Brave Vets Now employee prepares to get back on the bike for charity race following horrific accident
Catalina Thiersen, a veterinary surgeon with Vets Now is preparing to get back on her bike this July for a grueling ‘come back' charity bike race after recovering from a horrific road accident which almost resulted in a limb amputation.
On 1 August 2007, a car driving at 60 mph hit the back of Catalina's bike as she was completing a Time Trial course in Derbyshire. Catalina was pulled backwards and her body flung a distance of 100 metres on to the tarmac. The car's headlight broke and cut into the lower part of her right leg, severing several nerves arteries and veins and also cut through her calf muscle. She suffered serious spinal injuries and damage to her skull and Catalina's face was degloved on the left side, with significant bone structure damage.
Catalina was taken Accident and Emergency at the local hospital where consultants told her they would be unable to save her leg and would have to amputate it. However; some specialists at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield felt that they could help her and fortunately, Catalina's leg was saved. Admittedly, her progress has been slow; however, Catalina feels she is now ready to get back on her bike and take on her next challenge - a 370 mile bike ride from London to Paris.
A while before her accident, Catalina had worked as a locum and had filled in a last minute shift for the Vets Now clinic in Sheffield. On the day of the accident, Catalina was working for a different veterinary practice and the team of paramedics had been unable to locate anyone from her practice to notify them of her accident; however, they eventually placed a call to Vets Now who then notified the Catalina's veterinary practice of the accident.
Following her accident and when Catalina had started to recover well enough to return to work, Vets Now offered her a permanent position as a vet in its Birmingham clinic. To mark Catalina's brave return to cycling after her long and courageous road to recovery, Vets Now is delighted to donate £250 in sponsorship to her fundraising appeal to raise money for Christian Aid.
Commenting on Catalina's forthcoming race, Richard Dixon, Managing Director of Vets Now said; "We are extremely proud to support Catalina in her courageous mission to complete such a demanding race following this life shattering accident. The desire to return to cycling is testament to her sheer determination and bravery and we are fortunate to have such an inspiring and courageous individual as part of our team. We wish her well when she undertakes this challenge in July and we look forward to celebrating when she crosses the finishing line."
Speaking about her recovery and her future challenge, Catalina said "Vets Now offered me a position without discriminating against me because of my accident, and I've been part of the team ever since. I want to thank them for being there for me and for their generous donation - I wouldn't have survived without them. I'm lucky that I've received so much support and am now looking towards a bright future and getting back on my bike again! The race is definitely one of the most daunting challenges I have ever faced but I'm looking forward immensely to being back on the road and raising money for my chosen charity."
Catalina will leave London on 23 July, cycling over 370 miles and arriving in Paris on 27 July.
To sponsor Catalina's cycle, please visit www.justgiving.com/catalinathiersen