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Treatment of a Compound Fractures, Tiny Angels Hold Me

Nine months ago I fell down a full flight of stairs, thirteen steps. This is a story about my experience of the treatment of a compound fractures.

I had flown in the night before to see my sister. In the morning we went on her usual hike, two big dogs in tow. My goal was to hike with the same stride of my sisters and touch the same rock she touched each morning as she travailed the path before her. It was not a competitive edge that led me, rather one of sharing. I wanted to share her space and her life and touch her rock that satisfied her goal of meeting that mark.

We hiked that morning, took in the wonderful smells of the mountains; the pines. There is no more memorable a fragrance. We chattered, tried to catch our breaths in between laughter and the sound of our boots hitting the surface of the dirt and rocks as we headed towards our destination.

When we returned I took a shower, put on my makeup and headed towards the stairs. Looking back I guess I was both tired from the flight the day before and the hike that I was not in perfect shape for. I am not sure how exactly I only know that from the top I simply lost my balance. I fell forward from the top of the stairs. As in a car accident or any other accident yes I saw my whole life flash before me. The main thought that rushed into my head was, "Don't break your neck!"

The first thing that hit the stairs must have been my right hand. I did not feel it, I only understood that I was falling. I then landed on my ribs and ultimately the right side of my face. It was a very scary thing indeed.

After finally landing I realized that at least I had not broken my neck, my greatest fear. My sister and brother-in-law ran to find me at the bottom of the stairs. I had yelled out when first I realized that I was falling. My legs still positioned upwards, my face, part of my chest and hands the only things touching the floor at the bottom. I picked up my head from the floor. Blood flowed from my mouth telling all and me that I had apparently bitten my lip as my face hit my final destination. Kind of funny how we almost hope to see blood so we can say, "See! I am too hurt!"

It took awhile to finally decide that I could move forward. I crawled into the kitchen. My brother-in-law helped me to a chair. It looked as if I may have broken my ankle but most assuredly had broken my wrist, my right wrist. The bones pushed up against the skin. This was not something a band aid would cover. I would need treatment of a compound fractures.

I have to tell you here that I am not a doctor person. I just don't go very much. It was clear to me though that this was going to cause me to seek one out.

My sister took me to an emergency care clinic. After ex-rays I was relieved to know that I had not broken my ankle as well.

"You are going to need an operation. We will schedule one for you later today. You should go to the hospital now and check in." the staff at the emergency clinic told me.

"What?" All I could think of quite honestly was the cost. I, like so many Americans have no health insurance. My sister did not have home owners. My plight became daunting at that point as I sifted through thoughts of helplessness.

"How much will this cost?" my sister inquired. I could only sit there and cry.

"Well, it could cost anywhere up to eighteen, twenty... ummm one thousand dollars." the aid replied.

I just sat there crying because there was no way I could possibly afford that. I thought then too how very lucky I was for it not being worse. I also thought about the plight of a lot of Americans without health insurance. I felt helpless.

"It is possible that the doctor might agree to set it in his office." the attendants finally said. Now there were quite a few because they were genuinely concerned for me. Sweet.

I could go to see the doctor in three days and he would decide then if it was possible, keep it elevated and the swelling down they said.

The day of the doctors visit my sister took me and we both waited to hear the doctors verdict. "Yes, I will attempt to do this for you." the doctor said to my relief. YAY!

YAY?

OK! The doctor gave me a shot into my broken arm, ewww! He put my fingers into a contraption that looked like a bunch of Chinese finger puzzles hanging from chains connected to a pole. I was told to try to relax my arm and let it hang, ewww! Twenty minutes or so went by and the doctor announced that we were ready to go. My sister held my hand. I announced that I would tell a story I remembered about a dragon on the beach that I had met in California. A fairy tale to some but I am convinced to this day it is a true story.

My sister cried and I cried as I told the story of the dragon and the doctor pulled, pulled on my arm. Do I have to add ewww here? EWWW!

The bone was set, an ex-ray showed it took. YAY! Treatment of a compound fractures done. A cast was put on my arm, purple was my choice. The total bill came to almost twenty five hundred dollars.

I will continue this story under another heading. I received severe nerve damage and have had to climb that uphill trail. I am an artist, yes right handed. It has been difficult this recovery but I am able to paint again. My hand will never be the same but I am grateful that I can paint.

Let those fantasy fairies lift you, hold you. Tiny angels will break you fall.