I found out recently that a skill I believed I had mastered still had a ways to go. I mean walking. After all, how hard is it? I have been doing it since very early childhood.
Still, with all that practice, on March 9th I tripped and fell and broke my shoulder!
I don't recommend it.
But now that I'm healing and getting able to do more and more regular activities every day, I did my usual thing – I've been thinking about what can be learned from this miserable experience.
Here are some observations I want to share with you:
It is a truly wonderful idea to be married to a smart, good looking nurse.
The people who work in the emergency room are very overworked, very dedicated and very good at their jobs. They took good care of me. However, the emergency room is not a fun place to have to spend time. Everything takes forever, you better have all your information available because they are gonna ask you for it (maybe more than once), you have a hard time finding out what's going on, privacy is minimal, and, of course, they don't actually fix you. That comes later, somewhere else. But it's a good place to start because they are very good at, well, emergencies.
Dr. Lawrence Kusior of Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County is an excellent doctor in an excellent group of doctors. He is warm, caring, efficient and direct. He shared information with me freely. I felt he was involved. I did not feel rushed with him even though I know that physicians today have killer schedules.
Physical therapy, which is what I'm doing now, is hard and uncomfortable. A lot of the time it just hurts. But it is the key to success. It's not my first time with P.T., and I didn't like it any better the other times, either. Heather Kelly, my therapist at Orthopedic Associates, is terrific. She motivates and pushes me even when I tell her, "That's enough." Because it isn't.
Good health insurance and good access to health care is a must and the fact that our country lags behind most western nations in providing it for all their people is shameful.
My colleagues reacted to the news of my injury with empathy and offers of help. Every one of them whom I asked stepped up to the plate for me.
My patients have been fabulous. They waited patiently while I got able to resume their care and they have been so concerned. I appreciate them so much. They are the best!
My Assistant Jennifer and Care Coordinator Joan have been unbelievably effective. I could not asked for more or better. And their patience with me in my irritable times (pain can shorten your fuse) tells of their maturity, devotion and focus. I am lucky to have them with me.
A famous physician-teacher once said that every doctor should have to undergo a sickness or injury and be in the health care system before being allowed to care for patients. This is a terrific idea. There is a good movie called The Doctor, starring William Hurt, that tells this very well. I recommend it to all who care for others.
It's important to look for the gift in any experience. Sometimes it's hard to see it while you're in the middle of the crisis. But it's there.
And finally: Life goes on. The crisis passes. You get stronger if you learn something.
I would like it if you would share this blog with others. Maybe someone you know might be helped by something in it.
