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Moonlight Sonata (In D Flat Major)

My curiosity got the best of me. I was snuggled in bed hoping to get a few extra winks in so that I could awake refreshed and ready for a busy four day work week.  Our youngest son had an extra day at home due to the MLK holiday and was safely back at Mississippi State University.  Clothes had been ironed and my dress and jewelry laid out for the morning.  I use my cell phone as an alarm and was setting the alarm when I happened to read all the Facebook comments about the beautiful ring around the moon.  Curiosity set in, so I wrapped a blanket around me and headed outside to see the celestial sight.  Mr. Still Woods was already out there and as I headed down the brick steps he commented that he had ever seen a ring so large.  I made the dreadful mistake of looking up and then the next thing I knew, I was going down.  It was not a pretty fall.  I knew right away that I had done something dreadful to my left hand.  As I held it, I noticed that is was now shaped like a fork, with the hand at an awkward position.  My left ankle was hurting me, but eerily, my hand felt...well eery.  I have always had an extremely high threshold for pain, which according to many physicians is not a blessing.  You don't really know how badly hurt you may be.  We decided to make our way to the local ER after I began to feel nauseated and started to shake violently...my body's way of saying, "You are hurt".  All I could think of was that the ER would be full of people with the dreaded flu.  I have worked tirelessly at avoiding people with the flu and now I would be sitting for hours amongst airborne flu particles. UGHH! A little dramatic, but given the circumstances,  I think I was allowed a few deranged thoughts.  It was a pleasant surprise to find no patients in the ER and I was seen immediately by a terrific staff.  I have even forgiven the x-ray technician for making me do things with my hand that I really didn't want to do.  After the routine questions and x-rays, it was confirmed that . . ."M'am, when you do something, you do it well".  I had at least four fractures to the radius and the ulna was pushed outwardly to an extreme. It was necessary to set it to avoid additional swelling before it would be surgically repaired.

What?  Surgery? I only wanted to look at the moon!  I have tons of kids to test this week and I need both hands to do my job! No one was listening.  I soon gave consent to be mildly sedated and was told I would have a "nice sleep".  I was given a disgusting narcotic known as Ketamine and was soon soaring through tunnels at rapid speeds and hearing muffled voices.  At one point I thought . . . is this is what it feels like to die? Do I need to tell them I don't think I can breathe? Along with a zillion other thoughts. This was not a "nice sleep". Soon my soaring slowed down and my husband's concerned face came into view . . .well, his two faces came into view.   I also had something heavy on my chest which was two left arms.  Here is one of them!
By the way, I also have some terrific x-rays I could share with you, but my sister, who has her Ph.D in nursing got nauseated looking at them, so I won't subject my blogging friends to more than the two pictures posted here! Gradually, my husband's two faces merged to one and I was immensely relieved to find out I only had one heavily bandaged left arm.  It all slowly came back to me . . . all for the moon! Two days later I was in surgery to repair the fractures with the use of a plate, screws, and pins.   I came home with a smaller soft cast and some big fingers!
It has been a week today since my surgery!  I get my stitches out next week and then will be in another cast for 4-6 more weeks.  My "Misfit Friends", Trisha and Diane (more about them later) were here a day later with delicious homemade vegetable soup chocked full of organic homemade chicken stock from Trisha's own chickens.  The stock is reportedly good for bone healing.  Whoo hooo!  Just what I need.  Bring me gallons!  Diane gifted me with her fabulous buttermilk pie.  Banana and apple muffins were also included.  I thank God for special friends like these two.  I am also thankful for my sweet family who have been here to help and deliver meals almost daily.

I am learning that a week with one arm is difficult and it makes me in awe of the many handicapped individuals who live life daily with challenges.  In case you are wondering how I came up with the name for this post, I must tell you that I am taking nothing stronger than extra strength Tylenol!  I adore playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata in C sharp minor and I was looking at the moon so it fits. Of course, since I fell flat and did it in a major way, I took liberties and  changed the key.  I don't think Beethoven would have minded!
Blessings from Still Woods
Please excuse any typos.  Typing with one hand is quite a task!

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Comments

  1. I am so sorry. Why do these things have to happen? I hurt my ankle about 6 months ago and have learned that I don't heal as quickly as I used to. Hang in there! (I always tell myself, "this too shall pass")

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    1. Thank you Wendy. Yes, "this too shall pass"! I have also found that I do not heal very well. It is a sobering but also an amusing thought. We don't spring back like we used too!

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  2. Hope you heal fast! I fell out my back door a few years ago and broke and shattered both bones in my arm and ended up with 2 plates and 18 screws!

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    1. Wow! I need to talk to you. Was the healing process long?

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  3. no, it really was not too bad, I never had any problems, I favored that arm a long time,afraid I would hurt it again but after the pain from surgery was over, I never knew anything was wrong the plates and screws never bothered me. I was amazed at how much we need 2 arms to do everyday things.

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    1. That is good to hear. I am hoping I do as well as you. I too am amazed at how much we depend on the use of both arms. Chopping in the kitchen is quite a chore!

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  4. Bless your heart! I got goose bumps reading your story...hope all heals well and QUICK!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Typing with one hand is getting tedious!

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  5. I saw your post about a broke wrist and I too broke my left wrist last April. Almost 1 year ago. I'm sorry and I know just how bad it hurts. Like you I have a high pain threshold and broke it in my driveway also looking up at the sky!!! It was my "be still" and your blog hits home so much! I went the next morning and ended up in a cast to allow for swelling 2 weeks then the one I got for the other 4! God's grace when they said I had broken the wrist bones and shattered the one my thumb that they'd see how it would heal and mentioned surgery. This was not an option for me; I told that young Dr. that God was healing me and I would not need surgery thank You Jesus....I did this with every appointment... my cast was off in 6 weeks and well I have full restoration of my left wrist! This is also the hand I write with and I feel ya! I learned to write with my R hand etc... anyway, just wanted to let you know there are others out there who have gone through.... praying for your recovery!!! God bless you!

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    1. Hi Michelle,
      I am so glad that you healed and have full use of your wrist. I am praying for the same thing with mine. Did your swelling last long? I laughed when you mentioned that looking at the sky was also involved in your break! I think I am going to keep my eyes fastened on the ground while I am walking from now on. Lastly, thank you so much for praying for me. With God, all things are possible. I am very thankful for my sisters in Christ!
      Blessings from Still Woods

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    2. Thanks for the reply and honestly; my swelling lasted months; even after getting off my cast, the DR. said it swelling could stick around for a year. This April 22 will be 1 year since the actual break. I thank God that my swelling is gone, it doesn't hurt and I can do everything I did before, including snapping my fingers exceptionally loud! :) Praying for your quick and complete healing in Jesus name. I am going to actually blog about my healing in the near future along with pictures. Also, be prepared when they remove the cast your arm will look "old" and strange; at least mine did. I put lotion on it every day! Wishing you the very best, glad I found your blog from Twist and Twirl :) I'm not sure how to link my blog name instead of my name to email but learning as I go!

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