The Crash and Churn of Lawrence O’Donnell
In an exclusive interview, the MSNBC anchor Lawrence ODonnell reveals how he survived a head-on car crash, and why afterwards he cut himself off from the negative litany of the news cycle.
What a stupid way to die, Lawrence ODonnell thought to himself.
A split-second earlier, the host of MSNBCs 10 p.m. program, The Last Word, had been gazing down at a map on his iPhone, following the progress of his taxi, a Chevy van, as he and his older brother Michael rode to dinner on the resort island of Tortola. It was around 7:45 p.m., Saturday, April 12, the start of what promised to be a lovely vacation in the British Virgin Islands with his big brother, a Boston lawyer.
The vacation didnt happen. Instead, ODonnell, 62, underwent a life-altering crucible that hes still trying to make sense of, while figuring out how to explain it to viewers when he returns to his show on Monday night after two-and-a-half months off the air.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/20/the-crash-and-churn-of-lawrence-o-donnell.html
frazzled
(18,402 posts)That was certainly a scary moment.
But I can say that the physical aspects are probably not that bad. My father broke his hip (a bicycle accident) at age 89, and had it put together with a steel rod and pins. Within five months or so he was back on a bicycle, now at the gym instead of the road and putting in 100 miles a week.
A few months ago, at age 97, he broke his femur in four places (slipped on some ice coming out of the gym!). The surgeon said it was a worse mess than anything he'd seen in an accident. Another steel rod and metal pins and screws. Well, it's a pretty tough recovery for a 97-year-old, but he's out and about with a walker, and can even walk without it when the physical therapist comes to the house and "spots" him. Amazing how bodies can heal.
I wish Lawrence the best, and hope this life-changing event really does make him look toward the "good" news sometimes.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)I do not think you quite appreciate your father's remarkable recuperative/regenerative power. His is not typical. Most people do not live to 97 let alone recover from such a traumatic event. I can tell you this from my own personal experience.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)...both your well wishes and the recognition of how remarkable his determination and strength are. He's worked hard at staying strong in his old age, and we are very proud of him. (It takes a bit of stubbornness too, I must say, besides the reserves of strength he's built up.) I wouldn't be doing half as well as him in recovering.
smallcat88
(426 posts)to seeing him back on the air. He's been missed!
Alex P Notkeaton
(309 posts)(The link isn't working for me.)
elleng
(131,370 posts)but nothing negative either. Fair to assume he's recovering decently.
liberal from boston
(856 posts)Thank you eleng for posting this. Compelling interview. Amazing how quickly MSNBC management was able to fly both brothers back to the states & line up a hospital & orthopedic trauma surgeon for Lawrence!!! The good news is that Lawrence is healing & will be back on the air Monday..
elleng
(131,370 posts)what they were able to do for them.