August 20, 2008
Day 11
3 Cheers For Rehab
You know you are getting close to going home when you get transferred to the Rehab floor. I got moved at 10:30 am and went through some evaluations. They said I would begin tomorrow morning. Full steam ahead!
I will be working on strengthening my upper and lower body. I will also work on transferring from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to toilet, wheelchair to shower bench, etc.
For most of this day, I just laid in bed in my new room with a great window view on the 6th floor (tallest building in Benton). I can see the entire city. Pretty cool!
It is so cool to be up here on this floor with no IVs and no other equipment connected to me. There are fewer people coming in and out and it is much quieter. Hopefully, I will sleep better!
I had to battle feelings of loneliness again today. It was difficult to see Robbie leave this morning. But God's grace is so sufficient.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Day 10--Lonlieness Rears It's Ugly Head
August 18, 2008
Day 10
Woke Up With The Devil Whispering Sour Nothings In My Ear!
I was awakened on Day 10 with the Devil whispering to me....telling me to look at the calendar...reminding me that I had been in the hospital for 10 days. Not only that but he had the audacity to tell me my friends and family were calling less, emailing less, visiting less and the cards were coming less frequently. He also wanted me to know that I was never going home. I just brushed him off and nothing really hit me until my wife packed up her stuff to go home, so that she could get ready for work. When the door closed behind her, I started crying. Another one of those cries where you can't talk...all you can do is cry. Here comes the pity party and of course, I am the only one that showed up to party! I rolled over, grabbed my Bible and found one of my favorite verses: Romans 8:38-39; "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons; neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I laid there reading my Bible and praying until God capture my negative thoughts and took them away. I was left with a smile and peace.
You see, no matter what we are feeling, no matter the circumstances, no matter how bad things feel or look....the Bible is always true...nothing can separate us from God!
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I had already written this item down on my notebook of things to be done soon, but after the events of this morning and after reading a friend's email that confirmed my next action, I called on 3 of my dearest friends to be my mental health guardians. I need people other than Robbie and I to look after my mental health. Nothing slows down the healing process more than depression. Anyone can slip into depression and not know they are on the slippery slope. These friends are to check on my frequently, ask me the questions no one else will ask and to be very blunt with me if necessary...if they believe they see a change in my attitude or my direction of hope. I know they will be faithful and I am so grateful to them for taking on this project of love!
Great Events of the Day
Day 10
Woke Up With The Devil Whispering Sour Nothings In My Ear!
I was awakened on Day 10 with the Devil whispering to me....telling me to look at the calendar...reminding me that I had been in the hospital for 10 days. Not only that but he had the audacity to tell me my friends and family were calling less, emailing less, visiting less and the cards were coming less frequently. He also wanted me to know that I was never going home. I just brushed him off and nothing really hit me until my wife packed up her stuff to go home, so that she could get ready for work. When the door closed behind her, I started crying. Another one of those cries where you can't talk...all you can do is cry. Here comes the pity party and of course, I am the only one that showed up to party! I rolled over, grabbed my Bible and found one of my favorite verses: Romans 8:38-39; "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons; neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I laid there reading my Bible and praying until God capture my negative thoughts and took them away. I was left with a smile and peace.
You see, no matter what we are feeling, no matter the circumstances, no matter how bad things feel or look....the Bible is always true...nothing can separate us from God!
------------------------------
I had already written this item down on my notebook of things to be done soon, but after the events of this morning and after reading a friend's email that confirmed my next action, I called on 3 of my dearest friends to be my mental health guardians. I need people other than Robbie and I to look after my mental health. Nothing slows down the healing process more than depression. Anyone can slip into depression and not know they are on the slippery slope. These friends are to check on my frequently, ask me the questions no one else will ask and to be very blunt with me if necessary...if they believe they see a change in my attitude or my direction of hope. I know they will be faithful and I am so grateful to them for taking on this project of love!
Great Events of the Day
- I learned that I will be going to the Rehab floor tomorrow. This is awesome! I will be working on skills that will be necessary for my survival at home.
