I had every intention to participate in this year’s Cherished Blogfest. I wrote about my U.S. Passport last year and had a couple ideas for what I would write about this time. Leading up to this past Friday, the first day of the Fest, I went back and forth in my mind about which one I would choose.
That all changed Thursday morning.
A morning that started out pretty routinely changed in just a matter of seconds. One moment, I was standing on a ladder helping my husband trim some bushes, the next moment I was laying on the concrete patio floor writhing in pain. My hip took the full force of my fall and it was immediately obvious that I had done some damage.
Looking back, I probably should have taken an ambulance straight to the emergency room but I’m kind of stubborn and decided instead to be driven to the local clinic for an evaluation. I was holding out hope that it was just a bad bruise and that I’d be sent on my way with some pain pills and an admonition to be more careful in the future.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case; I had fractured my hip and was transported to the hospital for surgery to put it all back together again.
I’ll spare you the details, but I now have three pins installed in my left hip. If all goes well—and there is no reason it shouldn’t—these pins will be a permanent part of my anatomy. They will allow the bones to heal correctly then live on to become the reason I can never go through regular airport screening again. They will be some of the most expensive metal bling I own, yet no one can see them.
So today, the final day of the Cherished Blogfest, my submission is about a cherished object I didn’t own just three days ago. I would rather not have to have these pins to hold things together, but I am happy that they are there doing the job.
I hope that, for next year’s Cherished Blogfest, I’ll be able to write about one of my other ideas. In the meantime, I’m planning on staying off of ladders unless I am fully encased in bubble wrap.
This year’s Cherished Blogfest is being held the weekend of July 29-31. Everyone is encouraged to participate by sharing something they cherish (limited to 500 words).
For additional Cherished Blogfest posts, click here.
Retirementally Challenged 
Get well soon!
Thank you! I’m home and on the mend.
Wow, I can see why you would cherish those pins — it’s nice to be able to walk! Glad you got the post in under the wire. Best of luck as you recover.
Thank you! I really would have liked to write about one of my first two ideas, but they were quickly usurped by the pins. Hopefully next year…
I’m glad you made it. I am so sorry that you had such a bad injury. I’m glad they were able to effect repairs and I hope you heal quickly and without complication. Thank you for joining us 🙂
Having three pins inserted was better than a full or half hip replacement, so, in that sense at least, I was lucky. It just happens so quickly – one minute OK, the next not so much. I’m glad that I was able to get this post in under the wire!
We’ll keep a good thought for you as you heal.
Oh Janis – I’m so sorry for your injury. How awful!! I simply couldn’t hit the *like* button for any reason!
I’m wondering if your recovery looks anything like our son’s when he broke his hip 5 years ago snowboarding. No weight bearing for 12 weeks?
I think it will be less than 12 weeks, but we’ll see. Since I’m using a walker, I do put some weight on it. The docs say to use pain and discomfort as my guide. Fun times!
Ouch!!
Misha had both dislocated his hip and then broken the hip joint when it dislocated. Perhaps that’s why he was on crutches for 12 weeks and strict instructions not to sit with his hip at a 90 degree angle because of the risk of dislocating again.
Oh dear. Not fun at all!
Oh no! Feel better;
Thank you. It’s good to be home.
Wow! How life can change in an instant. Wishing you a speedy recovery. I’m so glad that medical people were able to put things back together.
Me too! It’s amazing how far things have come. They’ve even improved the hospital food!
I am not glad it happened (for the obvious reasons!) but I am very glad it was not worse. You could have walked out of the hospital with a lot MORE bling than just 3 pins. So, take your time, and get well. Those 3 pins and you need to be friends for a LONG time!!!
Yes, as much as I like bling, three was enough of this type. I guess they stay in well beyond their usefulness (but I’m not sure I want another surgery to take them out).
I am so impressed with your incredibly positive attitude after such a scary and painful injury. All the best to you on a speedy recovery back to full speed.
I have found that feeling sorry for myself doesn’t get me too far. I’m getting around a bit better every day so hopefully I can ditch the walker soon for something a little more dignified.
I am so sorry to hear this, Janis. I am glad that you are home now and on the mend. You are always a great teacher, and this is a great lesson for us all on just how quickly things can change.I had been watching for your Cherished Blogfest post…but hadn’t been expecting this!
Sending get well vibes your way.
Donna
I certainly would have preferred a different subject, but oh well… It’s amazing how quickly everything can change. Thanks for the healing vibes!
Oh no! So sorry to read this – best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thank you! It’s a bit better every day. The healing powers of the human body are amazing!
Life can change in an instant. Thanks for sharing this reminder. Get well soon.
I will never look at a ladder in the same way again. As soon as we stop paying attention, they can turn on you.
