Tanner Heemsbergen **THRacings youngest son**

[chasesmom]

This is taken from Ktmtalk.com, under the mini section, complete with photos and video. His injuries have been upgraded since the original post. Please continue to keep this little guy in your prayers. The reason I post this over here, is because not alot of you guys get on KTMTALK and well, the prayers need to continue to flow. There is a paypal account set up under todd@thracing.com if you care to help the family out while they are out of town dealing with this tragedy.


Many of you know Todd Heemsburgen of TH Racing!

Most of you also may know his oldest son Tyler who has been riding and racing dirtbikes for since he was 4.

The youngest son, Tanner (turns 9 today) was injured at a track in the Austin, Tx. area on Wednesday.

Seems that the family decided to do an MX vacation and were at their first stop of a multi day trip at Dell Valle MX.

Tanner feel on the back side of a double or triple but nothing unusual. Big bike came over the jump and creamed him.


Here is the list of what Todd H. told me:

Broken jaw
broken arm, torn tricep muscles
ribs
severe facial injuries and something with one of his eyes
possible spinal injuries
some other stuff I can't remember.

He is in bad shape but was responsive to Dad in the ICU before they put him in an induced coma. He is scheduled for sugery this afternoon and I cannot remember which injury the procedure is for. There will be many surgeries needed in the future.

Todd is doing okay but of course is very sleep deprived. Fortunately there was an ER nurse present when it happened because he said it took almost an hour for an ambulance to arrive.

BTW, the person that hit Tanner never stopped and has not been heard from. They do not know who it was.

This hits me pretty hard. Todd, Tyler and Tanner have been guests at my hunting lease in the past and I have watched that little boy grow up over the years. He is the same age as my youngest son, Chris, and I went through a similar situation with him this past February when he was shot in a hunting accident.

Hard to see the keyboard!

I'll update as I learn more and hopefully Todd H. will be able to log in and clear up any misinformation I have provided.

Here is an update from his dad.

Here's my little boy from 2 days ago. While practicing at Austin Del-Valle he had a minor fall on the back side of a jump. While in the process of getting up he was landed on by a full sized bike and rider. I am not upset that the rider hit him accidents do happen and he could have in now way known my son was back there when he launched off the face of the jump.

The bad thing is that I was shooting video and have the whole tragic mess on video. I’m not sure if I'll post it or not and I think this are too many people that would like to do harm to this person. Not for hitting Tanner, but the fact that the guy never came back to check on him. I always say Karma is a ......

So mister mystery rider in case you are wondering about that little boy you hit. His name is Tanner Heemsbergen for Colleyville, TX. Here are a couple of photos. He is presently in surgery AGAIN at Dell Children’s hospital in Austin, TX as I write this. Today is his 9th birthday, but he'll never remember it as he has been knocked-out for the last 3 days.

As I can see on the video it was the right front fork leg that landed on his head and broke his helmet and right side of his face/jaw. It appears from the video that the impact is what threw his left arm up in the air and that annoying tug you must have felt on the foot peg was it going through the bone and flesh on his left arm. They tell us that after a few more surgeries he may have use of his hand.

The helmet saved his life, but today they are trying to reattach his jaw to his skull, now that they have picked all the shattered teeth from his mouth and stitched-up all the damage to the inside of his mouth they can work on repairing the jaw.

As you enjoy food, he'll have his jaw wired shut for the next 8-12 weeks.

That will be about the time the injuries to his arm and face are healed enough to start skin grafts and plastic surgery.

We are still waiting on CT scan and MRI results from the spine and neck. We can only hope at this point that he will have normal function when he heals.

It's too bad he was unable to meet the person who has changed his life.

I do want to that all the friends, family, customers, and well wishers. We appreciate your support. A special thanks to Tom Hudson. Tom and I used to race together many years ago and we had not seen each other in years. It just so happed he said our first hello in about 10 years shortly before the accident. Tom went out of his way helping up with everything until we could get Tanner in an ambulance. Tom also happens to be Andrew Short's father-in-law and stopped by the hospital today and gave Tanner a set of Andrews gear and an autographed posted he said Andrew wanted him to have. I'm sure Tanner will love them when he finally gets to see them.


Tanner1.jpg

[ktm300hater]

Todd, I am very sorry for Tanner. Good luck to you and your family in this hard time. Prayers sent

[[Pc]Parts]

Terrible news, stay strong lil buddy, were praying for you guys..

[MICKEYMEANIE]

That is awful, so sorry to hear this. I cannot believe the person that hit him did not stop or check on him! Amazing... You, your son, and your family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated on his progress.

