Kevin Bruisnma remembers every moment from the night he and his wife were riding their motorcycle and were struck by a car.
Bruisnma, and his wife Heather, were heading southbound on Harper about 10 p.m. Aug. 22 when he saw a white car driving north on the other side of the road.
As the car approached, it drove through the turn lane near Alexander Street and into couple and their 1983 Honda Nighthawk motorcycle.
"I turned hoping they would avoid us," Bruisnma said in a phone call Friday from his hospital bed. "They hit us."
The couple was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered a number of injuries. Heather has torn ligaments in her knee and three cracked ribs. She was treated and released, but will need additional surgeries.
Kevin was more seriously injured.
His left femur was crushed in four places and now has titanium rods in his leg, his right wrist and foot was also broken. His only movable appendage is his left hand.
"I am laid up and can't do anything," Bruisnma said, who is being treated for immense pain from his injuries. He faces three weeks of hospitalization and then rehab to "learn how to walk" again.
As he spoke from his hospital bed, he said that he took a motorcycle safety refresher course last year.
"I recommend it for new or experienced riders," he said. "It teaches you to be aware."
That awareness helped Bruinsma and his wife, who were able to turn away from the on-coming car.
"It was all slow motion for me," he recalled. "I never lost consciousness."
The St. Clair Shores resident credits his faith, his fellow members of the Warren chapter of Bikers for Christ and the generosity of the community, in helping him through treatment and recovery.
"I have never thought in a million years that this would happen to me," he said.
The accident led to a number of comments on the St. Clair Shores Patch Facebook page and well-wishes.
"My sincere prayers go out to you and her for a complete recovery, just thankful ur (sic) both alive," wrote Christine Smonos-Holstine.
St. Clair Shores police could not be reached Friday to update the status of the investigation, or comment on whether there will be charges brought against the driver.
While Bruinsma is hospitalized, neighbors are taking turns picking up his mail, cutting his lawn and including the couple in their prayers - all of which he is appreciative.
And when asked if he is planning on riding again, he didn't hesitate with "absolutely."
Patch will continue to provide updates on this case.
