Bobby. Latest news!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS AND SUPPORT - PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING. Bobby's sister Laura & I spoke on Monday evening after Billy and I returned from Ohio spending the weekend with Bobby. We agreed the information of Bobby's condition should come directly from his family. Laura, Bobby's sister and her husband Chuck received a phone call of the tragedy that struck Bobby on Tuesday October 10th. They prepared for there journey driving from Colorado Springs, CO to Columbus, Ohio. After spending several days, they then drove to Sugar Land, Texas (Houston) to tell our son, Billy (8) and myself of this horrible accident arriving the evening of Wednesday, October 18th. I then made arrangements for our son and I to fly out Friday, October 20th arriving the Trauma unit at Grant not knowing what to expect. I walked in and said "Bobby (41), what in the world have we done" his eyes opened and he looked right at me. Yes, the x-wife. (racing divorced us and racing put us back together) I told him Billy was with me and then Billy said "Dad you one that race on Saturday night now we have to win this race pal, you know I'm your my best buddy" and he looked right at him, squeezed our hands and had small tear drops on each eye. Saturday,October 21st we transferred Bobby to Select Specialty Hospital-Columbus a/k/a Victorian Village (above) to the stable ICU unit. He was transferred with 28% oxygen, pretty much breathing on his own with a trach and feeding tube. In spending extensive time with Bobby, he followed all of my commands and they are as follows: blinked twice, opened mouth, squeezed hands, picked right arm up and crossed his chest, lifted left leg up and down, lifted three fingers individually on left hand, picked left hand up to rub left side of his face, watched Billy hang up Superman on the wall at the foot of his bed, turned his head from side to side for Lita (my friend to help with Billy), picked his nose with his left finger and gave me a few dirty looks, but THANKFUL, go figure. It was AMAZING! Sunday night, when we went for our last visit he stayed awake looking at each one of us following all three of our commands for a total of 50 min. He only closed his eyes once and it was for about 1-2 sec. I received a call yesterday from his therapist who met on Monday to evaluate Bobby and begin therapy on Tuesday. They had him to the edge of the bed on Tuesday. He will be receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy 1 x per day M-F. I plan to go out within the next week or so for at least a week or two pending arrangements for our son Billy, to work with Bobby and quicken his recovery. I believe Laura & her family will be traveling the following 2-3 weeks thereafter so he has family with him for stimulation and quicker recovery. There also will be a Texas account set up for Billy and I as well as a Colorado Springs account for Laura & her family. As of Monday evening, I believe Laura will be contacing Kym Yaeger (I can't personally THANK YOU enough) requesting both paid and pending funds be transferred to the Colorado Springs account for direct family access. They will be used for Billy and myself as well as Laura and her family to travel to and from Ohio and prepare to flight Bobby back to Colorado Springs ($20,000.00 insurance will not pay for liability purposes because Trauma team is required to be onboard) when he becomes stable enough. (approximately less than 3 mos is what they told me) With God, Prayers and Miracles on our side I believe Bobby will walk out of Columbus, Ohio rehab facility if I have anything to do with it because I know him well and working in a health club for the most part of his life, no drinking and no drugs he has his health on his side with GOD above. The Richards and Hopper family DEEPLY AND SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS. WE CAN ALL DO THIS TOGETHER. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS - Rhonda & Billy Richards, Laura & Chuck Hopper and Family

Wednesday update!!

We spoke with Bobby's charge nurse today and his report was as follows: Bobby is opening his eyes when spoken to and squeezing there hands. He is NOT in any trouble with infection. He is waking up more and more. PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS - The Richards & Hopper Family

Monday 23rd Update

The C.S.R.A banquet was a great success on Saturday and during the evening a double toonie toss took place and $300.00 from 2 jugs of Rye and Vodka, that I donated,was raised for the Richards fund and has been sent directly to the bank. Good job everyone and best wishes to Bobby and the Richards family.
Copied and pasted from flattrack.com forum, Here is your update on Bobby. He has been moved to a rehab center in Columbus, Ohio the family has visited him and returned back to CO Spings, CO. Bobby's condition is improving, He is now only on a feeding tube. He is breathing on his own. However we are not sure how long the rehab will be or how far he will progress in the rehad. Everyone is taking it day by day. His rehab will still be a long process. I will try to update you weekly or when there are updates in his condition. The family is still very comforted by all the thoughts and prayers, please continue them. THe family is planning a trip to Ohio again in a couple of weeks. Please remember that the Robert Richards Fund is available for assisting the family with the financial needs at this time. Thank youKym YeagerIf you can donate here is the info,Robert Richards Fund has been set up. If you wish to wire contributions to the account email me (KYEAGER)for the wire account numbers. orIf you wish to stop at a National City Bank in Ohio or the surrounding states and make a deposit the name on the account is Robert S. Richards and use (Stoutsville) zip code 43154 to help the teller find the proper account.orYou can mail checks payable to Robert Richards Fund c/o National City Bank 136 E. Main Street, Circleville OH 43113__._,_.___

Richards' family news.....