- I was taken off all IV pain meds. We are down to pills only and only when needed. Praise God, no more WEIRD dreams at night! I dreamed the curtains in my room were trying to eat me one night. Morphine = wack-o dreams!
- My Foley catheter was removed. OK, have any of you out there had a catheter? You know, they drug you to insert it, but then you are awake, un-drugged to pull out this 2 foot snake? You have got to be kidding!?!?! :( But yes, that is what happened. The nurse told me to take a deep breath and she then pulled it out. All I could think was where in the world is the end of this hose? It felt like my insides were coming out of my privates! Praise God, it is gone!!!!!
Today's Humor
- My crazy neighbor lady escaped from her bed last night around 2am. There is just something about 2 am for this lady. She is up at this time every night. Anyway, she is in the hall screaming, "HELP!" The nurses come running to her assistance. They get her back in her bed and ask her, "What's wrong?" She yells, "NOTHING!" So the nurses tell her some things and leave. Not 5 minutes later, she is again yelling, "HELP!" The nurses come back to her room and her response to their inquiries was, "nothing!" The nurses kind of snicker at this under their breath (I was doing the same thing). She snaps up in her bed and tells them, "You just wait, you will be 90 one day soon!" OK, that is all it took for me to belt out a big belly laugh...and then her next words were, "shut up!" LOL! You can't make this stuff up!
- The manager of food services came to see me today. Oh yes, the manager. I guess my name is dirt in the kitchen. Anyway, he is allowing me to choose my menu each day. It seems they actually cook more than just the 7-day cycle of food. So things are a little better on the food front!
- WARNING!! The next item discusses male private parts (i.e. testicles) OK, well I am in the middle of my PT, moving from the bed to a chair. I am so proud and doing so well with this. Well, on my way over from the bed to the chair, I got my testicles caught in the space between the bed and the arm of the chair. I am pulling away at my body trying to get into the chair, and my testicles are getting pulled in the opposite direction. So I quickly moved back over just enough to get my boys un-hung (really, no pun here) and I had to sit there with one check on the bed and one on the arm of the chair and I laughed. My PT guy, who, finds little humor in anything, gave me this dumb look and asked what was wrong. I told him what was going on and just shrugged his shoulders and said, "OK!" I then proceed to move over into the chair. Success on the move, yet stressful on the boys!
A Little Internet and Some Sonic Diet Coke, Please!
August 17, 2008
Day 9
God grants our small requests just so we can praise Him MORE!
Phil 4:6-7; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding; will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
For those of you who know me, you know I am a computer/Internet junkie. My world connects to me and I connect to my world via email and the Internet. Needless to say, I can't go long without connecting online or at least reading my emails. Since my arrival to the hospital, I have been seeking a way to get on the Internet. Each attempt was either a failure OR didn't quite meet the minimum standards I needed to be met. I begged God to help me. I had to get re-connected so that I could continue work and my connection to friends around the world. My heart longed to be connected to my world.
Some of you may be thinking, you must be crazy....you really missed or needed the Internet that bad? YES!! Just ask my friends or family. I email everyone and google anything I can.
So God hears my cry and comes to my rescue. On Day 9, a friend of mine who knows people in the Saline Memorial IT department was able to get me access to their private wireless network.
If I could have danced, I would have been dancing in my bed; jumping, leaping, rejoicing, overflowing with gratitude. I was doing all of these things in my heart and then all of the sudden, I began to cry....I was unable to speak....all I could do was cry. Why cry? I was overwhelm! I was deeply moved by the kindness of my friend, who probably had to call in some favors to make my request a reality AND I was amazed at how my God listened and granted my simple request...He didn't have to do that! But he did. It was simple to Him, yet devastating and impossible for me. How great it is to have a father in heaven who listens to our cries and answers our prayers!
---------------------------------
Today's Highlights
I had a great day in physical therapy. I was able to transfer, using only my hands, to move from my bed to a chair and back. It was so cool to leave the confines of that bed!
The nurses promised me a night of uninterrupted sleep, yet, every machine in my room that had an alarm sounded it's alarm ALL night long! So, there was very little sleep going on!!
I had some great friends bring me a Sonic Drive In Diet Coke and food for Olive Garden.
