One year after
Last year, on June 28, I was hit by a truck crossing the street in Healdsburg, California. It was a really life-changing experience; with broken ribs, face, and wrist, I spent a lot of time in a haze of pain, trying to minimize the shooting jabs that would happen if I grabbed something the wrong way or turned my body too far. I spent a week in the hospital; another few weeks with my family in California; and then a couple of months healing and getting physical therapy.
I was really lucky to have such a strong and resilient social safety net. Although the accident was in California, Quebec auto insurance covered all my medical expenses, and even helped with incidentals. But even more important, my family and friends came through for me. My three brothers visited me in the hospital, as well as a cousin, and then friends in SF stopped by non-stop while I was healing enough to take a plane home. My wife, Maj, was exceptionally organized, keeping all the papers in place and coordinating all the moves and travel. I really just had to concentrate on getting better.
By fall of last year, I was back to the gym, working out with light weights and doing some cardio. I still have occasional twinges and jabs from my wrist, and my ribs make disconcerting grinding noises when I stretch the wrong way, but for the most part I am as back to normal as I’m ever going to get.
One thing I’m grateful for is just not having excruciating pain catch me and knock me breathless when I’m not expecting it. But I’m also grateful to be active again, and able to work in the garden or ride my bike or do any of a hundred physical activities that were unavailable to me last year.
I have an ongoing lawsuit to clear out the last of the expenses, and there always seem to be new bills from some clinic or institute attached to the hospital I stayed in. I don’t think this accident is going to be gone from my life for a while. But for now, I’m happy that the worst of it is over. Thank you to everyone who wished me well, fed me, clothed me, drove me to appointments, or encouraged me as I strained through the pain of simple, everyday activities. It meant a lot to me.
#accident #anniversary #health #pain
