Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Accident

She’s up, she’s down, she’s up, she’s down, she’s up…

Uh-oh. Holy mackerel, is she ever down.

And not just in weight.

I have indeed lost a few pounds. But there is more down to the story.

Four weeks ago, I was doing what we all do, especially us Type-A personalities. I was moving way too fast and I was not paying one bit of attention to what I was doing. My mind was racing ahead to the zillion other things I wanted to do that afternoon. So when I went to put out the dog, I did not notice as I stepped into a coil of wire that acted like a noose around my ankle.

To my bewilderment, the cement I was about to crash onto came rushing up to my face. I slammed down like an anvil in a cartoon. My glasses cut my face, my knees, shins and hands were cut and scraped. I heard the crunch as the bone in my upper arm shattered.

I have to say, even I realize I have really wacky priorities. My first thought was “I hope nobody saw me”. Then I felt to make sure all my teeth were there. Check.

My next thought was for my little dog, who had flown out of my arms when I fell. Sadly, she is no Lassie. She did not sit alongside my broken body until help came. I think if she could speak, she would have shouted “woo-hooooo!” as she took off gleefully down the street. Actually, now that I think of it, I am certain she did shout “woo-hoooo!” in her little doggie voice.

When I tried to get up to get her, the pain was astonishing. I croaked her name and, naturally, received no reaction. She continued to frolic through the neighbor’s shrubs. I swear she turned and smiled at me. When I pictured her teeny, adorable little body being squished flat by a speeding car, adrenaline helped me drag myself up on the trellis. I finally caught up with her two houses down and scooped her up. My right arm was hanging uselessly at my side and throbbing steadily. Blood was dripping down my face and my hands and knees were keeping time with the agony in my arm.

I recognized this was very, very bad.

Long story short, I fractured my right humerus in four places. I had surgery to repair it a week later and I am now the proud owner of a plate, multiple screws and a hideous six inch long incision in my previously unsullied shoulder. The past weeks have flowed by in a wash of pain, sleeplessness, worry and general distress.

I can’t drive, I just now can put on my bra by myself, I can’t put a ponytail in my hair. I am completely housebound and dependant on everyone else for the most basic of necessities.

On the plus side, I have been overwhelmed by love and concern from everyone I know. I have received flowers, cards, food, calls and visits that have humbled me as I see people go out of their way to make me feel better. I never could have imagined such an outpouring. It has been a true gift that has added its own kind of healing.

Time marches on. The steri-strips are all off now, revealing the thick, ropey, Frankenstein-like scar. Physical therapy continues at home. I am willing myself to drive soon and to try to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

I have missed the blog and my connection to all of you. Hopefully, I am back now.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marie - glad to see you back - what a horrible month for you. I missed the part about your dog scooting away - oh my heavens, what a scare.

JudyTiger

Marie said...

Oh, Judy, it is SO good to see your name and your comment. I have missed all of you!!! This has been such an ordeal!! I feel as though I am emerging from the abyss. Not to be melodramatic or anything. :)

I am going to try hard to keep up here now in order to keep my mind functioning and to stay connected.

Thanks for welcoming me back!!!

Anonymous said...

O Marie, you have been heavy on my mind. I've checked this blog countless times, hoping, praying you would have been here. I can't tell you how happy i was this morning when i signed on and tada, here you were. I too had missed the part of the story about your puppy, amazing isn't it how adrenaline can force us to move? I'm glad you were able to rescue the pup.

I can't even imagine the pain and suffering you've been through, but to know you have so many that have been pulling for you must be a wonderful feeling.

I hope you are able to keep coming back and to visit the forums soon. I know we all miss you something fierce....take care of yourself.

Janet

Marie said...

Oh, Janet, thank you!!! It is so good to hear from you as well. I have missed you all SO much, but it was just so hard to type and I have had so litle energy that I finally gave up.

I am going to try to get back to the forums too. I want to get back to what used to be normal. :)

Thanks again dear friend! xoxo

Anonymous said...

I was wondering where you were...welcome back! :)

Anonymous said...

I can relate to that "I hope nobody saw." comment. Years ago, I did something similar... tripped off a curb and managed to sprain BOTH ankles and my left foot. And that same exact thought occurred to me. You just feel so idiotic when something like this happens.

You seem to have handled it with more grace than I. I sat cursing like a sailor in the street from the pain. Which is NOT like me!

Then I crawled up three flights of concrete stairs back to my apartment. And got on the phone with tears to try and convince a rental place to home deliver some crutches. I was lucky at that, as one ankle was not quite as bad off as the other, so I was actually able to be mobile two days later, when I had to get to my job.

Stay strong! And recover soonest!

Marie said...

Cynthia, isn't it crazy the things we think at moments like that!! I think it is the way we are raised, to always be graceful and under control, rather than sprawled in the street! lol I think pride actually goeth AFTER a fall, when you're looking around to make sure no one saw you!

I am glad you recovered from your mishap. Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words. :)