Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

http://dirtracingreport.com/kevin-swindell-released-from-hospital/

thanks for the update.  Continued thoughts and prayers throughout the recovery

I know I might take some shots for saying this? but not sure why they wont release a little more info on his condition? Just for the simple reason of all the rumors that are floating around. JMO

I don't think you deserve any shots.  We are all praying that Kevin recovers completely and has no permanent loss of mobility.  However, on the practical side, as a concerned fan willing to open my pocket book, I want to know if I am donating to a man with a permanent life altering injury/disabilty or helping out with living expenses and physical therapy until he can get back to work, racing or otherwise.  The amount I donate will vary greatly depending on which scenario he is fighting.  I appreciate their wish for privacy, I would also want that, but accepting large donations for his recovery carries a certain amount of openness and visiblity into his recovery needs.  A quick word stating his prognosis would go a long way.  I am donating for his recovery and hope it is as close to 100% as possible.

Where did they ask for your donations

They did not setup the fund

They owe you nothing

The best route is probably to give what you feel comfortable giving. Regardless of what Kevin's specific condition is, I can only imagine that the hospital bill for his time there will be astronomical. I now for me personally, I'd love to be more generous than I can actually afford, but every little bit helps. Your intentions are good, so I'm sure they'd appreciate whatever you could give no matter how large or small the amount may be. 

"They'll learn." 

+1

Sincere thanks for stating that much better and with more compassion than I was able to.   

+1

I have had the same thoughts.   

Actually they have been asking for them on Facebook.... In various forms. 

now, I agree that if one decides to donate to this, or any other cause, it should be what the individual feels led to give. I'm sure the road to recovery will be a long one that will accrue a serious financial burden regardless of insurance status or prognosis. 

305's are the herpes of sprint cars

SpeedSport News website has the latest on Kevins condition.

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

They took over $6000 in donations tonight at Sedalia for Kevin and the man who was hurt at Dodge City last night.

Dale

Just my thoughts because I've had the same desire to hear something more indepth as everyone else but I would say that they are not saying because of so many unknowns still. From what Cubic posted and previous posts by the family obiviously 2 vertebrae were severely broken and I have seen them say there is spinal cord damage. I think the main thing is, what should they say? with spinal cord injuries even if someone is paralyzed there is a long period of recovery before they would get to the point of saying you are paralyzed, probably 6 months to a year, when the spinal cord is injured many things take place in the body in healing the area and sometimes it goes well and feeling and mobility is regained and sometimes it is damaged to the point it doesn't, but its not an overnight or 1 or 2 week process. I beleive that is the main reason no real statement has been given, likely because they don't know either so they can't come out and give a definative "he's not paralyzed" or "he is paralyzed". This is the point where the Hope and Prayer thing comes in, right now the main part of this is up to God. 

As much as we'd all like daily updates on the situation I'd say Kevin and Sammy and Amy's time is better spent focusing on recovery and doing everything they can for the best possible outcome. I'm in no way ripping anyone for wanting to know as I would often like to know more too but this is, I think the justification on why we have gotten and not gotten what we have so far.

Best Wishes to Kevin, the whole Racing Community is thinking about you and hoping for the Best right now!

http://gph.is/XMLGff

I think there has been a misconception about donations. I don't see where the family prompted donations to occur, the donations started almost immediately. I believe where the family came in was to organize where the donations should be sent and held for Kevin's and the family's needs. In the case of my son's illness, we did not ask the community for donations, but as they happened to come in, and fund raisers were created, we did need to set up an account to recieve them, and to manage them. I think that's exactly what the Swindell family has done. They've only asked that if you do make a donation, pleas send it to ........I don't recall any member of the family asking anyone to donate. As far as information about Kevin's condition, it is their complete choice as to how much information is to be made public, and they should not need to apologize for any lack of information. I quite frankly doubt that they have a whole lot of information at this point. So rather than speculate, they will release information as they have it. And that they have stated.

No personal knowledge of Kevin's condition.  What I can say is that spinal cords are one of those things where it takes a while to sort out the extend of the damage.  As an example (which may have nothing to do with Kevin's condition), Mitch Culp crashed hard at Ascot before it closed.  Immediately after the accident he was a quadrapalegic for a while.  He then regained use of his upper body but remained a parapalegic.  After several years of therapy and hard work he walks again with a cane.  So Kevin's current condition may have nothing to do with his condition this week, next week or next month.

Look, Kevin is an extremely talented driver but has had what can be charitably called PR issues in the past.  Having said that, let's say he announces that he was confined to a bed or wheelchair and donations piled in.  Then 6 months from now he's standing in the pit area at Tulsa.  Everyone who donated money is going to call him a fraud and maybe put him back in the hospital.  That's the nature of spinal cord injuries.  It may look bad now but fine later.  In between now and later will be a lot of pain and hard work on his part as well as hard work on the part of medical staff plus wheelbarrels of money.  Pain management will be difficult.  Nerves (like a spinal cord) once damaged take a long time to heal.  Damaged nerves regrow at something like 1/8" a year.  And that entire time they hurt like hell.  24 hours a day.  Addiction to pain meds may be a problem.  So if they aren't being as forthcoming as we'd like, it's possible that they are saving themselves from fan grief later.  I'm fairly certain they have no idea what the future holds but saying less now and more later once the future does get clear is probably the safest path.

  No matter what you think of the Swindells. A little compassion can humble a man real fast!