This is the gift that will keep on giving at every airport security station in the world! Hope you are doing ok.
I wonder if I will have to get special papers or something? Or, maybe a note tattooed on my left hip.
It just shows your positive attitude that you are putting these pins in a ‘cherished’ blog post. Good for you – nothing helps reality like our own attitude toward it 😉 Hope it heals fast and true.
Thank you! I’m lucky that my husband is here to help.
Oh my heavens, Janis!! I’m so glad to hear you are recovering! All that walking you do no doubt has kept the muscles and bones strong! And give your self TIME to recover. Don’t do too much unless you have to; now you can blog more 😉 ! Seriously, though, take care!
I do imagine I’ll be spending more time at my computer in the next several weeks. I have wanted to put together photo books from our recent trips, so now is my chance! I remember getting sick and staying home from school when I was young… all we had to pass the time with back then were black and white TV reruns!
I’m sure you will be amazingly productive 🙂
Sorry to hear about your fall and I hope you’re on your way to feeling better! I guess those pins do count as “cherished objects” now since they serve such an important purpose!
Yes! I will hold them near and dear to me for a very long time.
🙂
Ouch. So sorry to hear this. I shattered a leg years ago and had rods and screws inserted to put it back together. I went through airport security and they did not set off the alarm. Weird. I eventually had them removed after hearing from three folks whose screws worked themselves out of the bone as the bone tried to fill the area the screws were occupying. Get better soon.
The doc did say that the tops of the pins might bother me in the future but they can be filed off at that time if need be. We’ll see… I’m not all that anxious to be opened up again. Weird about airport security; I thought for sure I’d be setting the alarms off.
Awww, good thing your hubby ‘packs a positive attitude’ (previous post, great BTW) as I’m sure it translates well in helping you in your convalescence. Take care.
He has been taking good care of me… and so far he is still smiling 🙂 .
Oh my! I’ve been way behind on my reading–just catching up now.
I’m so sorry about your accident. Something similar happened to us on our recent trip. My husband fell off his bike while riding down a mountain in Norway. He cracked at least one rib (possibly) more and has been in considerable pain since then. It is going to take 6-8 weeks to recover. I hope your recovery time is shorter and less painful.
This growing older stuff isn’t for sissies! Remember back when it wasn’t a big deal to take a tumble?
I am in firm denial that this had anything to do with age. 🙂 Funny thing is, all the medical personnel kept saying how young I am… I imagine most of their fractured hip patients are quite a bit older.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband. Having an injury is bad enough, having one on a trip must be awful. My full recovery could take that long or longer, but I imagine I’ll be getting around fairly well before then.
Oh dear, so sorry to hear this news Janis. I hope you’re pain-free now and on your way to easy mobility once again. Take care!
Every day is better. The worse part is being so dependent on others. A day doing nothing sounds great, until that’s all you can do.
Oh wow, Janis. I didn’t expect this post when you mentioned you were participating in the Cherished Blogfest a little while ago (thank you for the idea, by the way). Now I have to wait another year to see what you did initially come up with. In the meantime, I wish you the quickest healing possible. And, your previous post sure is being proven useful! All the best and show those pins who’s the boss!
Liesbet @ Roaming About
I certainly didn’t expect it either. I better write down my two ideas so I can remember them next year! I’m so glad you submitted a post for the Cherished Blogfest… I am amazed that you have kept a journal going for so long. They must be truly precious.
Glad you made it and bravely posted amidst the pain and new circumstances of your life. I look forward to hearing your further reflections about retirement. Hope you feel better soon. 🙂
Thank you… and thanks for the follow! How crazy was I to be thinking about how I was going to make the Cherished Blogfest deadline while I was in the hospital?! I’m doing better every day 🙂
Sorry to hear about your injury. A good reminder to all of your readers to be ever vigilant about falls. Hope your recovery is smooth and fast.
My husband even warned me to put on tennis shoes (instead of my usual flip-flops) before getting on the ladder. I did. Unfortunately, the tennis shoes didn’t protect me from a moment’s distraction. My recovery is going nicely, thank you. One bonus of having a hip injury at 60 rather than the usual 80 or so: everyone comments about how young I am! 🙂
I’m so sorry about your accident. Another friend had a similar hip accident and she recovered a lot quicker than I would’ve thought. That’s one of things that you wish you could have a do-over on those 3 minutes leading up to the catastrophe!
If only I could have a do-over! 😄 I’m doing well in my recovery like your friend. I’ve already graduated from my walker to a cane! It’s amazing how quickly something like this can heal (or, at least allow for mobility while healing).
Oh, ouch. I expect you’re past the stage where good wishes are relevant, so I’ll just say that I’m glad you’re healing so well.
Ouch is right! Good wishes are always appreciated. I continue to heal and am getting closer to normal every day.