Ezra Caudell (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) has been released from inpatient rehabilitation, six weeks after a crash at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic that left him with severe lung damage, a brain injury and fractures in his neck.
The rider from the US left the facility on Saturday, October 10 and now finally moves to outpatient rehab in the state of Georgia while waiting to be cleared to fly, which he expects in early December.
He shared the update in an Instagram post on October 12. Its photos and videos show him practising walking with nurses supporting him, lying in his hospital bed, and racing before the crash.
"I usually make a post for every race, finally got around to making this one 😂," he wrote, before thanking "my parents, friends, team, and everyone who's been supporting me and my family so much while I'm dealing with this."
Caudell crashed during the race on August 30.
"I don't remember anything about the actual crash personally, because I hit my head real good and don't have much memory of that day entirely. The first memory I have is from a couple weeks after the crash," he wrote.
"The best account of what happened is from the other rider. We were bridging to the break away, and I either hit a man hole cover or a curb looking back to see the peloton and I lost control hitting a light pole with the left side of my body."
From ECMO to walking
The worst of the impact was taken by his left lung. A breathing tube was inserted while he was in the ambulance and he had to keep it in until September 9. He also required chest tubes on both sides but he still wasn’t getting enough oxygen to his blood.
"The Doctors decided to put me on ECMO which is basically a machine that takes the blood from your femoral artery, oxygenates it and it goes back in. Like a lung outside of you," he wrote. He was put on ECMO at Einstein, then transferred to Thomas Jefferson University for more specialised treatment.
He listed his other injuries: "a Grade 3 DAI brain injury, Paraesthesia of my left arm, orbital facial fracture, fractured rib, multiple fractures in my neck, spinal cord injury and some random stuff." DAI stands for diffuse axonal injury.
On September 10, his team said he was still in intensive care on ECMO and in critical condition. Doctors had taken him off deep sedation and the ventilator the previous day.
Caudell said he left Thomas Jefferson University Hospital exactly a month after the crash. He was already walking its halls before he went. His next stop was inpatient rehabilitation at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.
In an October 6 medical update, the team expected his lung contusions and fractures to continue improving without additional treatment. It also reported daily improvement in his communication, independence, cognition and strength.
"While a long road still lies ahead, Ezra has already made tremendous strides – both literally and figuratively – toward recovery," the team said.
Caudell said the rehabilitation centre had helped him with day-to-day functions and with getting his left arm moving again. His outpatient treatment will take place in his hometown of Atlanta.
"Thanks again for everyone's messages, support, visits, and prayers it means a lot!" he wrote.
