Connie Bauer: Dave Bauer’s Road Back

In the years before finding WAS, Dave once had a new physical therapist ask him to list his rehabilitation goals, giving examples like, “get dressed on my own” and “fix my own lunch.” Without any hesitation Dave said he had just two goals: “ride my bike” and “go skiing.”…None of us could have foreseen that WAS would give these experiences back to him. Dave’s self-worth and self-confidence have found a new road back.

For over 30 years, a perfect year for Dave Bauer consisted of skiing all winter and riding his road bike or mountain bike from the spring through the start of the next ski season. After getting in 40 glorious days of skiing in the 2012/2013 winter season, Dave tuned up his road bike for the season and hit the road. Around mid-May 2013, however, he noticed his times were significantly slower than in the weeks before and that he tired more easily. X-rays showing fluid in his lungs confirmed both the doctor’s and Dave’s suspicions of pneumonia. As directed, Dave began antibiotics, rested, and stayed hydrated. That fluid would turn out to be a pulmonary embolism.

On May 27, 2013, at home following doctor’s orders and trying to stay hydrated, he opened the fridge door and reached out for a juice container when he suddenly dropped to the floor like a rock. Dave had just had a stroke. The blood clot in his lungs had shot up to the left side of his brain. Fortunately we were all home at the time (his wife and two adult daughters) and within 30 minutes the ambulance had him at the hospital. Dave was in the ICU for three days, the hospital for three weeks, and rehab for three months. He had to learn most everything all over again: how to swallow, move his mouth to form words, speak, stand up, use a cane. Given the weakness in his right arm and leg, he began learning how to live as a “lefty.”

Dave was diligent about doing the physical therapy exercises prescribed for him and enjoyed the weekly drives his friends coordinated, but he was kind of disappearing – he wasn’t happy or excited about anything. He watched a lot of television and stared out the living room window.

During the summer of 2016 we somehow came across a notice advertising a cycling program with Wasatch Adaptive Sports. The rides in Park City were too far away for us, but we were amazed that the same opportunity would be available in Provo, right where we lived. We showed up on the very first day the program started in Provo and – yippee! Unbelievably, among the WAS people were friends of ours we hadn’t seen in years: fellow ski instructors we knew from the years both Dave and I, his wife, taught skiing at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. We were greeted so warmly and were made to feel so wanted. It was the beginning of life changes for Dave.

Over the 2016 summer of cycling each Friday morning, Dave’s attitude among the group went from reluctance and almost shyness to eagerness and cheerfulness. He was riding again! He had new friends who knew exactly what life after a stroke was like and everyone accepted everyone else in the group. Dave was encouraged and could encourage others. He felt useful and had a purpose.

Then came winter and things got even better! WAS had Dave skiing in a Kart Ski at Sundance and Snowbird! It was at Sundance as Head Coach that Dave established and led a ski team for junior ski racers in the 1980-90s, and it was at Snowbird that he began his professional ski instructing career in the early 1970s and taught as a Level 3 Certified Ski Instructor.

In the years before finding WAS, Dave once had a new physical therapist ask him to list his rehabilitation goals, giving examples like, “get dressed on my own” and “fix my own lunch.” Without any hesitation Dave said he had just two goals: “ride my bike” and “go skiing.” When the therapist pushed him for different goals that he said were “more attainable,” Dave replied that the two goals he already gave were all that mattered. None of us could have foreseen that WAS would give these experiences back to him. Dave’s self-worth and self-confidence have found a new road back.

It is a great experience to be part of the Wasatch Adaptive Sports program, and to work with instructors who are patient, understanding, encouraging, motivating, and fun. Thank you Wasatch Adaptive Sports!