Everyone has a role in motorcycle safety & preventing collisions

May 23, 2023
Missy Cutler poses for a photo on her Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Safety is always top of mind for Missy when she's riding.

Cathy* has no memory of crashing her motorcycle, an event that nearly claimed her life in 2010.

She had been riding home to Penticton from Kelowna on Highway 97 after a day at the beach. “All I remember from that day was the blinding sun,” she recalls. “And I have a vague recollection of feeling gravel under my tires.”

When she woke up, she was strapped down in a hospital bed at Penticton Regional Hospital. She had broken three vertebrae in her neck, and shattered her collarbone.

Cathy was in a neck brace for four months. She went to physio and massage therapy for seven months for her atrophied muscles, and she lost 25 pounds from not being able to eat properly. Dr. Justin Naude, an orthopedic surgeon, rebuilt her collarbone with six screws.

“I had a pinched nerve for 34 years before my accident, and that disappeared,” she jokes. “But try explaining to your three-year-old son that he can’t hug Mommy.”

Stories@IH

Read our latest stories

5 Minute Read
Community & Culture

A highly skilled registered nurse, Bettina was the missing piece needed to increase health-care services for residents in the hidden gem of Blue River.

6 Minute Read
Health & Wellness

Your emergency kit should always include critical supplies like water, food, and a wind-up radio, but you can also add items that are unique to your situation.

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture

On July 1, 2025, Dr. Robinson will celebrate 10 years as a urologist at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH).

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture

Doug Berry says he is thankful for the travel support through Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services (CTAAS) program.

7 Minute Read
Community & Culture

Meet 2 IH volunteers who are making a difference in their communities. Teresa volunteers at RIH; Lee Reid of Nelson is active in the seniors' community.

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture

With her dedication to clinical excellence & inclusive care, Dr. Hilary Brotherhood isn't just a physician, but a trusted community member & thoughtful leader.

STAY CONNECTED

Receive news and alert posts, and Stories@IH blog posts, right to your inbox!

mail