I saw a nearly similar incident yesterday at a local track... kid on an little bike was down on the down side of a table, his buddy was helping him up... right in the middle of the landing. Folks were waving from the corner before the jump for us to slow down and not jump. I hit the brakes but the Honda 450 behind me slowed a little and then pinned it, jumping the table and landing right between the kid and his buddy that was helping him. I could not believe what I was seeing... everyone was fortunate in this instance but it could have and nearly was VERY bad. I thought well, I guess he just didn't see the people on the side signalling to stop and not jump... but talking to one of the guys, he said he looked straight at him and then took off.

[MXjunk127]

Sorry to hear about this Todd, someone mentioned an injury to me Saturday night, Sorry to hear it was yall.

Post up an image of the rider, hell post the video. He needs to be found and slapped up the side of the head.

Very sorry to hear it was one of yours, please keep us updated, and let us know if the txmoto family can help you!

Keep your heads up.

- Keith

[Brandt]

So sorry to hear about Tanner, prayers sent. Stay strong little man, you too Todd!!!
Karma is a _____, and it'll catch up to the guy. Always does.

[vet45]

Todd,
just stumbled across this post.......we are heartbroken.....

[Unadilla79]

Not sure how to respond to this but certainly wanted to let Tanner, Todd, and the family know that Tanner's successful healing are in my prayers and I'm sure in the prayers of countless others. Injuries always bother me, but knowing that someone just rode off is very disturbing. This individual needs to quickly find his way over to Tanner, try to explain his disappearing act, but more importantly apologize and then figure out a way to provide any type of support and compassion. This is not how the motocross family operates.

Poor little guy! Heal quickly and perfectly!

[ascend75]

Sorry to hear, we definitely send our best wishes and prayers to you guys. Track etiquette (or rather lack of it) is one of the major downfalls of MX. I was just out at Nocona on Saturday and watched no less than 4 riders pass up a kid who was down and obviously having trouble getting up in the corner after the rollers until I finally stopped at helped him up and helped him get his bike off the track. He was just a little kid too and I really found it hard to believe that the rest of those douche bags were just roosting the kid out when he obviously needed a hand

[WestTexas]

Todd, Ed Willoughby here ... so sorry to hear this. We will keep Tanner (and your family) in our prayers. Sincerly, Ed.

[J Sexton]

Hate to hear this. Prayers sent for the little guy and family.

jeff

[mbelcourt]

Sorry to hear. Are prayers go out to Tanner.God bless. I am from west tx and like I have read their are a lot of similar situations while practicing on tracks with big and small bikes riding together. Their are a lot of blind spots whe you are going fast or just going over a jump whats on the other side? How can you really ride hard like you need to if you are a intermediate rider or a pro and even a novice rider not to mention beginners alot goes through ones mind turning fast approaching a jump ,but what are you really thinking when you are passing all these smaller riders and you forget where they might be on the track ? I myself have been in the same situations when I ride I dont go very fast or jump that much at all . But it frightens me when I pass the little ones.what can we do to assure the safety of our up and coming little moto stars or anyone else for that matter on the down side of a jump. I have only been in this sport for a little over 3 yrs and my son is 13 now looking at moving into novice and he has had his share of spills nothing like tanners bless him heart. I believe in splittng up ridders in practice 50 with 50 ,65 w65 and 85w/85 and so on. Practicing with everyone out their at the same time is not well. To me wait for the 50 rider a little while so what if their is only 1 out their, or look it over and put them with the 65 riders? Get well tanner be strong we will be praying for you.

[tmiller3]

Prayers sent to you and your Family

[MxRacer]

Thanks for the well wishes. Tanner is doing a lot better, but still not out of the wood so to speak. He came very close to losing his left arm. We have had 5 surgeries since Wednesday and have 3 more tomorrow. The arm is still the main concern. Tomorrow will be the 3rd attempt for the plastic surgeon trying to close the wound. The bone is being held in place with external pins. Tomorrow they will attempt to do a skin graft and close the wound, fix the broken jaw, and wire his mouth shut. The plastic surgeon has already stiched-up the inside of his mouth, his chin, and his neck. The video I have was reduced to a low res in the hotel. After Tanner is stable I'll edit it at home and I'm sure I can get the guys number at that point. Right now my focus is on getting Tanner well and back to the DFW area.

www.thracing.com/Tanner-Crash.dv

Tanneronthetrack.JPGTanner1st-Surgery.JPGTannerAfter1stSurgery.JPG

Tanner is in room 323 at the Dell Children's Hospital in Austin, TX.

[Zero]

Wow. Sorry to hear about this. Hang in there little guy! Prayers sent!