Speaking of food, I have discontinued my Russ Food Critic section because, we have gone through the 7 day cycle of food and since they repeat all foods every 7 days, there is nothing more that can be said!
Today's Humor
WARNING: The following is a discussion of male private parts (i.e. penis).
The Patient Care Tech who is responsible for caring of my non-medical needs was non-existent today. Therefore, my room was a dump! After my PT session, I had to re-arrange my night stand and other items around my bed. I also had to reposition my sheets and blanket. While doing that, I grabbed my blanket and jerked it hard to get it to cover my feet.....but little did I know, I had a grip on my catheter tube and when I jerk, I jerked the tube that was deeply attached to my bladder through my penis. I made a loud whooping sound and sat in a moment of silence, praying everything was still attached. It took 30 minutes for me to get brave enough to look and see that all was well. Shew! Praise God, no damage!! ROFLOL!
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That is it for Day 9. I look forward to Day 1 at home!!!!!
Day 9
God grants our small requests just so we can praise Him MORE!
Phil 4:6-7; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding; will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
For those of you who know me, you know I am a computer/Internet junkie. My world connects to me and I connect to my world via email and the Internet. Needless to say, I can't go long without connecting online or at least reading my emails. Since my arrival to the hospital, I have been seeking a way to get on the Internet. Each attempt was either a failure OR didn't quite meet the minimum standards I needed to be met. I begged God to help me. I had to get re-connected so that I could continue work and my connection to friends around the world. My heart longed to be connected to my world.
Some of you may be thinking, you must be crazy....you really missed or needed the Internet that bad? YES!! Just ask my friends or family. I email everyone and google anything I can.
So God hears my cry and comes to my rescue. On Day 9, a friend of mine who knows people in the Saline Memorial IT department was able to get me access to their private wireless network.
If I could have danced, I would have been dancing in my bed; jumping, leaping, rejoicing, overflowing with gratitude. I was doing all of these things in my heart and then all of the sudden, I began to cry....I was unable to speak....all I could do was cry. Why cry? I was overwhelm! I was deeply moved by the kindness of my friend, who probably had to call in some favors to make my request a reality AND I was amazed at how my God listened and granted my simple request...He didn't have to do that! But he did. It was simple to Him, yet devastating and impossible for me. How great it is to have a father in heaven who listens to our cries and answers our prayers!
---------------------------------
Today's Highlights
I had a great day in physical therapy. I was able to transfer, using only my hands, to move from my bed to a chair and back. It was so cool to leave the confines of that bed!
The nurses promised me a night of uninterrupted sleep, yet, every machine in my room that had an alarm sounded it's alarm ALL night long! So, there was very little sleep going on!!
I had some great friends bring me a Sonic Drive In Diet Coke and food for Olive Garden.
Speaking of food, I have discontinued my Russ Food Critic section because, we have gone through the 7 day cycle of food and since they repeat all foods every 7 days, there is nothing more that can be said!
Today's Humor
WARNING: The following is a discussion of male private parts (i.e. penis).
The Patient Care Tech who is responsible for caring of my non-medical needs was non-existent today. Therefore, my room was a dump! After my PT session, I had to re-arrange my night stand and other items around my bed. I also had to reposition my sheets and blanket. While doing that, I grabbed my blanket and jerked it hard to get it to cover my feet.....but little did I know, I had a grip on my catheter tube and when I jerk, I jerked the tube that was deeply attached to my bladder through my penis. I made a loud whooping sound and sat in a moment of silence, praying everything was still attached. It took 30 minutes for me to get brave enough to look and see that all was well. Shew! Praise God, no damage!! ROFLOL!
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That is it for Day 9. I look forward to Day 1 at home!!!!!
Side Notes
I have been moved to the rehab floor, room 621. You are welcome to come by, email and or call me on my cell ANYTIME!!
Days 4 - 8
Aug 12-16, 2008
Days 4 - 8
I am going to make 1 posts concerning days 4 through 8 because as each day goes by, I forget more and more. The reason I began this blog was to give others the opportunity to see my God at work during this most difficult time of my life.
Should I Ask Why?
