“Everything happens for a reason.” - random conversation with another 4K rider
Seven days before the ride into Estes Park—the hardest ride of the trip—I was hit from the back and almost lost all hopes of seeing the Golden Gate Bridge with the team this year. The slow collision pushed my bike seat into the lower part of my spine leaving me with no feeling in my feet for a short period of time. As I began 'hospital hopping' from Red Cloud Hospital for a CAT scan to Karney hospital for an MRI, stranded on a backboard, I realized how quickly something can be taken away from you. In an instant I literally went from biking across the country to not being able to walk. It was emotionally and mentally frustrating as I took for granted the most important asset of all—my good health. Strapped onto the board for the next nine hours, all I thought about were the things I had planned to do in the future that would require mobility. The NYC marathon I want to run in the near future, the school I want to build in Baghdad, playing sports with campers as a counselor, etc. Fortunately, I began to gain feeling in my toes. A buzz of senses came alive and I knew that everything would be okay. The MRI was negative and I was left with wearing a back brace for the rest of the week.
Seven days later, the ride (climb rather) into Estes Park, became a test of how I was going to see myself for the rest of the trip. “How are you feeling?” Each rider asked me affectionately. I didn't know to be honest, but I thought the famous mountain ahead would generously let me know. I grouped up with Hubert, Dan, and Papa Bear (Jesse). As the climb began I saw Hubert and Jesse ride ahead. Knowing that I needed the motivation of others to push myself over this, especially with the constant back pain, I knew that I would have to push myself and stay with Jesse and Hubert. The climb came out to be that much more special as we screamed and yelled 'MAN UP!!!' to help each other stay pumped. As a group we climbed the twenty miles uphill to reach at about 9,000 feet of elevation.
Everything that goes up must come down and we did with big grins on our faces, but before going downhill we searched for our sweats in Thomas' van as the temperature was less than 50 degrees at the top of the mountain. The rest of the ride was a beautiful downhill with a short stop by a lake reflecting the snows of the mountains in background. Speechless by the view, we envied a bride and groom getting married and began conversing with the wedding crew. After a couple of group photos we flew the next fifteen miles (getting lost twice) and ending up at the YMCA of the Rockies—more of a resort than a YMCA.
The ride rejuvenated my hopes of being able to successfully complete this journey and to finally be able to see The Golden Gates of San Francisco. It reminded me of the beautiful bond of a team, and the compassion that complete strangers a month ago could have once brought together to complete a common goal. The ride and the trip in general has also changed my views on people. When given the right components to live a good life which I have been raised on to believe are a mixture of loyalty, honesty, respect, trust and love will be its constant means.
As I was wheel-chaired back to my hospital bed, two visitors came to take me back to the church in Franklin, Nebraska. Thinking about my family back home and my new 27 brothers and sisters, the presence of people caring about my health made me fall asleep soundly in the car ride back to Franklin.
-Mohammad Modarres
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