A motorcycle accident in late November sent Steve Felten flying 150 feet into a ditch.

His head, neck and arms were seriously injured.

The day after he was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, doctors told his family and friends there was a good chance he wouldn't make it.

But in less than two months, Felten has returned to work.

Felten, owner of T.J.'s Gym in Austin, said he's very grateful to his family and friends and the doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers and paramedics that aided in his recovery.

But some say Felten also helped in his own recovery.

Felten, 43, has lifted weights since 1979, eventually setting a national weight-lifting record at 518 pounds. He was planning to break that record at another competition in March.

The doctors told him that because of his physical condition, his injuries were not as severe and his recovery was faster, Felten said.

"I'm lucky I'm as big and as good a shape as I'm in," Felten said. "Otherwise, I'd be dead."

Kathy Sollie, a member of his gym and one of the paramedics that responded to his accident, said if another person who did not work out as often, was in the same accident, they wouldn't have survived.

"Definitely, because of his working out, it saved his life," said Sollie, who has been a paramedic for 14 years.

Dr. Jeffrey Basford, a consultant in the rehabilitation area of St. Mary's Hospital, said Felten's physical condition was not the only factor that helped in his recovery, but "his strength and physical level didn't hurt."

"He did very well," Basford said. "He did extremely well. Being in good shape and having a little good luck, that doesn't hurt either."

Basford credits the quick response of emergency medical teams, as well.

Felten's father, John Felten, said the doctors at St. Mary's were surprised at his quick recovery.

"They were just dumbfounded," Felten said of the doctors, "They figured he's be lying in bed for five, six months before he'd get therapy."

Instead, Felten was in therapy in less than seven weeks, learning to regain his balance and hand movement.

The experience Felten went through was a life-changing one. He said he looks at his priorities differently.

"I feel like everything got taken away from me," Felten said. "It changes your whole life."

Looking back

On Nov. 23, 2002, Felten was riding his motorcycle on the unseasonably warm Saturday on Minnestoa Highway 19 near Rose Creek.

His father, John, had stopped at the intersection of Highways 19 and 20, looked both ways and pulled out onto the road, according to police reports. Felten's motorcycle came up over the hill and the two collided.

John Felten said many accidents have occurred at that intersection. The hill on the highway makes it hard to see oncoming traffic, he said.

John Felten drove to a nearby house to call for help. Gold Cross Ambulance responded and brought him to Austin Medical Center. Two of the paramedics, including Sollie, were members at his gym.

Sollie said she didn't know the accident victim was Felten until she cleaned the blood off his face.

After she recognized him, she called his fiancee, Dee Holvick, to identify him.

Felten was stabilized at AMC and Mayo One transferred him to St. Mary's.

Later, Felton was told his 3-year-old daughter blew him kisses as the helicopter flew away.

At the hospital

Felten was listed in critical condition that evening. Reed Storey, a friend and pastor at Cedar River Church of Christ, said a doctor came out to the waiting room Nov. 24 and said he would probably never leave the hospital.

"That's when everyone flipped out," Storey said. "That's when everyone thought the worst."

But by Monday, Storey said he noticed improvement in his friend. Felten opened his eyes and through that first week in the hospital he was able to understand when people spoke to him and could move his limbs.

"He just kept getting better and better," Storey said.

Felten stayed in intensive care for about a week and moved to another floor to recover, Storey said. Then he started rehabilitation.

He had to relearn how to walk and feed himself and do other movements that most take for granted. His weight dropped from 260 to 245.

But Felten said he was determined to get back on his feet.

"I'm a fighter and I don't give up and I'm very strong-willed," he said.

Basford said Felten has made good progress and will come back to St. Mary's for check-ups.

"We expect it to continue," Basford said.

Back at work

On Wednesday, Felten chatted with customers at T.J.'s Gym about his ordeal. He walked slowly, but steadily. A brace held his right wrist in place. Another brace helps his neck fracture heal. A deep scar runs across the right side of his head, where it had hit the pavement.

After the accident, he had to have surgery to remove bone fragments from his skull. In a year, he will have surgery to put a metal plate where they scar is now, Basford said. Felten now goes to physical therapy sessions at AMC three times a week.

Felten said he's very grateful his has use of his arms and legs. While in intensive care, he saw many patients with injuries worse than his.

"It makes you realize how special life is," he said. "Very few people get a second chance."

Felten wants to get back into training for weightlifting. He wants to break more records.

Basford said when he neck injury heals, he will be able to lift objects again and, in the long term, be able to return to his previous activities

Weightlifting has always been a enjoyable for Felten. When you lift, whatever happens is all up to you, he said.

"I've got nobody to blame by myself. The harder I try, I get rewarded for it," he said.

The concerns of others

A gym member welcomed Felten back Wednesday and told him he was in his prayers.

Those comments make Felten realize that people care about him, he said. Many friends and relative sent cards and letters and he said he's thankful for them

"When I read them, I just fell apart," he said.

He repeatedly says he's been given a second chance. He looks forward to watching his children, ages 3, 8 and 9 grow up.

He does not blame his father for the accident. In fact, he said the accident has brought his family together.

When he's at home, his 3-year-old daughter sits in his lap in a rocking chair, reminding him that she saw him in a helicopter.

Felten revels in these moments with his children and, most of all, thanks God he is able to be here for them.

"I didn't want to leave. There's too many things to do yet. I couldn't imagine being taken away from my kids and what I enjoy doing," Felten said.

His physical condition may have helped in his recovery, but support from loved ones, medical treatment and his determination got him to this point, as well.

"God gave me a second chance. That's all I can say," he said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com