This is the most difficult test I have had to endure! It would be so easy to lie here in my bed, in this hospital and feel sorry for myself; continually asking the question, "why?" I mean, is there anyone out there who wishes they had an injury that kept them off their feet for 3 to 4 months; with a 1 year healing time and the possibility off never being able to walk normally, do normal things, no sports, not being able to run with your kids? No one would sign up for this! Yet, God has allowed this to come to my life. Since I gain nothing from self pity and asking "why", then I must do the complete opposite...I must give all the glory to God!
During days 4-8, I spent a lot of time in God's word and praying to Him seeking His peace. This is what puts a smile on my face, a pep in my step (no pun intended, well, maybe it was), gives me joy and hope during a most stressful time! I am so thankful to be alive!
What Is This?
The food test
During days 4-8, I got to see the complete weekly food line-up. Boy, I feel so sorry for anyone that has to stay here longer than 7 days. Each 7 days, the menu repeats. I had to find a way to get a better selection.
RFCS: 1.5 out of 5
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Do You Hear What I Hear?
The night sounds of Saline Memorial
As long as the crazy lady continues to live next door to me, I have plenty of reasons to laugh! During days 4-8, she continued to yell at those imaginary rabbits. One of my personal favs was a 2am scream for help. The nurses came to her room. They asked what was wrong. She said, "nothing!" As soon as they left the room, she screamed again. Again, they came and asked what was wrong, are you in any pain. Again, her answer was, "nothing!" So the nurses were laughing under their breaths as much as I was and the lady sat up in the bed and said, "just you wait, you will be 90 one day!" OK, at this point, I was having a deep belly laugh! She then yelled, "shut up!" Great late-night entertainment and all of it for FREE! Just can't make this stuff up! :)
Days 4 - 8
I am going to make 1 posts concerning days 4 through 8 because as each day goes by, I forget more and more. The reason I began this blog was to give others the opportunity to see my God at work during this most difficult time of my life.
Should I Ask Why?
This is the most difficult test I have had to endure! It would be so easy to lie here in my bed, in this hospital and feel sorry for myself; continually asking the question, "why?" I mean, is there anyone out there who wishes they had an injury that kept them off their feet for 3 to 4 months; with a 1 year healing time and the possibility off never being able to walk normally, do normal things, no sports, not being able to run with your kids? No one would sign up for this! Yet, God has allowed this to come to my life. Since I gain nothing from self pity and asking "why", then I must do the complete opposite...I must give all the glory to God!
During days 4-8, I spent a lot of time in God's word and praying to Him seeking His peace. This is what puts a smile on my face, a pep in my step (no pun intended, well, maybe it was), gives me joy and hope during a most stressful time! I am so thankful to be alive!
What Is This?
The food test
During days 4-8, I got to see the complete weekly food line-up. Boy, I feel so sorry for anyone that has to stay here longer than 7 days. Each 7 days, the menu repeats. I had to find a way to get a better selection.
RFCS: 1.5 out of 5
------------------------------
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The night sounds of Saline Memorial
As long as the crazy lady continues to live next door to me, I have plenty of reasons to laugh! During days 4-8, she continued to yell at those imaginary rabbits. One of my personal favs was a 2am scream for help. The nurses came to her room. They asked what was wrong. She said, "nothing!" As soon as they left the room, she screamed again. Again, they came and asked what was wrong, are you in any pain. Again, her answer was, "nothing!" So the nurses were laughing under their breaths as much as I was and the lady sat up in the bed and said, "just you wait, you will be 90 one day!" OK, at this point, I was having a deep belly laugh! She then yelled, "shut up!" Great late-night entertainment and all of it for FREE! Just can't make this stuff up! :)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Manage Pain; Reduce Swelling
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Day 2
The Surgeon on call came by to tell me that my situation was bad...so bad that he was going to refer me on to another surgeon....that he could not perform surgery because the damage was so great! This news left me very discouraged. He told us that my right foot may not be fixable. He wanted his partner to look over my x-rays and notes to get his opinion. Therefore, I would see his partner in the morning. I was left with a feeling of despair.
The Orthopedic Surgeon wanted nothing more than to control the swelling and the pain the day after my accident. My feet are elevated and packed down with ice. We spent the previous night working to keep the pain in control and failed terribly!
