Any Doug Smith fans?

[robert t]

Fantastic pianist from the Lubbuck area. This was in an e-mail sent from his web site.

Pianist/Composer Doug Smith suffers back injury in rollover
BY WILLIAM KERNS
A-J ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Popular area composer, pianist and national recording artist Doug Smith suffered a back injury when his truck rolled in a one-vehicle accident at approximately 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Debbie Smith, the musician's wife, said an MRI at Covenant Hospital Lubbock, Texas Wednesday morning revealed a ruptured disc near his neck was pressing against his spine. Doctors removed the disc in an afternoon operation. Hospital officials listed Smith in critical condition at 8 p.m. Wednesday. His wife said a second, post operative MRI had revealed a lack of blood flow in one vein leading to the brain, so a second operation was performed. She pointed out that no spinal fluid leakage was found.
"Doug was telling me he could not move his legs, and he could not feel his fingers," said his wife. "The doctors are hoping this (the disc removal) solves it. The spinal cord was not severed, but it is going to swell some more."

It will take about 48 hours before doctors know the extent of Smith's injuries, his wife said, adding that she "has faith that Doug's going to come out OK."

Smith was discovered near the intersection of FM 789 and CR 6300 at approximately 3 a.m. by a motorist who had no cell phone. "Doug had been hanging upside down in his truck for two hours," said Debbie Smith. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to remove Smith from his vehicle, and he was airlifted by Aerocare to Covenant.

"We're all pretty sure that Doug was just tired and fell asleep at the wheel," said his wife.