Story By: BOB MARLOW / SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS – BRICK, NJ – Two months after being critically injured in a crash during the Atlantic City Indoor Race in Boardwalk Hall, racer Mike Tidaback has been returned to his home in Brick, New Jersey, where his convalescence will continue.
Tidaback, who suffered a massive head injury in the crash, first spent a month in the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City before being transferred to the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Toms River, New Jersey, where he was until Tuesday, March 27.
In Atlantic City Tidaback remained in critical condition, with attention focused on stabilizing his vitals. Once he was able to be moved to Toms River the process of returning movement and strength to his body through physical therapy and restoring speech and communication skills through cognitive therapy began, with gratifying results.
Any further time at the HealthSouth was denied by insurance, so Tidaback has returned to his home and family where a nurse and therapist from the Visiting Nurse Association is able to visit just twice a week. Tidaback’s road to recovery remains long and uncertain, and responsibility for the bulk of his care now falls on his wife, Renee. Fortunately, the couple’s young son, Mikey, enjoys participating in the verbal exercises prescribed to restore Tidaback’s speech, but this is just a small part of the process.
Renee Tidaback is a racing photographer who in recent years has been shooting NASCAR and Indycar races and for the Classic Racing Times’ vintage Indycar events. She was originally scheduled to travel to Phoenix for the Vintage Desert Classic and the Verizon Indycar Series race at ISM Raceway this weekend. However, Mike Tidaback’s accident scuttled those plans and Renee Tidaback has placed all such travel on hold until her husband’s condition permits a return to such activities.
The racing community has been supportive, with racers doing such things as installing railings in the Tidaback home that will assist with physical rehabilitation, and Renee Tidaback continues to express thanks for everyone’s concern and support.
“Mike is re-learning speech and re-learning walking, but slowly and it is going to be a long recovery process. But it’s a miracle he’s alive, with help of everyone’s prayers and continuous support,” Renee said.
A GoFundMe account established back in February remains where interested persons can donate toward the massive costs of Tidaback’s recovery process. The donation platform can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/mike-tidaback and donations can be made in the donor’s own name or anonymously.
Cards and messages for Mike Tidaback can be sent to 242 Gloria Place, Brick, NJ 08724.
