In September of 2019 I was out for a run at 4:30 AM. My early morning runs were often a time for me to pray and talk to God. That day I was praying for my nephew that was scheduled to have wrist surgery that morning. My foot caught on the smallest of cracks and I went crashing down, landing on my hands and knees. I hobbled home and my husband took me to Urgent Care. I had broken my left wrist and right elbow (we later found out I’d also broken the other wrist, though not as badly). That left wrist gave me trouble for years and is the one I had surgery on twice in 2022.
Fast forward to last Wednesday. I was at the library working on a grocery list after writing my last blog post when my phone reminded me the dogs had a vet appointment. Instead of going to the store, I went home to get the dogs, planning to go to the store after we finished. The appointment was quick and uneventful. Until we left. On the way out of the vet’s office there is a small step. There is a ramp on one half. I was not watching where I was going and I stepped half on the ramp and half off, twisting my right foot and landing hard on my left knee and hand. It all happened in slow motion and I remember connecting it to my previous fall.
I had dropped one of the leashes, but the dog it was attached to came back to see why I was on the ground. Thankfully, a young man was coming into the building without an animal. He stopped and helped me up and I hobbled to my car. The dogs got in without an issue. I got home and could only hope they would go into the house and not run off. Once they were in I hobbled to my room, took off my pants so I could see my knee, and tried my best to clean up all of my scrapes. It didn’t take long for me to decide I should probably get x-rays, just in case. I drove myself there, as no one was home.
I went back to the same Urgent Care I’d visited in 2019. Lo and behold, I had broken my right foot. The wrist and knee were not broken, but they sure did hurt! I was put in a splint for the foot, given crutches, and wrapped in ace bandages for the wrist and knee. It was definitely feeling a lot like my previous visit. My mother in law had to come get me, as it was impossible to drive with my right foot in a splint. She and my husband went back to get my car later that night.
I spent all day Thursday in my recliner feeling like a total klutz and completely ashamed. No one was home, so I had to fend for myself. Which meant figuring out how to get around on crutches with one wrist that I couldn’t put weight on without hurting it. Needless to say, I avoided it as much as possible. I felt very sorry for myself and spent a lot of time thinking about Kim, who would have been the first to come help if she was still alive.
I was able to get an appointment with an orthopedist for Friday. That meant getting dressed and to the car. Not an easy task at all. My mother in law had taken the day off from work so she could take me. The kids were off from school for Good Friday, so my daughter chose to come with us. My mother in law went inside and got a wheelchair so that it wouldn’t be as difficult to get me into the doctor’s office. The orthopedist reiterated everything I’d been told at Urgent Care, had me fitted for a boot, said I should switch to my brace for the wrist (which he said was sprained), ordered PT to start in two weeks, and for me to follow up in four. I have no idea how I will get to any of these appointments or how I will get my kids to their rehearsals.
When we got back home I was exhausted and ended up taking a nap. Once rested, I managed to get a shower. I ended up bringing my crutches into the shower to help me stay balanced. Once I got out I sat on the edge of the tub and had my daughter come in to get my clothes for me to put on. I then got to rest for a bit before going to the Good Friday service at church. My daughter had wanted me to attend because she was reading scripture and a prayer.
Late that evening my husband was performing with his improv troupe, so I had my mother in law drop me off. I had to go in a back way so I could use the elevator, which felt weird. Thankfully I’ve been there enough times now that they all recognize me.
This morning my kids needed to be at rehearsal at 10 and I had arranged to meet friends for brunch nearby. Only, the brunch got cancelled because one of them wasn’t feeling well. So my husband and I decided the two of us could go to brunch, then swing by the dealership to pick up the license plates that had come in for my new car. After brunch his stomach wasn’t feeling well, so he decided we should just go home and take care of the plates later. Close to our house, he took a corner too close and hit a curb. When we got into the garage, he went to check on it and said he couldn’t see anything, but could hear a leak. We decided it might be a good idea to get it to the dealership to fix it before it was flat.
However, we didn’t make it very far before the tire pressure had dropped significantly. I have free roadside assistance with the new car, so I contacted them and had a tow truck come out. My mother in law came and got me and my husband went with the car.
The dealership didn’t have a tire in stock, so it will be Monday before the car is ready. Which is fine, since I can’t drive anyway. Unfortunately, it will be $300 to replace. Not something we were expecting after having the car for only a month. I’m pretty sure my husband will avoid driving my car as much as possible from now on.
It’s feeling very much like a curse is over us. I know it’s not, but one bad thing after another keeps happening. Tomorrow is Easter, which is certainly a time of Good News, so maybe with the resurrection of Christ we will see an upward turn. Either way, I know we are blessed, even when things aren’t going great.
Leave a Reply