We tried several methodologies to conquer the pain, yet we failed on every front. All I could do was lie in bed, hold Robbie's hand and cry through each wave of pain. It was intense! I could think of nothing else than the pain signals pulsing through my body. After speaking with my doctors, we came up with a plan that brought relief and by 11pm, we were chatting and smiling again. I was surrounded by so many friends and family.
The world was spinning in my head and every now and then, the words I spoke did not make sense. I am sure it was funny to watch and hear!!
Even more humorous was my first attempts at the use of a portable urinal. You might say, "what is the big deal...point, aim, shoot!" Right? Well, pain + elevated bed + people in your room watching + numb feeling from pain drugs = dribbles, leaks and all out missing the urinal. Needless to say, I had a lot to learn about the use of hospital equipment and doing it on my back at a strange angle! LOL!!
On a more serious note, it is amazing to see God at work throughout my ordeal. People are coming out of the wood-work asking to help, praying for me, sending me cards and emails. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the kindness of all of my friends and family!
What Is This?
The Food Test
Sunday seem to bring out the better side of the lunch crew in the hospital cafeteria. Lunch was pretty good. Yet, breakfast and dinner (I skipped dinner), left little to be desired.
RFCS: 2 out of 5
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The night sounds of Saline Memorial
During the night, I was awakened by screams! It was like the screams you hear from a sci-fi flick where crazy people are locked up at this condemned hospital. The screams were followed by coughing...coughing like that of a person who was trying to cough up a donut filled with sand and grit. I mean, this lady was hacking up not just one lung, but both!
I later learned that lady was in for a broken arm and dementia. Her screaming and coughing was an attempt to get rabbits out of her room! Hospital newbie here (me) no longer had to worry about a leaking portable urinal...I had wet the bed from fright!
Day 2
The Surgeon on call came by to tell me that my situation was bad...so bad that he was going to refer me on to another surgeon....that he could not perform surgery because the damage was so great! This news left me very discouraged. He told us that my right foot may not be fixable. He wanted his partner to look over my x-rays and notes to get his opinion. Therefore, I would see his partner in the morning. I was left with a feeling of despair.
The Orthopedic Surgeon wanted nothing more than to control the swelling and the pain the day after my accident. My feet are elevated and packed down with ice. We spent the previous night working to keep the pain in control and failed terribly!
We tried several methodologies to conquer the pain, yet we failed on every front. All I could do was lie in bed, hold Robbie's hand and cry through each wave of pain. It was intense! I could think of nothing else than the pain signals pulsing through my body. After speaking with my doctors, we came up with a plan that brought relief and by 11pm, we were chatting and smiling again. I was surrounded by so many friends and family.
The world was spinning in my head and every now and then, the words I spoke did not make sense. I am sure it was funny to watch and hear!!
Even more humorous was my first attempts at the use of a portable urinal. You might say, "what is the big deal...point, aim, shoot!" Right? Well, pain + elevated bed + people in your room watching + numb feeling from pain drugs = dribbles, leaks and all out missing the urinal. Needless to say, I had a lot to learn about the use of hospital equipment and doing it on my back at a strange angle! LOL!!
On a more serious note, it is amazing to see God at work throughout my ordeal. People are coming out of the wood-work asking to help, praying for me, sending me cards and emails. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the kindness of all of my friends and family!
What Is This?
The Food Test
Sunday seem to bring out the better side of the lunch crew in the hospital cafeteria. Lunch was pretty good. Yet, breakfast and dinner (I skipped dinner), left little to be desired.
RFCS: 2 out of 5
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The night sounds of Saline Memorial
During the night, I was awakened by screams! It was like the screams you hear from a sci-fi flick where crazy people are locked up at this condemned hospital. The screams were followed by coughing...coughing like that of a person who was trying to cough up a donut filled with sand and grit. I mean, this lady was hacking up not just one lung, but both!
I later learned that lady was in for a broken arm and dementia. Her screaming and coughing was an attempt to get rabbits out of her room! Hospital newbie here (me) no longer had to worry about a leaking portable urinal...I had wet the bed from fright!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Crushed Heels
August 9, 2008
..and here is how this crazy story begins...
