Last year OU’s Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Gary Bateman, was involved in a rollover vehicle accident when his Pontiac Vibe collided with a bull on their way home from Lawrence.
Another vehicle had already collided with the bull and was on the wrong side of the road.
“I saw lights on the side of the road near the shoulder and went towards the center to avoid them,” Bateman said.
Bateman’s wife, Darlene said as the car was flipping, Bateman’s arm ended up outside of the once closed window where it was dragged along the pavement.
“Once we stopped I asked Gary if he was okay and he said he thought he had a broken arm,” she said.
It was not until after Bateman was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center that she found out he had suffered a limb threatening injury. Bateman had torn five ligaments in his arm, as well as breaking his humerus and another bone in his forearm.
“They wanted to keep him on strong antibiotics for three days to prevent infection,” Darleen Bateman said. “Then they would start to repair this arm. If his arm had gotten infected he would have lost it.”
Gary Bateman said it was an extremely stressful time in their family, but the love and support they received from Ottawa University was overwhelming. Within the first ten of Gary’s hospitalization he underwent four surgeries.
“I can’t thank the folks enough for all the prayers and good thoughts that everyone shared with me and my family during that time,” he said.
An accident this serious had the potential to be life threatening for both Gary and Darlene. Fortunately they remembered to buckle up and stay safe.
“We both believe that our seat belts saved our lives and kept us from serious injury,” Darlene said. “I did not have a scratch on me, just a couple of black and blue spots from the seat belt.”
Bateman has made great progress in his physical therapy since the accident. He can now move his wrist after learning to use the top tendons in his arm and he is slowly beginning to have feeling in his fingers.
“It may take up to two years to find out exactly how much dexterity I’m going to have,” Bateman said “But the doctors are very satisfied with my progress and believe it is going well.”
Now Bateman is back at Ottawa University full time after taking some time off and excited to continue helping students fund their college education.
“Gary had an impact on my ability to attend college by finding scholarships that applied to me,” Sophomore, Charlie McMichaels said.