Three weeks ago I had the misfortune of breaking my wrist, my first “real” broken bone in my 37 years. No cool story I’m sorry to say, I didn’t break it skiing or trying my hand at motocross or something equally exciting. No, I was in the car park after work with a flat tyre and instead of doing the sensible thing and calling RAA, I thought I’d change it myself. I have changed a tyre before, and being Miss Independent I thought this was a good idea until the wheel nuts were too tight. As I got up off the ground, my not so sensible shoes and my impatience caused me to roll my foot and fall backwards resulting in a distinctive CRUNCH. In all honesty I thought I’d actually broken my Fitbit (the horror!) until I realised it was my right hand that had saved me. As soon as I looked down at my arm I knew it was broken, a wrist is not meant to look like that! A phone call to my parents, a very helpful female security guard and attendance by the Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Response team saw me having my first ambulance trip to the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. Just putting it out there, the green whistle is the bomb!
After marvelling at just how awesome our ambulance officers are, tending to my injuries and being so nice and reassuring while balancing in the back of a van, I arrived at the hospital. My gorgeous sister had got there just before us and was waiting for me, I was relieved to have someone with me as I think I was in a little bit of shock at this stage and she let me know that the kids were fine, they’d stay with Mum and Dad overnight. X-rays, casts, lots of painkillers and surgery the next day meant I was in hospital for two nights in total. My parents had the kids and got Ethan off to school on the Friday, I had phone calls from family, loads of messages and even a visitor from work to drop off a card. It’s nice to know the troops will rally around you when you need them, and rally they did. My family has helped with school drop-offs, shopping and stuff around the house (Dad you are amazing) and the kids Grandparents have been a great support. My sister even came over to wash and do my hair for me the first week! The Mums from school have been amazing too, dropping Master E home and having him over after school when I haven’t been able to drive or have been stuck at a follow up orthopaedic appointment. Girlfriends have called to check in on my progress, work has really understood and since being back I’ve felt really appreciated.
It’s going to take a while to heal completely but I’m amazed at how a break like this is treated now. I had a bandage and a brace on for the first two weeks but now I only have to wear a wrist brace to support the wrist when at work or doing things around the house etc. So I can get it wet and take the brace off if I’m doing something like watching television where the arm is resting. I can’t tell you how nice it was to shower without a plastic bag on my arm! I can’t wait until I can build the strength back up, that’s probably the most frustrating thing, but I’ll get there.
So there you go, a bit of drama and a bit of a speed bump in my life but luckily I have all these great people around me to make my road to recovery a pretty smooth one.
Comments