[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 18, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF GEORGE GOODDECURNOU'S COURAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, sometimes there are people that inspire 
others, just by living, George GooddeCurnou is one of those rare 
people. George has been faced with the strongest of adversity and has 
slowly triumphed. His survival after what should have been a fatal 
accident four years ago is due in part to a miracle, but also due to 
George's fighting spirit.
  Four years ago, George an avid cyclist from Golden, Colorado, was 
riding in a race in Santa Fe, New Mexico when a drunk driver crashed 
into him at seventy miles per hour. It was a miracle that George was 
still alive when his wife, Luann, was rushed to his side in the 
emergency room. Luann's training as a physical therapist alerted her to 
the immediate conclusion that there would be severe brain damage, when 
she noticed that George's right hand was clenched in a fist. The 
severity of the damage would be unclear until George woke up from his 
coma. Doctors predicted that George would never walk again, and that 
his mental capacity would be diminished. George rejected this 
prognosis, and has gone through numerous types of therapy to achieve 
his new goal, to ride in a 100-mile bike tour again.
  George has come along way in four years, he now speaks complete 
sentences, although the effort exerted to express his thoughts is 
great, he does not give in. George's refusal to accept his injury, and 
his chance meeting with the therapist Rick Olderman, are the factors 
that brought George to another race in Santa Fe. Rick understood 
George's need to ride a bike once again, and gave him the encouragement 
George needed. Three years after the accident George was on a bike 
again. Although the ride lasted only five minutes, it exhausted George, 
but left him with a feeling of gratitude. Four years later amongst the 
other two thousand cyclists, George GooddeCurnou, mounted his bike. He 
pedaled for 29 miles, leaving him with a mixed feeling of pride and 
sadness.
  George has already set a goal of 50 miles next year for the race in 
Santa Fe, and will continue to push himself to the limits. His fighting 
spirit and courage against adversity is an inspiration to all, and that 
Mr. Speaker, is why I believe Congress should honor George. I wish him 
the best of luck in life, and I will be rooting for him to accomplish 
next year's goal of 50 miles in Santa Fe.

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