STORIES FROM THE FALL, Part 6: Bodies piling on top of each other . . .

February 24, 2024

 

Note: See posts every day since Feb 17.

I have one more story to tell from that brilliantly orchestrated day. And it’s not my story, but the doc’s story.

I had finally been admitted into Emergency, with a room of my own. Pretty soon, the doc walked in. Probably somewhere in his 60s.

As he silently and gently manipulated my wrist, I asked if he had ever broken a bone.

“Yes, multiple fractures,” he responded, while turning from me to pick up an instrument.

“WHAT??! Car crash?”

”Plane crash.”

“Small plane?’

“Large. Though I am, and was then, a pilot. You’ve probably heard of it. Sioux City, July, 1989. I was with three friends and we were in the back of the plane, high-fivin’ each other for having gotten on the flight from Denver at the last minute.”

If I wasn’t still pecking with one finger I’d give more of his story. Let me just say here that his fractures occurred, not when the plane crash landed but afterwards, as he and others in the back desperately clawed their way to escape the sudden smoke and ended up falling out from high up, piling on top of each other.

Afterwards, when he called his fiance´from the hospital to tell her why he hadn’t come that day to celebrate her birthday she was furious, and broke up with him.

“What a BITCH!” I erupted.

“That’s what my father said! And he told me, wait a week and you’ll be glad. And yes, I was glad.”

Then suddenly, “But why am I going on about me?”

“Why not?” I replied.

 

 

STORIES FROM THE FALL, Part 5: We get ice; another person with the story of a fall joins the three of us

February 23, 2024

 

People were being called out one by one and then returned; first to give blood pressure and weight, next for Xrays, if needed, then finally, when a room became available, to be admitted into the hallowed halls of Emergency. Next thing that happened after the third woman with injury from ice fall told Leore and I to get ice, was I was called in for my X-ray. While there I asked for ice, for myself and another person. “I’ll have to go into the catacombs to find ice packs,” the staff person responded, “but I’ll bring them to you.’

20 minutes later, we both had ice, cementing our bond.

Meanwhile, a man sitting out in the main area of the waiting room next to a college age young man with a broken ankle (I had noticed how solicitous he was of the one who turns out to have been his son), got up, walked over to our hallway, and said that his son had also slipped on the ice last night, late, after being out to a bar with friends. That because of his fall neither of them could attend some kind of ceremony that he had driven for five hours south thru the storm for what’s usually a two hour drive. At this point the woman who hurt head and neck from her fall chimed in, said she had driven the normally two hour drive up from Louisville, again, took her five hours, to attend orientation for her only beloved daughter, a freshman at IU. But that was out too!

Thus does a sense of community arise!

(to be continued)

 

Went to a gigantic shoe store today with friend Marita, at her suggestion, to get some “sketchers.” I had no idea what they were: walking shoes that slip on easily. So now I won’t have to struggle five minutes to get on the boots that make me feel like a platypus, sloshing along, for the daily three miles with puppy Shadow. Also, can now floss my teeth, thanks to new splint that leaves more of fingers exposed. And, figured how to zip up my favorite sweater. If I have to spend 6 to 8 weeks compromised, want to do it with as little help as possible.