It was Saturday morning and I was working hard to get our house ready for a Birthday Celebration for Robbie. It was going to be a BIG night! New grill, new deck, new deck furniture and great food! The only thing misssing was great music to eat and celebrate by. It was then that I remembered the BOSE speakers I had purchased. A HA! I will go up into the attic and install the cables. Working in the attic is really no big deal...I had done it many times and I was very familar with the layout of our attic. I had cleared a path to where I needed to be...all rafters where I needed to step were easy to see and convenient to get to.
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Holding on for dear life, I proceeded to trek across the attic rafters until I hit a loose board. My foot twisted and headed down-ward towards to the sheetrock. At this point, I knew I was headed down through the ceiling. I frantically started reaching for anything I could get my hands on to keep me from falling. I remember thinking, I am about to fall to my death!
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As my body began to fall through the ceiling, I was seeing each layer of the attic blurr past my eyes...insulation, rafters & sheetrock....and I remember thinking this must be what people see who are in a clasping building. I was jarred out of this daze as my body hit the hard-wood dinning room floor. I asked God if I was dead! "Am I dead, God?" I was in shock!
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Robbie came running into the room and I know based on her reaction that she thought I was dead. It was frightening! All I could say was, "Oh My God!" Again, shock! I was lying on my side and began to push myself up to determine what was broken. I belived my arms, head, shoulders and back were ok. I was not sure about my legs, but my heels were completely numb! Based on a previous bruised heel expierience, I knew something was wrong with my heels.
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Robbie was scrambling to assess the situation. She was talking; maybe asking me questions, but in my mind, all her words were mumbled...I was still dealing with the fact that I had fallen 14 feet and I was not dead. So now some of the shock was wearing off and reality was setting in. I was not hearing Robbie's words and realized that she was in the middle of getting ready for the day when I fell. She was asking me what was hurting and if we need to go to the ER. I told her my heels were damaged and yes, we need to get to the ER. She ran to our room to get some clothes....I laid back down on the floor, continuing to suck loose insulation down my throat! I began to cry, really sab like a baby. I was overcome with the sadness of ruining Robbie's party plans. Robbie returned to the room to see this sabbing mess and asked me to talk to her...tell her what was wrong, what I was crying about. I kept asking her forgiveness for ruining her party!
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Now, how to get to the car to get to the ER. Why we never thought to call for an ambulance...I will never know, but I told Robbie I could crawl. So, I began to slowly crawl to the garage. Stopping to deal with pain, I finally made it to the car. Now, how to get up into the car without the use of my feet? At this point, I accidentally twisted my ankle and screamed out in pain. Robbie is begging me to stop and asking how she can help. I asked her to go check on Collier. She was confused by my request, but I needed her to go check on Collier and allow me to painfully get myself into the car. I did it...I dont remember doing it, but I got myself in the car seat and seatbelt buckled.
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Robbie comes out into the garage with Collier. She tells me that our friends are coming over to watch Collier so that we can get to the ER. Our friends came and we left for the ER. On the way to the ER, we are praying and thanking God for sparing my life.
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We got to the ER and they brought out a big male nurse and a wheelchair. Both were very helpful in getting me into the hospital. I got checked in and was immediately put into a room. The pain was really setting in and I knew my feet were in bad shape. The doctors and staff put in IVs and bring in portable x-ray equipment. Taking the x-rays was a very painful event. The x-rays revealed severe damage in both heels with the right on getting the most damage. This lead to a CT scan. The CT results revealed that I would not be able to walk again without extensive surgery to repair or attempt to repair the damage.
I am checked into the hospital and the pain is increasing!
We spent the rest of the night trying to keep swelling to a minimum and managing pain.
What Is That?
The Food Test
My first dinner was a mix of yesterday's chicken, last week's corn bread and a salad. It gets a 2 out of 5 on the Russ' Food Critique scoring system (RFCS)
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Boogie Man under my bed test
During this night, I constantly heard what I thought was thunder. I woke up the next day thinking it has rained all night long...big thunderstorms. I later learned it was the elevator.
