Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Steve-ALA on February 01, 2014, 10:25:00 AM

Title: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Steve-ALA on February 01, 2014, 10:25:00 AM
Greetings all........

In June of 2012, I was in a motorcycle wreck in TN.  Was in a 3 week coma, close to death for two days, and in the hospital for 2 months.  My left shoulder is put back together with hardware, ALL left-side ribs were broken, not cracked, left lung was punctured, both hips messed up, and a head injury.  Needless to say, I'm very blessed to be alive.  I haven't ridden again since and never will.  In the 20 years prior, I was very involved in traditional archery.  I've been an officer in my state's tradbow association.  After learning how to walk again, I started becoming more active.  Around December that year, I took out my tradbows but being left handed I couldn't draw any of my bows.  Not caring to gun hunt, I bought and got proficient with a compound.  I hunted the rut in January 2013 for a solid week with that compound in hand.  Never loosed an arrow but I was simply glad to be in the blind.  Well throughout 2013, I continued to practice with my compound and got very good but was never satisfied.  Toward the end of 2013, I was finally able to draw my trad bows but it was a struggle.  In the last 3 weeks this year, I bought two new longbows with lower weight.  The first shot I was able to take in my backyard, I hit the target face....not a great shot but finally felt a sense of satisfaction.  So after several days of getting better shooting, just last week, I took the week off to hunt the rut with my buddy.  I spent every hunt in the blind and ladder stand with my longbow.  Like last year, I never loosed an arrow, but it was the best week I've had hunting in 20 years.  Sorry for being long winded, but wanted to say their's nothing like traditional archery to heal the soul.
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: BDann on February 01, 2014, 10:30:00 AM
Welcome back!
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: huntnmuleys on February 01, 2014, 10:49:00 AM
wow, welcome back.  what a road to take to get here.  hoping the best is yet to come.
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Pat B. on February 01, 2014, 11:43:00 AM
That was a tough situation!!

Glad you're back and able to shoot..


Years ago I was at a shoot and was squaded with a big fellow who was very nice. I noticed that he held his bow a bit strange but never said anything.
   At some point I made a less than desirable shot and made some pissy comment.. He said he was just glad to be out shooting on such a pretty day. He then told me that a couple of years earlier his brother had accidently shot his bicep almost completely off with a 12gauge shotgun from about 10'.. And then proceeded so show me some pictures from the hospital, gruesome!
   And then he told me that was the second time he'd been shot. While in Vietnam he was on a river boat that took on fire and was going down. They were swimming for shore. He remembered reaching shore and climbing over a log. Next thing he remembered he was in a hospital, he'd been hit three times across the chest by automatic fire. He pulled up his shirt and showed me the scars, front and back..
   Like you, he was lucky to be alive and shooting his bow!
    Good luck...
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Bernie B. on February 01, 2014, 11:54:00 AM
Glad to have you back in trad archery!  I can't imagine what you had to go through after your accident.  It's great that you're again enjoying hunting with your longbow.     :thumbsup:

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: 96ssportsp on February 01, 2014, 12:07:00 PM
Life is precious, enjoy! That said, I can't imagine not ever riding again. I have had a few issues that "held me up" and riding was/is the best therapy. Good luck in your rehab. Scott.
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Duker on February 01, 2014, 01:12:00 PM
Welcome back Steve     :thumbsup:   Were blessed to have people like you with such great spirit   :clapper:  May you have a blessed and speedy recovery   :pray:
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Mudd on February 01, 2014, 01:47:00 PM
A motorcycle accident almost ended my ability to shoot my bows.

I give God and a good surgeon the praise. It took 5 and a half hours of surgery to put my right shoulder back together.

This is one of those injuries that I feel every day but I am blessed to still be able to shoot the bows I love.

I am very happy to hear you are also making a comeback to your love of traditional archery.

God bless,Mudd
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: bartcanoe on February 01, 2014, 02:37:00 PM
Great story, and welcome back

After two bouts with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, I know the joy it is "just" to be alive and the contentment found in life's little pleasures like shooting a traditional bow.

Dave
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Larrydawg on February 01, 2014, 02:56:00 PM
welcome Back, ive been into archery 45 of my 51 yrs with a lil doubt when I tore my right rotator cuff and acquired tendonitis in both hands. I about gave up archery but kept my old bows just now getting back into full swing after 5 yrs of not sure what to do.. a loosed arrow soothes the soul!! I went and shot in local 3 D shoot last weekend with my 10 yr old granddaughter and we both had a blast..
LarryDawg
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: cahaba on February 01, 2014, 04:59:00 PM
Welcome back Steve. I'm glad your recovery is coming along.
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: varmint101 on February 01, 2014, 07:25:00 PM
Glad you are making it back!
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Mac Hicks on February 03, 2014, 09:19:00 PM
Welcome back to traditional archery Steve!  Hope that your recovery will continue and that you will have a great 2014 season.  I think you are right ......the best therapy is just being in the woods with your longbow again.    :archer2:
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: South MS Bowhunter on February 03, 2014, 10:46:00 PM
Give God the Glory!  Glad to have you back and at it, soldier on!
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: SheltonCreeker on February 03, 2014, 10:46:00 PM
Thanks for sharing your story. Congrats to making it back to the woods. I hope you get to continue your traditional journey without incident.
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: on February 03, 2014, 10:57:00 PM
Sorry for your suffering thru the accident, but glad to see you percevered and are back!

Bisch
Title: Re: Blessed to be here.........
Post by: Homey88 on February 03, 2014, 11:06:00 PM
Welcome back!