Document text
Medford students, faculty rally around 'Mr. T.' Popular substitute teacher still in critical condition after bike-riding accident By DAMIAN MANN For North Medford High School students, "Mr. T" is one of their favorite teachers. Otherwise known as Bruce Trowbridge, the language arts substitute has received an outpouring of support from faculty and students after an accident last Sunday left him with severe head and spinal injuries. Trowbridge, who recently turned 60, was cycling in the mountains above Ashland when he fell off Toothpick Trail, striking his head against a log. An intensive care nurse at Providence Medford Medical Center said Trowbridge is listed in critical condition. Trowbridge, who also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and neck problems, had been on a breathing machine. But he was alert and sitting up in a chair Friday, though unable to speak because the hospital had placed a tube down his throat. Despite the severity of his injuries, he reportedly has recovered some feeling in his body. Both faculty and students have called the hospital to express their concern and to wish Trowbridge well. "The kids just adore Bruce Trowbridge, or 'Mr. T' as they call him," said language arts teacher Rhonda Lee. "I don't think many of the kids even know that his real last name is Trowbridge." Lee said the substitute teacher's temporary contract is up on Jan. 31, so faculty members are organizing efforts to raise money so he can continue to have insurance. Students in his classes have sent gifts, and others have fashioned personalized get-well cards. "There has been a huge outpouring of support from the kids. They just wanted to know what they could do," Lee said. Lee remembers when Trowbridge first came to the high school about four years ago to play bagpipes during a production of "Macbeth" and to speak about the tartan colors. "It turned out so well with the kids on a personal level that he ended up getting long-term sub positions," she said. He was filling in for Leslie Davis, who is on leave after recently adopting a child. When he is not teaching, Trowbridge runs or cycles. He was on a bike ride Sunday when the accident occurred. At a very narrow part of the trail, he got off his bike and headed around a hairpin curve when he slipped and fell down a steep embankment. Other cyclists stopped to help, but because it was so far out of town, it took the ambulance almost two hours to get him out, said Lee. Friends and students were particularly concerned about the damage to his spine. "His neck is pretty fragile anyway," said Lee. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.