I just wanted to let you know that my son (Zach Hursh - #31) seems to be doing ok after his nasty wreck during the 125 Jr. Moto at OCA on Sunday. He is still pretty sore, we took him to our family doctor yesterday and he doesn't think anything is broken but will take him back for an x-ray later this week if he doesn't start feeling better in a few days. He also hasn't had any problems with memory, or anything like that so we're extra relieved.
I also wanted to thank you for being so attentive to Zach on the track, your care and concern for the racers is evident. I've seen this demonstrated on many occasions prior to this weekend, but this time -- it became personal. I can't tell you the number of people that came up to us throughout the day to check on Zach, and how each of them made mention of how quickly you got to him and how touched they were when they saw you kneel down in the water beside him and stay with him until they were able to move him. My husband, who is a police officer/EMT (and is my rock when bad things happen) was working this weekend, so I was there on my own trying to do the racer mom thing. We were all a bit nervous that weekend, as we had two kids racing on new bikes, and this was Zach's first race since he broke his collar bone last fall. I've never seen Zach wreck like that, he has always managed to jump up and get out of the way so he didn't get ran over or landed on and seeing him lying in that puddle, motionless was a frightening thing to see--especially knowing his medical history. I will be forever grateful for the quick action taken by everyone who ran to help him, including the medics that attended to him. Although he was injured, he was happy to know that he was able to get such an awesome start on his new bike... haha
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about Zach. He was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age 4. His lungs and digestive systems are affected, which requires him to do breathing treatments several times a day, as well as takes enzymes every time he eats to help with digest his food properly. He also had to have a feeding tube for a few years to help him grow, but that has been removed. He used to spend two weeks of each year in the hospital, but thanks to medication available to him, he hasn't had to do that for a few years now. The median age for someone with CF is 30, Zach is 19 and hasn't let being sick hold him back from doing what he loves. When he was 11, he contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and expressed his desire to ride and race MX. They had not given anyone a motorcycle or ATV before and they weren't sure they could pull it off. After much debating and a promise to his doctors that he would be equipped with all of the necessary safety gear, they granted his wish. On the day of his wish party, two local Pro racers, Robby and Scott Taft presented Zach with his bike. It was an incredible, magical thing to experience. That was the beginning of a special friendship between our families. A few months later we saw little Landen Powell at a race in Ogden, and Zach thought he was the coolest. Eventually Zach started racing more and more and we have met the most wonderful and amazing people, that we probably never would have crossed paths with had it not been for MX. Zach's racing buddies have become his best friends and it's nice to see how much they care about each other. Although there are times when they have to complete against each other, they are the first to congratulate the other on a win, or comfort them when they get hurt. They're like family to us and it's been wonderful to watch them all grow up together. I just wanted to share Zach's story with you. MX is a tough sport, the physical demands are incredible and I am inspired and amazed that he can do it at all, and he's actually pretty good at it. Our friends know that he is sick, but I think if anyone else knew what he battles with every day they too would truly be amazed.
Thanks again for all you do. We can only imagine the work it takes to make these races happen for kids like Zach and his buddies... who live and breathe to race MX. It means more than you'll ever know. We'll be sure to come say hello the next time he races, so you can meet him while he's awake this time... =)