Oren Dorell back at work after spring motorcycle crash

At my request, made after former BJ copy desk chief Jim Kavanagh provided me with their email address, USA Today reporter Oren Dorell's wife, Ginny Knapp Dorell, provided me with this update on Oren's health:

Dear John-

Thank you so much for your interest in Oren.

He is doing a lot better and back to work full-time at USA Today. He was hit on his motorcycle while commuting to work in May. He had four broken vertebrae in his back and shattered his right wrist and elbow. After three surgeries and extensive therapy, he is on the road back to good health.

Oren and I both worked at the Beacon Journal. We have fond memories of it, since that is where we met. Oren covered Barberton/Norton and the swing shift on the night desk. I worked on the copy desk. We were both there from 1998-2000.

Oren's email is odorell@gmail.com and I am sure he would welcome contacts from former co-workers.

Sincerely, Ginny Knapp Dorell

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Oren and Ginny have two sons, Malcolm and Leo.

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Jim Kavanagh got this email from Ginny in October:

I think we are almost back to normal after our summer of disaster. Oren is healing nicely, and is just starting back to work full-time this week. He's still doing physical therapy on his back and is finishing up occupational therapy on his hand (other than what he is up to at home).

I am finally feeling like I can breathe again. It certainly helps getting sleep and not worrying so much.

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The first BJ Alums report on Oren's accident, which happened as he neared his workplace at USA Today, was posted May 10, 2009. He was taken to Fairfax County Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, with four broken vertebrae in his back and compound fractures of his right wrist and elbow.

Click on the headline to read the original BJ Alums report on Oren's accident.