These
are the continuing adventures of a Swedish immigrant during her first
year as an American. She boldly went where she'd never gone
before...please come along on Adventures
in America.
If
you don't know why I'm lying in a hospital bed, in traction, go read yesterday's post.
They
took lots of x-rays of me in traction, re-adjusted the traction
(loads of fun...loads...) and then took more pictures. Left me in
traction to see if THIS position would work. The plan was for me to
lie there and HEAL while in traction. As in months. I was not a fan
of this solution.
Meanwhile,
Farmor and Farfar (Father's Mother, Father's Father and you really
ought to know those by now...) had arrived for their long planned
Christmas visit. My parents had decided not to tell them about the
accident until they arrived, but when I wasn't at the airport, they
immediately freaked out and insisted on being brought to the hospital
before going to the house.
We
had of course anticipated this, and I'd been sponge-bathed and
dressed in regular pajamas, not the hospital gown, all to calm Farmor
who was, shall we say, an emotional woman. She of course bawled
while hugging me. Farfar? He hugged me hard and then turned away
and left the room for a moment. Must have had something in his
eye...
It
was great to see them, traction didn't seem as horrible when Farmor
was holding my hand and telling me stories. But they'd been
traveling. No one was going to force-feed them ice-cream before
taking them home, but I'd say a stop at the hospital to see your
granddaughter broken and in traction would be worse than midnightvanilla.
After
everyone left, it was bedtime. I'd never felt so alone in my entire
life. I was in a biggish room with at least three other hospital
beds, but I couldn't really see because I was sorta tied down in
various places – to keep me positioned correctly for healing- and
sitting up and looking around wasn't an option. So I stared at the
ceiling and cried myself to sleep.
Soon
(not soon enough) they decided traction wasn't going to work. I
don't care if it would have worked MEDICALLY, but keeping this 9 year
old tied to a bed for months would have made me literally insane. I
think this incident is the root of my claustrophobia
Instead,
I got surgery, two pins, which I still have, but can't find, so just
picture 4 inch bolts from the hardware store. Seriously. I stayed a
few more days, now in a body cast which went from my chest to just my
toes peeking out on the injured (right) side to above my knee on the
left. There was a big metal pole from the left thigh to the right
ankle. I think to keep the cast stable. Aunt Risky colored it like
a candy cane.
I
had great nurses as you can see. That didn't stop me from wanting to
go home. Receiving a girl in a body cast takes some preparation, and
living in one takes some...patience. This saga (Swedish for story,
did you know that?) will continue at another letter...as I learned
when I started watching commercial TV, “Stay tuned!”
45 comments:
Ug! What a terrible experience. Glad you didn't have to lay in traction though.
It must have been awful. So glad you didn't have to stay in hospital a long time.
Glad you're ok now. Sorry about your hip. Came over from Alex's blog and you now have a new follower.
Hi hopped over from Alex's blog today. What a story glad your hip is ok now.
Traction sounds awful. I wonder how they would fix a broken hip today?
Be sure to stop by Tina. Surprise for you!
whew...what an ordeal...i had to lay in traction when i crushed both my legs...they thought they might swell and...not a fun picture...
wow... just wow.
At nine years old that horrific and the procedures weren't as phenomenal then as they are now. It sounds so sad!
Thats some serious shit.
Poor thing! Juliet atCity Muse Country Muse
wow, very cool old picture. Sad for nine-year-old, but something you'll never forget!
OMG!!! There was a girl in my class who had hip replacement surgery in 3rd grade and she, too, was in a body cast for months and months.
Hi- just popping in from the A-Z and I'm so sorry to hear about your hip. Gah! I can't even imagine having to lie in traction like that for months. I can't ever sit still- I would have lost my mind.
I guess these days they would replace a broken hip although maybe not for a child. I am glad you were finally taken off traction. No wonder you cried. Bad enough as an adult.
JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
I'm a new visitor, came over from Alex Cavanaugh's blog. Read today's post, read yesterday's post, immediately became a follower.
