Monday I was going to be working all day. I went through 2 rotations (you spend roughly 30 minutes at each spot) then went to the break room for a snack. On my way, Jared one of the lifeguard supervisors, stopped me to tell me there was Chipotle in the office. **Let me pause a moment to point out that while Jared is one of my supervisors, he is only 20. He looks just like Jack from Dawson’s Creek, but I have never told him that because he is too young to even know about the show.** I went to the office, split a burrito with my friend Julie (who is my age~we used to teach together) and went on my way. Life was good, the sun was out, I was living the dream. I went to my next spot which was the bottom of a slide. I was almost through with my rotation when someone’s mat went down the slide without them. I walked to the bottom of the slide part and picked it up, then started walking to the end of the slide. When I was almost to the end, I slipped & fell on my butt. I looked over at my right hand to see it hit the bottom, slip, and go up the lane divider at a very bad angle. I immediately knew it was broken. Another supervisor, Dennis, was standing right there & asked if I was okay. I told him no, I was pretty sure my wrist was broken & to call the EMT.
David, the 19 year old EMT, ran over to me & asked me where I was hurt. He felt my wrist & said the bones felt in tact & asked if I could walk to First Aide or if I needed a wheelchair. I told him I would walk, but to hurry because I was going to pass out. I walked over & the last thing I remember was sitting in the chair & David asking me a question that I thought I answered, but he later told me I was saying words that didn’t make sense. When I came to, I was lying on the floor and the other EMT, Kent was giving me oxygen while David checked my vitals. **I would now like to point out that I was Kent’s 8th grade English teacher.** The park manager was there and asking me if I needed an ambulance or if I wanted to be driven to the ER. I tried to sit up, but I was really nauseous, so I said I’d go in an ambulance. At this point, I was completely lucid. I was talking to everyone, giving the Fire Dept. my blood pressure and pulse rate. I think because of this and because my wrist wasn’t swelling yet & they were all able to touch my bones without my freaking out, they all thought I had a bad sprain. So, off I go to the ER barefoot & in a swimsuit.
I sent Tiffany a text to see where she was & she called, but didn’t have the car that day. While I was talking to her Julie called to tell me she would leave work to go to the hospital as soon as she could. Then Meg called & I told her I would call her later when I knew what was going on. I was wheeled in a exam room & people came & went, but no one was giving me meds. I finally got some nausea meds, but no pain killers. At this point, I was getting calls & texts non stop from many very sweet friends. When I was alone, I looked at my wrist & saw how swollen it was. That is when I took the picture I posted. At least an hour later I was wheeled off to get x-rays. They asked if I could get out of the bed & I told them I wasn’t moving & not to touch me. I would move my hand for the x-rays if they would just show me what they wanted. I really thought I would pass out again when they were having me twist my hand around. When the first pic came up, the technician said, “wow, I would have passed out too,” I knew it wasn’t a bad sprain. 10 minutes later the doctor came in & talked to me, then I finally got some pain meds. She left to go look at my x-rays for a very, very long time. I was calling Meg to tell her what time to meet me at home when the dr. walked in and said that I would not be leaving. She showed the ortho on call my x-ray & he told her I needed surgery ASAP & he could fit me in at 5. It was 3:45 and I was just about to lose it as my friend Julie showed up. She can always turn things around for me. We had a good laugh at a sign on the wall that said, “Don’t fall, call.” If only we had that sign at the park…Tiffany called and was sure I was high as a kite because I was laughing so hard, but really Julie brings that out in me.
It was at this point where I knew I would have to call my parents. I had planned on telling them way later & only if I was going to see them. They freaked out & said they would leave as soon as they could. Julie went back to work as Meg was on her way. She was going by my house to pick up clothes for me so I could take off my wet swimsuit. This is where things get blurry. I remember telling everyone who came in not to touch me unless they talked to me first. Meg got there right before they wheeled me to surgery. She got to help me pee in a cup so they could make sure I wasn’t pregnant. The ortho put a plate & 3 or 4 screws in my wrist which was broken in 5 pieces. (x-rays attached) I vaguely remember telling the anesthesiologist, not to knock me out until I had time to pray, then being wheeled in the operating room. Recovery is very hazy, but I know Julie & Meg were both there. They were awesome & Meg made tons of phone calls keeping everyone informed. I was sent to a room & slept until my parents showed up then checked out. I got home around midnight and slept on & off for the next 2 days. The pain is pretty bad, but I’ll survive as long as I have my hydrocodone. Thanks for all the emails, calls, prayers, and food!
