Matt Bee Aber medicial update 2001-06-22

By DOC LEHMAN

Wooster,OH--- Ohio dirt Late Model star Matt Bee Aber, who was seriously injured Tuesday evening June 19 near Wooster,OH when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a semi-truck near his home upon leaving the team’s race shop, is set to undergo yet another surgery today, June 22. Bee Aber suffered serious injuries and was pinned inside the wreckage. Rescue crews were forced to cut him out of the heavily damaged vehicle and he was subsequently life-flighted to Cleveland Metro Hospital in Cleveland,OH were he remains in serious condition with severe injuries and broken bones.

Bee Aber, 30, drives the #31 BOSS Race Car dirt Late Model owned by Denny Earl Motorsports of Massillon, OH. Bee Aber is also the son of veteran and eight time track championship racer Blaine & Karen Aber of Wooster, OH.

“ He’s lucky to be alive,” stated his father, Blaine Aber.“ He’s hurting and will be out of commission for a good long while. The good news is today they took him off oxygen and moved him out of the Intensive Care Unit. However, he has to have another surgery, this time on his shattered knee, later today.”

Bee Aber underwent extensive surgery on his shattered hip on Wednesday.

“ Matt is strong and that helps,” continued his father.“ The doctors are worried about pneumonia setting in, but he seems to be holding his own. The main damage was to his hip, knee, shoulder and left arm. His hip and knee were completely shattered. They told us when he is finally released he will have to spend at least three months in a wheelchair.”

“ But all things considered his spirits are better than what I would have expected. His mother, Karen, and his girlfriend, Paula (Brooks), are both there with him. In fact, they haven’t left his bedside since it happened. They have been by his side every second.”

Aber was also adament about thanking the racing community for their outpouring of well wishes and concern.

“ I bet we’ve had over 200 calls already, from all over,” explained Aber.“ It makes my day. I can’t believe how many friends we have. We’ve had calls from all over the country, from drivers in Street Stocks, Sprints and Late Models. And promoters and builders. People are calling that I never dreamed would call. It’s really touching.”

“ It just makes your heart feel good to know there are people out there like that. I’m just amazed and Matt really appreciates it.”

For Bee Aber’s car owner, Denny Earl, his first priority is getting his driver healthy. Earl was obviously concerned and somewhat still shaken days after the accident.

“ My first concern is Matt,” stated Earl.“ Not being able to race with him the rest of the year won’t be any fun. I feel bad that he will be out of work for a long time and he has bills to pay and can’t work. When I got the call I literally flew up to Wooster Hospital to see him and when I saw him all busted up as they wheeled him out to the helicopter to take him to Cleveland it was tough. Just real tough.”

“ He’s a good friend and he’s like a brother to me.”

Finding another driver for the #31 BOSS Race Car to finish the season out is the furthest thing from Denny Earl’s mind right now.

“ That is something I don’t really care about at the moment. Matt is the first concern. When I visited him last night he said to get someone else in the car. But I’m not worried about that. Eventually, we’ll probably race, but not like we were. But to me, right now, it isn’t even fair to be thinking about it now.”

Family and team members request that the racing community keep Matt in their thoughts and prayers.

Cards can reach Matt at the team’s race shop at:

Massillon Transmission
113 First Street S.E.
Massillon, OH 44646.

E-mail reachesthe team at: masstrans@sssnet.com.

Matt also has a brand new website currently under construction at: http://www.dirt-racers.com/aber with a Guest Book where friends, fans and drivers can send Matt their greetings.

-Lehman Motorsports