Oh, I'm so sorry! I can relate, but not as a young child. I was older when I had to have pins and screws put in place. A car accident was the cause~ You are adorable and midnight vanilla can cure a lot, but not traction-yikes! You are a trooper~ I'll stay tuned ;D
My brother had to be in traction like that when he was 3. It's pretty horrible.
What a terrible life altering accident. You were very brave indeed. Great to have grandparents near.
Katie atBankerchick Scratchings
It's experiences as you've described...right down to the reason for adult claustraphobia...that make for Stories like this. Who knew?
You are INVITED to a Quilt Show...by INVITATION only...click on CITexasGal Link.
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee
Hi Tina .. dreadful experience .. I guess the only good thing was the realisation that home was where the broken hip wanted to be ... with the rest of the family - talk about scuppering Christmas for everyone - I know, I know not your fault!!
Cheers - talk about an introduction to America ... Hilary
Can't even imagine having a body cast, you poor thing. Great story!
I cannot even imagine breaking my hip at 9yrs old...although I broke my hip last year while on a training run training for a half marathon...I am healed and running again...thanks so much for sharing, your story is great to read!
Shannon at I Survived and Now I Run
Girl! You have really been through it...most people live their entire lives here and don't have such stories to tell. Good call, Alex. Glad you're directing people here through your blog today.
Your life has been so crazy lately, Tina!
Wow poor you! I can't imagine how uncomfortable that was, but the stories from it are inspiring, so things do happen for a reason.
Hey Hilary, that's a word I haven't heard in years, not in Canada or the States anyway, scuppering, or scuppered. Being a boating family we used it quite a bit in the original sense of the word.
Sorry Tina, hijacking your comments.
JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
Uck, I'm cringing over here.
A 9 y/o in a body cast. Egads. I feel so bad for Little Girl You.
Reminds me of my volunteer Candy Stripping Days at the hospital. We had a child as a patient in a circle bed...traction that we would flip over once an hour to keep pressure on and off the right places. Wow...can't imagine how hard this was.
A-Z
Hello, coming over form Alex's blog.
My first experience in a hospital was when I was 5. It traumatized me because I was pretty much alone (long story), but I am glad you had great care and compassionate people around you.
Sweden .. how cool! I am originally from Germany.
Alexandra
Oh, my gosh, a nine year old, in traction and then a full body cast,you poor thing.
Lucy from Lucy's Reality
I would've gone insane. I can't hold still for five minutes, let alone days on end.
Traction would have been horrible. I'm glad they fixed you up and you healed. That's quite a story.
Must have been so tough at such a young age. Hope Farmor and Farfar were able to make lots more visits as it obviously helped make things feel a bit better.
Oh that does sound/look dreadful!
Tina, you are a great storyteller! It's amazing that you could go on to be a gymnast in spite of having broken your hip. Thanks for sharing this and for the language lesson... didn't know that saga was Swedish.
That must have been a harrowing experience. I recently had to stay in a hospital after an incision; that one night was bad enough!
I hope this means you are writing your memoirs...good story! Happy A to Z!
MakingtheWriteConnections
Nurses really are angels. Your story of possibly being in traction for months- and resulting in claustrophobia - brings to mind the stories my Mom told me of kids in iron lungs during the polio epidemic here in the 1950s. It's just beyond my imagination to be trapped, immovable, for months, years, or a lifetime.
I was claustrophobic when I had a cast on my ankle! I can't even imagine a body cast!
I felt claustrophobic just thinking about being in traction for months.
Nice to "meet" you, Tina! :)
Can I be ignorant and just ask what traction is? Having to lie still for months on end would have been terrible. I'm trying to imagine my nine year old sister doing that, and I just can't. Thank goodness that didn't happen to you.
Wow, that sounds like a totally miserable experience!
I'm enjoying the little snapshot additions, though.
Lyre at Lyre's Musings
I would have lost my mind! I don't know how you made it through that.
Post a Comment