BeccaMonroe: September 2012

Well, it figures. My first day of my booked off holidays with my boyfriend, whose name is Kyle, I would go and break my leg.

Yep. And you will never guess how it happened...

My friends and I decided it would be a good idea to go to Wild Water and Wheels (which is a local theme-park-esque kind of place) for the day. The plan was to ride some rides, play some mini golf, do a couple laps of go carts and then cool off in the water park.

Not so much.

The first water slide I went on I landed in the water but what I didn't know was that the water in the pool was very shallow. It was so shallow infact that I slammed my big toe on the pool floor with all the force of my body and therefore my foot went one way and my leg went the other resulting in a fractured fibula. Now, in my opinion, in no way, shape, or form should the pool be shallow enough for anyone to touch the bottom after being shot downwards from a water slide. Am I right?... It wasn't just me that was hitting the pool bottom either. Of the six of us who also went down the slide all of them had scraped their knees, butts, or backs on the pool floor. I just so happened to be the unlucky S.O.B. who landed wrong.

After coming to the surface and catching my breath I knew something was wrong. I don't really remember it hurting but I did know that my fun was over for the day. I sat on the bottom of the stairs leading out of the pool and tried to move my foot. I thought because I could move my ankle with minimal pain and the fact that it was also starting to swell even before I got out of the water was a sign that it was only sprained. That was until I tried putting weight on it... I couldn't even rest my toe on the bottom of the pool without sharp pains running up my leg. As soon as I was done assessing my perdicament in my head I informed my watching friends that I think I had sprained my ankle. Me, being a dramatic person at the best of times my friends mearly thought I was joking and they didn't really think anything of it. Then I said it again with my seriously-guys-this-hurts eyes and they quickly understood. So Kyle helped me out of the pool and to the picnic table so we could asses the situation. I concluded that I just wanted to go home and wait to see if it got better after icing it and keeping it elevated.

Keep in mind that this whole time I am being gawked at by everyone and their friggen dog! Not to mention I had a low cut baithing suit top on and was hopping on one foot to the awaiting golf cart that was going to drive me to our van.

Kill me now!

A word of advice, if you ever see someone get hurt and you know they are being taken care of, don't sit there and stare at the poor soul. More importantly tell your five children and your visiting relatives
from Delaware not to stare either. It is just plain common sence people!

On our way back to our house Kyle stopped and bought me an assortment of things to help me feel better. A tensor bandage, strained muscle cream, pain killers, and the like which helped. To get into our house I had to ride a computer chair across our driveway, crab walk with only one leg up the flight of stairs and then take another computer chair ride to our lazy boy recliner to rest and elevate my foot. It was quite the experience.

The next day Kyle went out and bought me some crutches so I could actually go to the bathroom and get around somewhat. I did this for a couple days and then when I still could not put any pressure on
my leg I decided that I sould book a doctors appointment to see if my ankle was in fact broken.

My Dr. sent me for x rays and we had discovered that my fibula was indeed fractured just above my ankle and that I needed to get a cast. The cast clinic at the hospital couldn't book me in right away so I had to go two more days without a cast. After waiting almost two hours at the cast clinic I was affited with an air cast that was kindly loaned from my Mom's friend Diane. I was extremely thankful to her because if she had not offered to loan it to me I would have had to buy one for $160!

It has been 29 days since I took that faitful ride down the snaking tube of fear that sent me floundering towards my doom (I mentioned that I was dramatic right?...) and I am feeling much better now. I did however go through many sleepless nights because of discomfort from my leg being broken and from getting used to sleeping with the air cast on. Not to mention the sheer bordom of being off work for almost a month now. Damn those Doctors and their orders. ;) But I have managed to piss my time away making friendship bracelets, watching countless movies and TV shows on netflix, Polyvoring my life away, and annoying the people who have kindly come to visit me.

I have to thank a lot of people for helping me through the first weeks especially. A BIG huge thank you goes firstly to Kyle. Thanks for helping me with nearly EVERYTHING when I could barely get to the washroom let alone make food or get dressed. You mean the world to me. I love you.

Thank you to Mallory for making me breakfast every day, playing Mario Cart with me and doing all the things I requested of you. You're the best Mal.

Thank you to my sister Allison for cleaning my house when I couldn't and when it needed it most. And for staying over and keeping me company. ;) #1 Sister all the way!

Thanks so much to Mom and Dad. You guys never fail to help me when I'm in a bind. Whether it be I need advice as to whether I need to go to the emergency room or bringing me amazing goodies to make me feel better (aka. double beer hats, cards, and bags of crafting materials). Thanks also to Mom for driving in the Air Cast at 8am so I would have it for my Dr.'s apointment. You guys are amazing and I love you both soooooo much!

Thanks also to Jon, Jen Chappell, Emilie, Teen, Nanna, Aunt Lois, Uncle Ray, Karlee, Mark, Kassy and everyone who came and visited me!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!

Overall I am still reliant on my crutches because it hurts to use my left leg. I have hope that this week I will be able to get walking without the crutches and be going back to work soon. This experience has taught me a lot about how it feels to be disabled even though it is only temporary for me. I have completely changed my way of thinking about accessibility and my attitude towards people who face these challenges everyday of their lives.

I just really hope I never EVER break a bone again because it sucks. Horribly.