Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Quel Bummer!



So . . . I'm in the hospital with a dislocated and broken ankle (upon which I cannot put any weight for six weeks,) a dislocated shoulder, and a honking big laceration just above the other ankle. The dislocations have been put right and the laceration has  been sewn up with many, many stitches, inside and out, plus a bit of duct tape (or its medical equivalent.)

How did this happen?

Well, I was coming up the steep road by the garden in John's big truck and I decided to stop and get some pumpkins for the Fall decor. I put the truck in Park, mashed the emergency brake, and started to get out.

Which is when the truck began to roll. Backwards and down hill.

Hanging on to the steering wheel, I tried to pull my left leg back inside to re-stomp the emergency brake but the truck was picking up speed and beginning to slew from side to side.

Upon which I realized that my options were limited-- bail out or be dragged.

I let go and things were a bit of a blur after that but I found myself rolling downhill through a nice grassy field. Over to the side, the truck continued to hurtle down the road and at last into the branch at the side of the road. 

My cell phone was lying in the grass a little way off and I crawled to it to call John. He had heard the crash and was on his way.

He called 911 and I got my first ambulance ride, watching the mountains disappear behind us.

This has been a a painful, frightening experience but it could have been much worse. (Cue Funeral March.) 

And at least it took my mind off The Book.

 (No, I still haven't heard anything . . . )                                     


27 comments:

Vagabonde said...

Oh Vicki that sounds so painful! Certainly un grand bummer! You must have been scared where the truck would end up. It is good that you had your cell phone and John was coming so you could be helped right away. I hope everything will turn out OK in time – and that is, you must be good and patient with yourself and take the time to heal. All my best wishes for a speedy recovery and I am really sorry about this accident.

Diotima Mantineia said...

So glad you are (relatively) OK! Hugs and healing to you, and I hope your "to be read" pile of books is big enough to get you through the next six week.

Merisi Vienna said...

For heaven's sake, what presence of mind to get out of the car in time!
Wishing you a speedy recovery, sending you a warm embrace,
Merisi

Lee said...

Grateful you are relatively okay. That was harrowing! Rest. Linda Mc

jonibc said...

I'm so glad it wasn't any worse!

Bernie said...

Oh Vicki my heart gulped when I began reading your blog. I know it's painful but I thank God your alive and only need time now to heal.
Please take care, rest and know you are loved, respected, and praying you will be able to inform your fans to the end of this campaign. I selfishly need to hear your views.

Lee Ann Brown said...

So Glad you are well enough to Write that message! Sending Love from up North Lee Ann

GPearson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
GPearson said...

Well, I wish something more pleasant could have taken your mind off the book but so thankful you are ok! As you said, and I'm sure you have thought about over & over, you are so lucky! Rest, read, eat, and get well! Love you!

Leann Baltozer said...

Take it easy and hope you heal quickly,Vicki.What a freak accident!Glad to see you're writing,hopefully keep your spirits up.Loving thouhts to you,Vicki����OOO

Stella Jones said...

Oh no! Poor poor you Vicki. I'm glad that John heard the crash and came to your rescue, but if you were a cat, that would definitely be one life gone. The dislocations must have been very painful. The whole event a reminder of our mortality! I hope the pains soon subside and that you start to recover well and soon!

Ms. A said...

OH.MY.GOODNESS! So glad you lived to tell about it! Hope your recovery goes well, with minimal discomfort.

Ida said...

OMG! That is so frightening. I am glad you are alive and I'll have a chance to sit and visit with you this month when I'm in MadCo. Mortality is a bitch, isn't it. Relax;sleep; heal and listen to the doctors and Johnny.

Unknown said...

Shitfire woman!! Sending waves of healing love your way. But, wait. I can see a plot thickening. Failing brakes. Pumpkins in a field. Farm trucks careening. Mountains. Granny woman rolling in the grass, wondering which side is up. There is a happy ending though. I just know it. There is a cute little book called Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor about the pumpkin that got away, rolled down a mountain, bumpity, bump, bump. Maybe John will get one of those Pumpkins out of the field and make a Pumpkin Moonshine out of it for your homecoming.

Ellis Vidler said...

Vicki, how awful! I'm so glad you're patched and will recover. I hope the truck does too, but at least you survived. Take care of yourself.

Wayfarin' Stranger said...

My goodness! Our thoughts are with you and hoping for a speedy recovery. J&D

Mel said...

So sorry about your accident! Wishing you quick healing and so glad things weren't worse, though that is small comfort in your pain, I'm sure. Take care.

Polly Iyer said...

Yes, a nightmare. But you're right--it could have been much worse. Time for relaxation, whether you want it or not. Thinking of you.

KarenB said...

You have all my best wishes for a rapid and complete recovery after such a terrifying ordeal! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Please take care of yourself and let others take care of you for a while. And thank Claui for letting us know what happened.

Frances said...

Jeepers, Vicki! That is one heck of an experience.

I guess it's true that we never quite know what the future holds.

As others have said, it's pretty wonderful that you could contact your husband so quickly and have the ambulance arrive promptly. All my best wishes to you for a steady recovery. Hoping that you are getting lots of pampering. xo

Janet Morrison said...

Vicki, Wow! You could have been killed! That sounds horrible! (Pardon all the exclamation points, but I think they are justified in this case.) Glad John was nearby. It sounds like you received good care. I hope your recovery time is shorter than the doctor estimated. You have to be able to go vote on November 8 -- or make other arrangements! (More exclamation points are justified here, but my high school senior English teacher was famous for saying, "One is sufficient.")

Take care of yourself. I hope you have plenty of good books to read.

NCmountainwoman said...

Oh so sorry to hear about your mishap. I'm sure the therapist will order a knee walker/scooter since you have the dislocated shoulder. If not, take a look at them and ask the therapist if this might work for you. They are much easier to use than a walker when you cannot put any weight on one ankle.

Sending positive healing vibes from my side of the mountain.

Jime said...

Oh Vicki, That damned ole truck. I would kick it in the tail gate if I was there. Please take care and your left coast friend wishes you the best recovery. A little bourbon and branch water will ease the pain, and it is a great disinfectant.

Gwen said...

I am so, so sorry to hear of your terrible mishap. I fell once and shattered and dislocated my elbow, so I know the pain of reducing a dislocation. I hope your doctors are as excellent as mine were and that you heal well and quickly. My friend has a saying " Better living through pharmaceuticals." Don't try to be a hero; use the pain meds those first couple of days so you can get some rest. Sleep helps heal. Hoping to hear of positive progress over the next couple of weeks. Take care.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Thank goodness John was on the way and that you had your cell phone. I would have been frightened to death. Take care. I'll be praying for a speedy recovery.
Sam

Juliet said...

Oh what a frightening experience! But thank goodness you were able to bail out. I've only just caught up on this, but it's never too late to send blessings and good wishes.

Anonymous said...

Vicki! OMG! Somehow I'd missed this post and today scrolled way back to see what the heck you've been talking about. I'm so very sorry this happened, and can feel your pain, believe me, after having had several intense health happenings in the past three years. Bette Davis was right---though your accident could have happened to anyone, actually. Happy healing! You must be so ready to come home.
Sending the healing power of love to you over the innertubes,
Deana the Queena