Kudos to my daughters and one granddaughter

If you are my friend on Facebook, you may know this already. I slipped and fell this morning at 4:20 am, while trying to get out of bed.  Ever since my heart surgery, I've had trouble pushing up out of bed in the mornings. Today, my rear end slid off the mattress and then my feet slipped out from under me and I hit my left hip, shoulder and head. 

I prayed to get up off the floor, as my strength was not sufficient. It is hard enough with two arms, but when one is unusable - it is nearly impossible. Somehow I managed it eventually. I looked at my shoulder in the mirror and the large bump on top let me to believe that I had dislocated it. The arm and shoulder hurt badly, but my head was okay - thankfully. I woke Jim up and told him I thought I needed to go to the Emergency Room. He started to dress - assuming I'd drive and he'd go with me. But I knew it was going to be impossible to drive the ten miles to the hospital, so I called EMS.  (Our local daughter was out of town on business.) They arrived in about 15 minutes; two very nice people who were polite and intelligent. They asked a good many questions and then put me in the ambulance. 

Here in the neighborhood where we live, they promote something called the "Vial of Life."  I had only just filled it out yesterday and put it on the refrigerator, so it could be seen by emergency personnel. It consists of all medical and health information, including next of kin and contact info for both of us. It was a big help to hand them that, which included all my medications and dosages - and it saved a lot of time. 

The emergency room personnel took info also and sent me for x-rays, of course. After a short wait, my "nurse" daughter arrived. Jim had called her, just before she was headed out her door to go to work.  It is a necessity to have an advocate when you are in a hospital, and her presence was very helpful and calming to me. I am usually fairly accepting of medical stuff, but my BP was elevated, as often happens when I am stressed. Daughter stayed with us for hours and went out to buy lunch and get my meds filled. 

A very nice Dr.  Myles entered the cubicle and told me I had fractured my clavicle and torn a ligament. He examined me all over, and explained thoroughly what he was doing. I love a doctor who is good at communication!!

I was given pain medication and a sling, and told to keep my arm and shoulder as still as possible. I'm trying, but I forget and use it and then I remember why I ought to keep it still.  I have broken bones 4 times in my life - all small ones: elbow, little toe, big toe and now clavicle. It hurts like H*ll. I am sure glad it wasn't my hip or a large bone. The pain must be unbearable for those. 

Shortly before dinner, out of town daughter arrived; brought dinner and dessert and picked up other meds from my pharmacy.  She visited for a while and left to go and feed her husband. Meanwhile, my granddaughter who is a sophomore at UNC-G drove here and she is staying the night with us, in case I need help - as I am sure to. I have decided to sleep in my recliner tonight. I know I will not be able to rise from my bed in the near future. I know this could be worse; I could have fractured my skull or broken a hip - and I am extremely grateful that didn't happen. 

But I had big plans for this week, as warm weather has arrived and I was going to spend a good bit of time in our garage - sorting and bringing office things inside. I also had plans to have 2 high school classmates visit us here, along with one's wife, and I was planning to make apple pie. Now none of that will happen and I am so sorry to have to cancel. I have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am not to be in traction or a body cast or worse.  Now, in addition to the physical therapy I am doing for my hip, I'm sure to have to add therapy for my shoulder.  UGH.

I want to thank both my daughters and my granddaughter for their time and help for both of us today and any time we need it. You are all indispensible!!! and we are so lucky to have you.