Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

IHRA

Injured Pro Stock Racer Cale Aronson Racing to Recovery

IHRA Pro Stock racer Cale Aronson, of Chillicothe, MO., is on the road to recovery following a high-speed accident which left him critically injured on April 25, 2015. Aronson lost control of his Mustang during final eliminations at the IHRA Palm Beach Nationals, crossing the centerline before striking the retaining wall and flipping. His car slid to a stop in the Palm Beach International Raceway shutdown area.

Aronson was transported via helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Palm Beach, Fla, where he underwent surgery on April 28 to repair damage when he sustained a C-5 compressed vertebra. He is expected to make a full recovery following a lengthy rehab process.

“Basically I had a bruised spine,” Aronson explained. “I still have some difficulty with my upper body movement, but everything has a tingling sensation. I have feeling throughout my body.”

Once Aronson was stabilized following the surgery, he was transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, and placed under the care of renowned spinal cord injury specialist Dr. Barth Green. Instrumental in the transfer was the Gwynn Family, whose son Darrell, suffered a spinal cord injury during a racing accident in April 1990.

Aronson admits he’s experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in the days following his accident.

“My focus hasn’t changed much in wanting to get busy in rehab and move forward,” Aronson said. “The most important thing to me is taking care of my family. The inability to do that is enough to frighten anybody. At the same time, I always felt this was a condition I’d be able to recover from. Plus I try to never try to think negatively like that.

“I’m not saying I didn’t have negative thoughts, but I try to focus more on the how to make the best of any situation. The hardest part is the lack of being able to bond, to wrap my arms around and hug my wife.”

Aronson credits wife Tinzy with her unwavering support as an inspiration throughout the ordeal. He also credits the legions of fellow racers and race fans as inspiration.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

CaleAronson_IT“Your support was a large part of what inspired me to fight through this time,” Aronson said. “Some of those who stepped up to show support, you helped Tinzy and myself so much. It’s overwhelming when you are a small family team like we are. We do this because we love it. It’s important to see what we do is appreciated. It’s done a lot for my family.”

Godspeed Ministry, the official chaplain for the IHRA, has set up a Bridge the Gap fundraiser for the Aronson Family to help defray medical expenses: http://godspeedministry.com/ws/?p=1287

Care packages and letters may be sent to:

Bupa International Patient Services Center
DTC Building, Ground Floor Central 152 for patient Cale Aronson
1080 NW 19th Street
Miami, FL 33136

This story was originally published on May 7, 2015. Drag Illustrated

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

News

The star-studded STREET OUTLAWS: No Prep Kings series is set to return for its 6th season in the summer of 2023. Fans can expect to...

News

Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings star and renowned engine builder Pat Musi joined the recent episode of The Wes Buck Show and provided an update...

News

Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings star Lizzy Musi announced today that she has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer via her Youtube channel....

News

Tony Christian, one of the pioneering drivers of the Pro Street movement, passed away Thursday, June 9. Christian was infamous for his battles with...

Since 2005, DI has informed, inspired and educated drag racers from every walk of the racing life - weekend warrior and street/strip enthusiasts to pro-level doorslammer and Top Fuel racers. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-worthy videos to electric live events, DI meets hundreds of thousands of racers where they live, creating the moments that create conversations.