Chris Place Update

PlaceRace1 · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Leslie, MI

Hello All~

This is Lynn Place. I just left Chris at the hospital. Talk about a tough thing to do. As Damon said he was injured in a snowmobile accident.

He was up North sledding with some friends. The trail they were on was going into town and had a long sweeping left hand turn. The sled got out of shape, jumped an embankment and took off sliding sideways toward the guardrail at approximately 45 mph. He took the entire impact on his right hip, then flipped over the guardrail and was thrown about 8 feet. He does remember the entire accident.

He has two fractures of the pelvis, one quite severe. The one we are most concerned about is the fracture of the "wing" of the pelvis. A large piece was broken off and is "floating" in the hip area. He has a bruise the size of Spartan Speedway. They had to transport him back to the Lansing area due to the extent of his injury and the surgical repair required.

He will undergo surgery tomorrow (SuperBowl Sunday) to repair the fracture with a titanium plate and screws. The second fracture will, in time, heal on it's own and does not require any surgical interventions.

This happened in the Seeney area in the UP at about 2:45 on Friday afternoon. The Munising State Police Post was the one called to the scene. It took some doing to get him up the embankment. He was transported to a hospital in Newberry where they stabilized him and then sent him by ambulance to Lansing. He left Newberry at 9:00 pm and arrived in Lansing at 2:30 am.

He was seem by one of the best trauma teams in the state and his orthopedic surgeon specializes in reconstruction of the pelvis, so he is in good hands.

When I left him tonight, he was in alot of pain, but it is being somewhat controlled by medications. He was actually able to get some rest earlier today.

I am not sure when I will get the chance to get back online with another update. If you would like any information regarding his condition, please feel free to call my cell phone. 517-812-1204. Since he is in an orthopedic wing of the hospital, I am allowed to keep my cell phone on. If you happen to get my voice mail, leave me your name and number and as soon as I can, I will get back with you.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, it means alot to us.
_________________
Racing is Everything... Anything else is just a distraction!

Place Racing SLM #1

Russ Potter · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 97 Location: Mason, Michigan

Chris and the whole family are in our thoughts and prayers. Anyone interested, go to www.sparrow.org and you can send Chris a card. Just click on the "ecard" icon in the middle of the page and follow the instructions. You do not have to know his room number. Chris, we are hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.

Potter Racing Team, LLC

queenbee · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 171

Chris:

I hope you recover quickly Chris. Stay off of those darn snowmobles and stick to racing - I think it's safer Laughing

I pray for a speedy recover for you.

Lynn, keep us in touch as much as possible.

Take care,

Doug and Carol

Bill Lackey · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 184

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Chris.....he and Lynn are in our prayers.....

fiestyredhead269 · Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 23 Location: holt, michigan

chris and family,
i am glad to hear things are not as bad as i thought. our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. please keep us updated and i hope he dosent do this again. if we can visit him please let us know and we will do what we can. let us know if you need anything and we will help with no problems.
amanda and donna

PlaceRace1 · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Leslie, MI

Good Morning!

Thanks for all your kind words. They just took Chris in to prep him for surgery. He was in good spirits and joking with the staff caring for him.

When I know more, I will give you an update.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.

~Lynn
_________________
Racing is Everything... Anything else is just a distraction!

Place Racing SLM #1

Mopar93 · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject:

Chris, I hope they take good care of you there today.

Sorry I wasn't there to lay down some of that "black stuff" to make the turn stick better.

-Maurice

Mrs. T2 · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 179 Location: Lansing, MI

We wish you a full and speedy recovery Chris! Doc says if there is anything he can do for you just give him a call. Keep up the good spirits. We'll talk to you all soon Smile

PS...Now I know I'm not letting Doc talk me into a snowmobile!
_________________
Don't Sing It, Just Bring It!

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schinde · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 416

Chris and Jynn,

You are both in our thoughts, Chris so he can mend well and quickly, Lynn, for the moments of anguish you surely felt before you got to see him and know inside that he was indeed "all right"

Hope all goes well and he fully recovers swiftly.

until we see you again,

have a good day,

schinde
_________________
Short track racing is more fun than a human being ought to be allowed to have!

torg38 · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 94

We're pullin for you chris, Good luck in surgery and a fast recovery. Stick to vehicles with cages. Mg
_________________
Effort equals results...Penske
Their is only air in my tires, Like your head...Evernham

Bardenracing42 · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 336 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI

Chris,
best of wishes in a speedy recovery. If you need any help getting ready for the upcoming season while you are healing, let me Know. I am in Leslie almost everyday and I don't live too far from you as it is.

Big Ed · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 199

Lynn,

Please let Chris know the Inloes Family are thinking and praying for him. We hope he can fully recover from this accident. A little different then crashin the racecar, or rolling over a school bus.

But then again, that's why we call him CRAZY Chris Place!!!

We're thinkin of ya's!!!! If there is anything wecan do to help Lynn, you know how to get in touch with us!!!

Big Ed & Linda Inloes

MissyB77 · Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

The place family,

You are in our thoughts and prayers. Chris we hope your surgery went well it sounds like you are in good hands. If there is anything we can do just let us know.
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~Missy B.~

GO97-38-47 · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 29

HOPE U HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND HOPE IT DONT INNERFER WITH YOUR RACING

YOU ARE IN THE NEWMAN'S THOUGHTS

PlaceRace1 · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Leslie, MI

Good Morning All~

Thanks so much for all your kind words.

It has been a long past couple of days. Chris shattered the large bone on the right side of his pelvis. The "wing" was broken off. Lower the bone was in two pieces and where the bone thins out, that was in four pieces and had to be pieced together like a puzzle. They had to use several plates and screws to repair the damage to the bones.

He also tore the muscles and tissue completely away from the bone on the right side.

As of today, he is sitting up in a chair and taking a few steps with a walker. It will be a long road to recovery but at least we are starting that journey.
He is still being seen daily by the Trauma Team. Hopefully soon he will be able to be transferred to the rehab wing so we can work on getting him ready to come home.

He will be out of commission for quite awhile as he is not allowed to bear any weight on the right side for six to eight weeks.

As of today he is still not up to visitors, but he knows that you all are keeping him in your thoughts.

Sorry it took me so long to get an update posted. Again, if you would like any more information on how things are progressing PLEASE feel free to give me a call. 517-812-1204.

It is great to know that our Spartan Speedway family is keeping us in their thoughts and prayers. Thanks again for that.

~Lynn
_________________
Racing is Everything... Anything else is just a distraction!

Place Racing SLM #1