This past Saturday, November 4th, Mr. Cardozo, Jeff DeLong ’08, and I flew to Pittsburgh to visit Spencer Rice ‘08. As the community is aware, Spencer was in a car crash on his way to campus this year, resulting in a broken pelvis, internal injuries, and confinement to a wheelchair. Almost nine weeks after his accident, Spencer has made dramatic progress both physically and emotionally. It was a stealth visit. Spencer’s mom had tricked Spencer into getting ready early in the morning by telling him that he would be going on a day trip to see his aunt in Ohio. When we arrived at Spencer’s house, Mr. Cardozo burst in and exclaimed “Spencer, you forgot to sign in!” Spencer’s face was a combination of sheer shock and confusion. Jeff and I then tackled Spencer with big hugs, and his confusion and shock escalated to complete befuddlement as he asked, “Wait, so we’re not going to Ohio?!” Once the shock wore off, Spencer began to tell us all about his recovery and then excitedly asked, “So, you guys want to see my sweet battle scars?” Although he has large scars on his arms and legs, he is still confined to a wheel chair and has some nerve damage in his feet; his little toe “dangles down kind of goofy,” but he has made great progress. Every day he works to increase his lower mobility by watching “Sit and Be Fit.” When Jeff and I asked Spencer his secret to success, his face immediately lit up with his mischievous grin. He wheeled over to his hospital bed and used his gopher (a handy tool used to reach objects when you can’t move easily) to grab his latest pieces of art. He proudly showed Jeff and me his latch-hooking pattern of a dog, his cross-stitching of a dancing “rapper ducky,” and his most frustrating project: a leopard paint-by-numbers. When activity is limited, these handcrafts provide therapeutic amusement and have been key to his recovery process. They give Spencer a sense of accomplishment and help him pass the endless hours spent in bed. Although days confined to his bed or wheelchair pass slowly, this Saturday was an exception. The day flew by with lots of laughs as Spencer showed off his wheelchair tricks and Jeff and I told him all of the Andover gossip. Spencer hopes to start visiting Andover in Winter Term when he has learned how to walk again, and plans on returning as an Upper in the class of 2009. His other big plans include “getting fat off of Arby’s junk food” and turning his latch hook creations into accessory pillows. In the meantime, he remains strong, working hard to get back the use of his legs and “falling asleep to Jay Leno every night like old people do.” All joking aside, Spencer and his family have asked me to share his thanks with the Andover community for their support throughout his accident. The cards and presents sent by students and faculty let him know that he is in our thoughts and prayers and that we eagerly await his return. The “SPENCER RICE” bracelets were a wonderful success, and all of you wearing the blue bands helped to buy Spencer a video ipod. Spencer was thrilled to receive this gift and says that is has been a great help distracting him from his condition and helping to pass the long hours cooped up in bed. Spencer also said, “Even the simple Facebook messages from kids were a great help, and I’ll never be able to thank you all enough.” The trip, graciously sponsored by PA, was good medicine for Spencer and for the community of friends and faculty who are cheered to see his progress and know that he is returning to his old energetic self. Despite the terrible accident, Spencer is still the same old crazy kid who loves a good time and a great cross-stitch, and he says that he can’t wait to get back to “bumming around campus again and demolishing the Taylor boys with his refined video-gaming skills.”
