Always Wear A Helmet
Marsha L. Taylor, 37, of Coon Rapids is an avid bicyclist. She is recovering from injuries she received when she was hit by a car while riding her bicycle.
She was initially diagnosed with a mild concussion, a broken neck, six broken ribs, a broken arm, and a broken pelvis. Because of Taylor’s broken neck, also called a “hangman’s fracture,” doctors believe it a miracle that she wasn’t paralyzed.
At the rehabilitation facility, doctors discovered further complications. Her intestines were perforated and her liver and gall bladder were injured, causing jaundice. “When my mother saw me, she said I looked like a Halloween pumpkin,” said Taylor.
Taylor started bicycling after graduating college. She said that cycling was a way of filling time and keeping fit. She got involved in cycling groups and some races, including the annual Governor’s Bicycle Tour across the state this year. She also rode in a tour across the U.S. in the fall, tallying more than 3,500 miles this year.
Despite the accident, Taylor’s attitude about cycling has not changed; she still likes to ride. If necessary precautions are taken, such as wearing protective clothing and a helmet, bicycling is safe. “I never ride unless I have my helmet. It probably saved my life this time,” stated Taylor.
Nicole, I did the same exercise as you did, and I like your story much better! It's concise and well written. I included almost every piece of info provided in the interview and I feel it might have been too much. Your story shared the most important facts and was much shorter, which is what the piece deserved.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was nicely done. I didn't want to take this one on because I thought I would be tempted to list the injuries, but I think you did a good job of making it sound less like a list.
ReplyDeleteI like that you stuck with the focus in your lead throughout the article. It makes it very to-the point. Nice quote at the end, also.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quotes you used. They added stronger details to the whole story and it the right spots. Nice job.
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