Crane on the mend after crash left him brain injured

By Matthew Beaudin Published Sep. 8, 2014 Updated 2 days ago Ian Crane suffered a brain injury and was left with more than 1,000 stitches after a crash last month. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

BOULDER, Colorado (VN) When Ian Crane smashed into the back windshield of a team car in the Colorado crosswinds, a shard of glass nicked his jugular.

He shredded his mouth and face, taking nearly 1,000 tiny stitches inside his mouth and another 50 on his face.

He broke the bone that bridges the skull and spine. He injured his brain so badly that doctors blanked Crane (Jamis-Hagens Berman) into a coma so that he could heal.

But now, two weeks after crashing into the back of a car while struggling to get back to the race at the USA Pro Challenge, Crane, 24, left St. Anthonys Hospital in Lakewood with one thing still perfectly intact. Never mind the fact he cant yet balance just right, or that he has no idea when he can ride a bike outside again. Never mind the fact that the smoke of a deep brain injury obscures medical timetables and hopes.

Yes, of course I still want to be a bike racer. This sport has its ups and downs, obviously, but the ups are so great that it makes the everyday risk worth it, Crane said via an e-mail from his sister (hes not supposed to talk on the phone). I am currently weighing two contract offers from continental teams for next season.

Which is remarkable, given the fact that he could have bled out on the road or never emerged completely from the thick fog of a deep brain injury. All told, his family knows that had not one thing gone exactly right excellent care on the road to slow bleeding, a helicopter ride that had him to the hospital in 30 minutes this could have been a very different story.

Things are awesome now, said Tela Crane, 27, Ians sister. Hes 100 percent normal Ian. He had maybe about a two-week period of time from the last stage of the race until maybe a couple days ago that are pretty fuzzy for him, and thats understandable, obviously. And honestly, were pretty happy he doesnt remember any of that, because it was a rough week for sure.

What Crane would remember if he could wouldnt be much fun. There was the induced coma, the prods in his brain to take pressure measurements, the stitches. He was intubated to help breathing and prevent complications, and it was when he was able to speak that his family could tell that the Ian Crane they knew before was still here.

The extent of the trauma to his brain was really significant. And they werent sure what he was going to be like. So to have him be normal, awesome, funny, Ian is pretty great, Tela said.

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Crane on the mend after crash left him brain injured