Pierre-Karl Peladeau has a challenging summer ahead.
Doctors say the PQ leadership contender will need to use a wheelchair for three months after suffering nine fractures, including his pelvis, in a cycling accident Sunday in the eastern townships.
He was heading downhill on Route 1 in Camping du Lac Stukely in the Eastern Townships on Sunday when the crash occurred.
The multi-millionaire media mogul and MNA was thrown from his bike, after the front wheel hit a pothole.
“He sustained multiple fractures, which involved the shoulder area, ribs and also the pelvis. On the scan of his head, we saw two hemorrhagic legions, which were very small,” said University Hospital Centre of Sherbrooke neurosurgeon Jocelyn Blanchard.
Doctors say the minor bleeding revealed in the scan won't cause any long-term effects.
“In terms of his brain function, everything is normal. He's wide awake, alert, oriented, he's talking and everything, and he's been doing well for the past four days now,” he said. “He didn't suffer any loss of consciousness, and he has no amnesia of the event, so he's doing quite well.”
On Wednesday his doctors said it would take three months for the bones to knit, and then Peladeau would have to undergo extensive physical therapy in order to fully heal.
Dr. Bernard Larue of the Sherbrooke hospital said Peladeau's broken bones are all on his right side, including his ribs, his collarbone and shoulder blade.
“He can't bear weight on his right leg and his right arm, so he can't use crutches or a cane for this. He has the left side that's okay, so he's going to mostly use to move around,” said Blanchard.
Larue said that Peladeau does not need surgery to repair the damage, but he is likely to experience headaches and dizziness in the weeks to come.
Peladeau’s ex-partner Julie Snyder wrote a post on her Facebook page about the accident.
The pair separated in January, but the two are still close.
Right after the accident, Peladeau told a passerby to call her and let her know he was hurt.
Snyder wrote: “Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet. It saved his life.”
Peladeau, who was elected in St-Jerome in April, also took to Facebook, thanking everyone who helped him after the accident, and made it clear he plans to return to the National Assembly.
He is considered by many political observers to be a strong contender to replace Pauline Marois as leader of the Parti Quebecois.
In the event that Peladeau misses most or all of the session, there is speculation his absence could give his rivals in the party time to team up, putting him at a disadvantage in the PQ leadership race.
However Peladeau said he has been keeping up with his duties while confined to his hospital bed.