Many thanks to all of the people out there who already know about Bobby and have been praying for him!!

Billy Wade Richards (Bobby's son) and his wife Rhonda have been able to travel back and forth from Texas to Ohio, and both Rhonda and Billy spent this past weekend in Ohio visiting with Bobby, working with him, urging hand and/or leg and/or facial movement, etc. she had numerous conversations with his doctors, nurses, aids, physical therapists, etc.

We are proud to tell you all that through a miracle, he has done pretty remarkable while they have been there. he has had his eyes open a lot, blinks, moves his legs, arms, hands (all on command), which he had not been able to do. while at the hospital Rhonda would call various family members and friends so that she could hold the phone for Bobby to hear the voices. He did react (sometimes with tears) to the various voices. Rhonda, of course, has been in constant contact with Bobby's sister Laura in Colorado. Bobby was moved out of ICU @ Grant Memorial just this past Saturday to a rehabilitation facility called Select Victorian Village in Columbus, Ohio (apparently not far from the medical center where Grant was located).

We are praying our hearts out in hopes that Bobby will be Bobby again real soon!

Richards' family update.....

Many thanks to all of the people out there who already know about Bobby and have been praying for him!!

Billy Wade Richards (Bobby's son) and his wife Rhonda have been able to travel back and forth from Texas to Ohio, and both Rhonda and Billy spent this past weekend in Ohio visiting with Bobby, working with him, urging hand and/or leg and/or facial movement, etc. she had numerous conversations with his doctors, nurses, aids, physical therapists, etc.

We are proud to tell you all that through a miracle, he has done pretty remarkable while they have been there. he has had his eyes open a lot, blinks, moves his legs, arms, hands (all on command), which he had not been able to do. while at the hospital Rhonda would call various family members and friends so that she could hold the phone for Bobby to hear the voices. He did react (sometimes with tears) to the various voices. Rhonda, of course, has been in constant contact with Bobby's sister Laura in Colorado. Bobby was moved out of ICU @ Grant Memorial just this past Saturday to a rehabilitation facility called Select Victorian Village in Columbus, Ohio (apparently not far from the medical center where Grant was located).

We are praying our hearts out in hopes that Bobby will be Bobby again real soon!

Tragic news from Ohio!!!

Two riders where hurt today(9th Oct) on the Long Track at Circleville, OH. One is Bouncin Bobby Richards from Colorado and the other is a young lady from Ohio, Katie Keene. Katie just started riding a Speedway bike this summer. Bob is in ICU at Grant Hospital in Columbus, OH.Katie received a broken hand.Bob really could use some prayers right now. He received a very bad head injury.
This was posted to follow on....

He really needs our prayers,
It is with the families consent that I post this message. The neuro-surgeon was in to evaluate Bobby today and told the family that with the injuries to Bobby's brain he will most likely not wake up. It will take a miracle. The staff at Grant are doing everything to make Bobby comfortable. The family will be making the 1200 mile journey at the end of the week. Keep them in your thoughts. We are in the process of opening an account at National City Bank in Circleville Ohio, the account should be final tommorrow. This fund will be used to help the family with travel needs, medical bills, and if we can manage a trust for Billy, Bobby's 8 year old son (this will be handled by Bobby's sister Laura). If you would like to contribute make checks payable and mail to Robert Richards Fund, c/o Kym Yeager 9936 US 22 East, Stoutsville, Ohio 43154. I assure you that the account will be handled in a professional manner. On behalf of the family I would like to thank you in advance for your kindness and prayers. Bobby is a racer to the heart and lives his life for the thrill of racing!!!!!
Thank you. Kym Yeager

Bob was a recent visitor to both Welland and Paris. After being in receipt of the kindness of others I now ask all who know him to step up and do the right thing!! Andy

Big point return for Kyle!!

