NEED TO KNOW
Cyclist Bryson Perry sustained life-threatening injuries in a freak accident on a BMX track in Puerto Rico on March 2
He spent five days in the hospital with no treatment before being brought home to Utah by a LifeFlight jet
“Seeing the Life Flight team show up at that hospital was like the greatest miracle and blessing of all time,” Bryson’s wife, Summer Perry, said
Cyclist Bryson Perry was involved in a mountain bike crash in Puerto Rico that left him with life-threatening injuries — but that was only the beginning of his ordeal.
Speaking with FOX 13, the Draper, Utah, man shared that he was riding on a BMX track on March 2 when the “freak accident” occurred. “I could do the same thing 1,000 times, a million times, and never have the same outcome,” he said of the incident. “I looked down at my leg, and it was like an S. I’m like, well, my leg is broken.”
In addition to a broken femur, Bryson suffered fractures in his neck, back, wrist and sternum, seven broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken wrist.
He told FOX 13 that doctors in Puerto Rico were unable to perform the complicated surgeries he required, even after he was transferred from a regional hospital to the main hospital in San Juan.
His wife, Summer Perry, who was with him at the time, explained that the hospitals were overwhelmed with patients who more urgently needed treatment. “There were so many patients there who even needed care ahead of him who were not getting the care. So whether it’s a spinal cord injury, whether it’s — a boy lost his leg. They just cannot get to the people,” she claimed to FOX 13.
Bryson said he was concerned about the level of care available. “I was fearful for, I think, several things, but I could just tell they didn’t have the experience and the knowledge that the doctors here have,” he recalled.
Bryson Perry (center)
Credit: Gofundme
So, Bryson’s family jumped into action to get him flown home to Utah, but that also proved difficult.
“Just trying to help schedule Life Flight, they had to call the hospital to get things pushed through or whatever. And they were even having a hard time like getting hung up on, getting yelled at, just trying to get care,” Summer said.
After five days in two different Puerto Rico hospitals without treatment, Bryson and Summer finally got on a Life Flight jet. “Seeing the Life Flight team show up at that hospital was like the greatest miracle and blessing of all time. Like, now he’s gonna be okay,” Summer remembered.
Added Bryson: “It was like instantly like, ‘Oh my gosh, you guys, you saved my life.’ “
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Bryson is currently at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, where he completed several surgeries to repair the injuries he sustained in the bike crash. He said his recovery is expected to take months, and he still faces several weeks in the hospital and at a rehab facility.
The Perrys — who lead and coach a bike-racing team together — are worried about Bryson’s medical bills, which they told FOX 13 could total hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“On the Puerto Rico side, they do not accept American insurance. We do have a secondary insurance that we haven’t really navigated, that’s on the bike insurance, but regardless, the costs are gonna be — we don’t even know,” Summer said.
Adding to their worries, Bryson will be unable to work his main job in residential real estate until he has recovered.
The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with the mounting expenses related to Bryson’s care, including his emergency medical transport, hospital bills, physical therapy, rehabilitation and adaptive equipment. Funds raised will also be used to cover the family’s household expenses and Bryson’s lost wages.
“Bryson is an amazing father, husband, sibling, coach and friend who has always been there for others. Now his family needs our help,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Every gift — no matter the size — makes a meaningful difference.”
Summer and Bryson told FOX 13 that while they “feel stressed” about everything they have been through since the accident and all that they are still facing, they are grateful for the support of their friends and family.
“We feel stressed, but we feel loved and supported at the same time. We feel like it will work out,” they said.
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