29 years and now being married to a hairy biker like this one in your article, I understand that tender, kind, compassionate side of this culture. The consideration Randy showed to his weary wife is typical of this society.
I’m glad I found my kindhearted, hairy biker and got rid of the heartless man that was full of ‘religion’ but not an ounce of ‘Godliness’.
Sharon from Dallas (I still can't get this 'Log-in' thing to work so I still have to comment under Anonymous)
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