SHEFFIELD Pirtek Tigers are just two matches away from winning the Premier League title after a stunning 60-35 demolition of the Isle of Wight at Owerton. Going into the meeting they were just seven-points down from the frst leg on he isand 48-hours earlier and they made no mistake on home shale. The 103-85 aggregate win means they have a level chance of lifting the league title when they face either King's Lynn or Rye House in a two weeks. Skipper Andre Compton was in his usual stunning form and he received good support from most of his side - including young Tai Woffinden who came in at reserve and put himself in the shop wndow again with a fine display. Chris Holder, who is destined for a career in the Elite League, was an impressive winner of the opening race for the visitors as he equalled Simon Stead's track record of 59.5 seconds. But the Pirtek-sponsored Sheffield side were in control throughout the night and were worthy winners. Pirtek Tigers co-promoter Neil Machin said: "I'm very proud of the lads, they all did a great job and I'm delighted to get through to the final."The home leg of the final will be on October 26. Next Thursday Tigers face Hull in the re-arranged Yorkshire Cup clash. TIGERS: Andre Compton 13+1, Kyle Legault 11+1, Tai Woffinden 9+2, Ricky Ashworth 9+1, Ben Wilson 8+2, Emilanio Sanchez 7+1, Paul Cooper 3+1. ISLE OF WIGHT: Chris Holder 13, Jason Bunyan 10+1, Krzystof Stojanowski 4, Jason Doyle 3, Andrew Bargh 2+1, Nick Simmons 2, Ray Morton 1.

Narrow loss for tigers!!

SHEFFIELD Pirtek Tigers have kept their Premier League title hopes alive after a narrow 50-43 defeat at the Isle of Wight. The Owlerton side will start Thursday's home leg as clear favourites to make progress to the play-off final after keeping the enthusiastic Islanders at bay on their own circuit. Skipper Andre Compton returned from a shoulder innury and Emiliano Sanchez declared himself fit after recovering from a virus to boost the travelling squad. Tigers co-owner Neil Machin said: "It's really nicely poised for the return leg but I would say we hold a slight advantage after that result. "All the boys worked hard and I cannot fault any of them. We're looking good, but there is still a job to do when we face them at Owlerton and we need all our fans to get right behind us." ISLE OF WIGHT: Jason Doyle 14, Chris Holder 10+1, Ray Morton 9, Nick Simmons 7+2, Krzysztof Stojanowski 5+2, Jason Bunyan 5+1, Chris Johnson 0. TIGERS: Ben Wilson 10+2, Kyle Legault 9, Andre Compton 9, Emiliano Sanchez 8+2, Ricky Ashworth 3, Paul Cooper 3, Mark Thompson 1+1.

TIGERS THIRD IN FOUR TEAM EVENT!!

HOSTS Workington won the Premier Fours at Derwent Park on Saturday - with the Pirtek Tigers finishing on the rostrum in third place. Sheffield stormed through their group, dropping just four points in the eight races - and three of them came when skipper Andre Compton had mechanical failure in his first outing!Ricky Ashworth and Kyle Legault won both of their rides with Ben Wilson adding five points as Tigers went through along with King's Lynn - Rye House and Newcastle going home at that stage.But in the Final it was group B qualifiers Workington and Somerset who raced clear in the early stages, and it always looked like being a battle between them for the top prize.Tigers scored just four points from the first six races but then mounted a strong fightback to ease clear of King's Lynn and be just two points adrift of Somerset, for whom Magnus Zetterstrom rode through the whole meeting unbeaten.However, Workington clinched the Fours title in Heat 11 as after Rusty Harrison had tangled with Ashworth and been ruled out of the re-run, Alan Mogridge came in for his last-ever ride in speedway - and won it. Final Result: Workington 23, Somerset 21, Sheffield 16 (A.Compton 5, B.Wilson 4, K.Legault 4, R.Ashworth 3), King's Lynn 12.

John "cowboy" Cook update!!

Not good news really.

After John's accident he had back surgery the next day and he spent a week recouperating at the hospital in Vancover, WA. When he was released he was told to see a back specialist on his return to California. The following day he tried to see a specialist at Davis, but was told to get a referal from his doctor first. He got that and went back to Davis the next day. They gave him the first available appointment 7 weeks later! (Do I recall some Brits - including myself, complaining about the National Health Service?! I take it all back.)
Well 7 weeks was up today and he met with the specialist who told him that the rods that were put in his back in Vancover, to fuse the vertibrae either side of the shattered vertibra have since become disconnected from the vertibra above the shattered vertibra. In total 7 vertibrae were damaged in the accident. He also incurred a broken shoulder blade that was not noticed at the time. He is going back Thursday for further tests and its possible that he will have to be operated on again next week.
Anyone who wishes to send him a card can send it to:
John Cook
8139 Blackwood Lane
Roseville, CA 95747

Get well Cooky!

- Gary Roberts - groberts@iee.org