Stories From The OI Community: Rick's Story

Posted on October 01, 2006 at 03:59 AM

Rick has type 3 OI and loves to watch live auto racing. He was kind enough to share a bit of his life with us:


I turn 50 years old in two months. I have yet to meet anyone with OI "3" at this age. Never did I imagine to be here still. I owe most of why I am here to my mom and my intense desire to be around Auto Racing. I watch and attend racing events almost every week. I have been to 56 racetracks across the US and Canada.

Without my desire to get to the racetrack... to see cars..to meet people, I am not sure I would have fought so hard to regain my health after so many operations and fractures.

All my life I have been going to racetracks. Ninety-nine and nine/tenths of the time I am by myself. I used to invite people, mostly woman to come with me.. but now I only do once that in a while.

Formula One cars have been a goal of mine since I was sixteen years old. My Mom had been getting noticeably more and more nervous every-time I went away far to an event. When my sister became sick in 2002 I put-off going to the race. Them my Mom became sick a bit later and I forgot all about this goal.

In 2005 both my Mother and Sister passed away. My sister, who also had OI died from we believe a blood clot from a broken bone. My Mom developed Alzheimers late in 2002, and passed 7 months after my sister Karen.

No longer worried how my Mom would feel about my trip I began making plans for Canada. During the trip to Montreal, Canada I was a bit nervous. Over 600 miles of driving and across the border. I was headed for the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villaneauve.



This picture is of me in one of the Wheelchair areas of the track. Formula One racing is special when you see how badly disabled or handicapped a lot of the spectators were in that section. I go to a ton of Nextel Cup races and hardly ever see a spectator that can't wheel themselves. I sat next to three people who had oxygen and a man who had Cerebral Palsy and was Blind.

I was one of the luckiest people in the bleachers that day!

I had a super time and felt for the whole time so free from discomfort. It is these "Days" that keep my life so special.

Thank you Rick for sharing your story with us.

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Comments

Rick you hang in there. I have OI type IV and will be 50 Nov the 12 and I have a brother who will be 51 in nov. and he has OI type III. As long as we take care of our self and with God by our side anything is possible. Keep your chin up high and never let any one get you down. You have just as much of a chance to live 20 to 30 more years as any body. Good Luck to you my friend.

Posted by: Patricia Minor | October 1, 2006 07:39 AM

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