### Cyclist’s Harrowing Journey: From Accident to Recovery
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A cyclist from Draper, Utah, Bryson Perry, recently endured a life-threatening ordeal following a freak accident at a BMX track in Puerto Rico. On March 2, while riding on the track, Perry suffered severe injuries that would lead to an extensive and complicated recovery process.
Bryson described the incident as an accident he could replicate thousands of times without facing a similar outcome. “I looked down at my leg, and it was like an ‘S’,” he recounted, recognising that he had sustained a broken femur, along with multiple other injuries, including fractures in his neck, back, wrist, and sternum, seven broken ribs, and a punctured lung.
Despite these injuries, Perry faced an additional challenge: limited access to proper medical treatment in Puerto Rico. After being transferred from a smaller hospital to a larger facility in San Juan, he quickly realised that the hospitals were overwhelmed with patients who had more urgent medical needs. His wife, Summer Perry, recalled the alarming situation, stating, “There were so many patients there who even needed care ahead of him who were not getting the care.”
Concern for her husband’s wellbeing heightened as Bryson noted that he felt the doctors lacked the expertise found in hospitals back in the United States. This fear for their safety prompted the Perry family to navigate the complexities of arranging medical evacuation home to Utah.
After spending five days in two different hospitals without receiving adequate treatment, the couple finally managed to organise a flight with Life Flight, a critical medical transport service. “Seeing the Life Flight team show up at that hospital was like the greatest miracle and blessing of all time,” expressed Summer. The arrival of the team brought a sense of hope, as Bryson reflected, “It was like instantly like, ‘Oh my gosh, you guys, you saved my life.’”
Upon arrival back in Utah, Bryson was admitted to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, where he underwent multiple surgeries to address his injuries. He has been informed that his recovery may take several months, involving extensive hospitalisation and rehabilitation.
The accident has placed a significant financial strain on the Perry family. The cyclist’s medical bills are projected to reach hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the situation is complicated by the fact that the hospitals in Puerto Rico do not accept American insurance. Summer explained, “We do have a secondary insurance that we haven’t really navigated, but regardless, the costs are going to be — we don’t even know.”
Adding to their worries, Bryson is unable to work in his primary job as a residential real estate agent until he has healed. To combat the financial pressures associated with Bryson’s recovery, the family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds to cover his emergency medical transport, hospital expenses, as well as physical therapy and rehabilitation.
The GoFundMe page reflects the urgency of their situation, stating, “Bryson is an amazing father, husband, sibling, coach and friend who has always been there for others. Now his family needs our help.” They emphasised that “every gift — no matter the size — makes a meaningful difference.”
Despite the mounting stress of the situation, Bryson and Summer expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from 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 shared.
As Bryson begins the long road to recovery, his family’s journey serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of community support during life’s unexpected challenges.