Adams on mend

It’s been more than one month since San Diego resident John Adams, also well known in his “second home” of Mammoth Lakes, was badly injured in an Aug. 9 multi-vehicle accident just south of Bishop that claimed the lives of three people.

Since then, Adams has been in serious condition at Renown Hospital in Reno, kept in an induced state of unconsciousness. Multiple injuries to his face and body thankfully were not accompanied by any apparent spinal cord or brain stem damage. We picked up the following update from his family as of press time Thursday:

“John’s temperature is lingering around 100 degrees, without the cooling blanket. The doctors removed him from the two antibiotics he was receiving and put him on a new antibiotic. We are still waiting on a few [culture tests] to come back to see if any changes in drug administration are necessary. For now, the doctors are considering the fact that John is experiencing what is called a “drug fever,” which is basically the body’s way of rejecting drugs. Imagine that … John doesn’t want antibiotics in his system. Anyone who knows John knows this sounds about right!

Meanwhile, CAT scan results showed that John’s last remaining chest tube was not performing up to par, which Doctors ultimately replaced. This should aid in preventing the potential advancement of his pneumonia.

The CAT scan also didn’t show anything alarming concerning his brain.

John is initiating a few breaths, but so far no major changes there. Doctors were able to turn his oxygen [support] down from 50% to 40%. Baby steps!

The nurse said his grafted areas are healing nicely.

They still have him on medication to prevent blood clots and he is still being given pain medication for which they increase the dosage prior to bandage changes.

He still continues to play peek-a-boo with his left eye and is responding by withdrawing when they inflict pain. He still appears to be on his own journey, in his mind, and so we all just continue to be patient and wait.”

Reas in accident

Local Mammoth couple Patti and Ralph Rea suffered major injuries in a car accident near Little Lake on U.S. 395 late in the afternoon Sunday, Sept. 12. California Highway Patrol said that Mrs. Rea fell asleep while headed northbound at an unknown rate of speed, left the roadway on the west dirt shoulder, woke up and over-corrected. The car overturned several times across all lanes of traffic.

Mrs. Rea’s husband, Ralph, was in the passenger seat. He was taken to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital by ambulance. Mrs. Rea was airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital. Both sustained serious injuries. No further information was available at press time.

Cyclist injured in fall

And cyclist Robert Brooks, 68, of Auberry Calif., who had recently competed in the Fall Century Ride, fell victim to a freak accident on Highway 203, also on Sunday. Brooks was riding on the right shoulder heading eastbound at about 30 miles per hour when his front tire struck a piece of wood. Brooks tried to regain control as the bike wobbled for about 100 feet, but was thrown over the handlebars and landed in the eastbound number 2 lane. He suffered broken bones, internal injuries and abrasions, and was rushed to Mammoth Hospital, where he reportedly underwent successful emergency surgery earlier this week.