..and here is how this crazy story begins...
It was Saturday morning and I was working hard to get our house ready for a Birthday Celebration for Robbie. It was going to be a BIG night! New grill, new deck, new deck furniture and great food! The only thing misssing was great music to eat and celebrate by. It was then that I remembered the BOSE speakers I had purchased. A HA! I will go up into the attic and install the cables. Working in the attic is really no big deal...I had done it many times and I was very familar with the layout of our attic. I had cleared a path to where I needed to be...all rafters where I needed to step were easy to see and convenient to get to.
----------------------------
Holding on for dear life, I proceeded to trek across the attic rafters until I hit a loose board. My foot twisted and headed down-ward towards to the sheetrock. At this point, I knew I was headed down through the ceiling. I frantically started reaching for anything I could get my hands on to keep me from falling. I remember thinking, I am about to fall to my death!
----------------------------
As my body began to fall through the ceiling, I was seeing each layer of the attic blurr past my eyes...insulation, rafters & sheetrock....and I remember thinking this must be what people see who are in a clasping building. I was jarred out of this daze as my body hit the hard-wood dinning room floor. I asked God if I was dead! "Am I dead, God?" I was in shock!
-----------------------------
Robbie came running into the room and I know based on her reaction that she thought I was dead. It was frightening! All I could say was, "Oh My God!" Again, shock! I was lying on my side and began to push myself up to determine what was broken. I belived my arms, head, shoulders and back were ok. I was not sure about my legs, but my heels were completely numb! Based on a previous bruised heel expierience, I knew something was wrong with my heels.
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Robbie was scrambling to assess the situation. She was talking; maybe asking me questions, but in my mind, all her words were mumbled...I was still dealing with the fact that I had fallen 14 feet and I was not dead. So now some of the shock was wearing off and reality was setting in. I was not hearing Robbie's words and realized that she was in the middle of getting ready for the day when I fell. She was asking me what was hurting and if we need to go to the ER. I told her my heels were damaged and yes, we need to get to the ER. She ran to our room to get some clothes....I laid back down on the floor, continuing to suck loose insulation down my throat! I began to cry, really sab like a baby. I was overcome with the sadness of ruining Robbie's party plans. Robbie returned to the room to see this sabbing mess and asked me to talk to her...tell her what was wrong, what I was crying about. I kept asking her forgiveness for ruining her party!
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Now, how to get to the car to get to the ER. Why we never thought to call for an ambulance...I will never know, but I told Robbie I could crawl. So, I began to slowly crawl to the garage. Stopping to deal with pain, I finally made it to the car. Now, how to get up into the car without the use of my feet? At this point, I accidentally twisted my ankle and screamed out in pain. Robbie is begging me to stop and asking how she can help. I asked her to go check on Collier. She was confused by my request, but I needed her to go check on Collier and allow me to painfully get myself into the car. I did it...I dont remember doing it, but I got myself in the car seat and seatbelt buckled.
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Robbie comes out into the garage with Collier. She tells me that our friends are coming over to watch Collier so that we can get to the ER. Our friends came and we left for the ER. On the way to the ER, we are praying and thanking God for sparing my life.
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We got to the ER and they brought out a big male nurse and a wheelchair. Both were very helpful in getting me into the hospital. I got checked in and was immediately put into a room. The pain was really setting in and I knew my feet were in bad shape. The doctors and staff put in IVs and bring in portable x-ray equipment. Taking the x-rays was a very painful event. The x-rays revealed severe damage in both heels with the right on getting the most damage. This lead to a CT scan. The CT results revealed that I would not be able to walk again without extensive surgery to repair or attempt to repair the damage.
I am checked into the hospital and the pain is increasing!
We spent the rest of the night trying to keep swelling to a minimum and managing pain.
What Is That?
The Food Test
My first dinner was a mix of yesterday's chicken, last week's corn bread and a salad. It gets a 2 out of 5 on the Russ' Food Critique scoring system (RFCS)
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Boogie Man under my bed test
During this night, I constantly heard what I thought was thunder. I woke up the next day thinking it has rained all night long...big thunderstorms. I later learned it was the elevator.
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