I went rollerblading with my kids and broke my wrist, requiring surgery. The first night contained absolutely NO sleep and a LOT of worry. But here I am, days later, to tell you that not only is everything okay, it's actually pretty wonderful (or is that the drugs talking? Let's find out)
"Hah, been a while since you went rollerblading, hey? Bit older now, aren't you?"
Uhh yeah, and I absolutely SLAYED! I was flying along with the breeze through my hair, grinning like a banshee while reliving my 14-year-old Taylor-Hanson-obsessed MMMBoppin' days. I totally rocked the blades and had a BALL with my eldest three at the roller rink. I was thinking 'Hey, I could really get into this. It could be a regular thing that we could do together and we could bond and stuff'. Hubby was smiling and waving and I gave him a grin and a thumbs up, then used my breaks to slow down so I could make my way to the rink exit. Then, somehow, my feet slid forward out from under me and I put my arm back to cushion my fall onto my backside, and, CRACK!
It wasn't even a bad fall. I got up all wobbly and didn't look at my wrist until I was near the rink exit. It didn't look normal. I held it out towards my husband as I moved towards him and said something like, "I think I need some help." He guided me to the chair and then things started to go white. It was all fun and games until that point. I had broken my radius. A colles fracture, which meant the bone ends were nowhere near each other, my wrist looked deformed, and I needed surgery.
Shit. Oh-kaaaay. I'm a mum of 5, aged care worker, and writer, who needs to get her kids to a lot of appointments and just does a lot of shit every day. I had bags all around me, three kids looking at me, rollerblades strapped to my feet, and where was my handbag? How the heck was this all going to work?!!
Alright, I admit, this is an injury with a 12-week recovery, it's going to get old, and it hasn't even been a week yet. But still, I have had some beautiful moments and unexpected benefits of this injury that I want share with you.
It's not been all bad. Let me explain...
An enforced SLOWING DOWN
A literal slowing down of everything that I need to do. Getting dressed, finding something in my bag, getting into and out of a car, going to the toilet, eating a meal. It's like a little enforced time for mindfulness and mindfully doing things that I wouldn't otherwise think about or probably even be conscious of doing. I would just do the thing, but now, I have to think about doing the thing.
An outpouring of LOVE and SUPPORT
This has been HUGE! My children made me cheesecake and get-well cards, they texted me and sent me videos while I was in the hospital. They have given me extra hugs and extra love and one of them even told me how she had prayed for me. The people around me just sorted stuff out and I have received offers of support, and I have just felt so FULL and grateful...
GRATITUDE
Gratitude for my health and family, for the love and support from them and those around us, and for my access to excellent medical care. The doctors and nurses were wonderful, I didn't have to wait for the surgery, it was done the day after the injury, and I was offered my own room to recover in. Work has been understanding, my husband's work has been understanding, and I just feel so grateful. Grateful for my body, too. It does a good job, putting up with me lol.
REST
An injury like this makes you rest. Because you have to rest to recover, and because the pain and drugs make you sleepy. Normally, I would do things when I rest, maybe write, read, research, whatever. But, the type of rest I need has been genuine rest. My brain has felt a bit shaky and I haven't tried to fill the time doing, but have spent a few days literally just resting. Sometimes, just sitting there doing absolutely nothing at all. Not really even thinking. Just resting. This is rare for me. Again, perhaps a side effect of some of the drugs, but it has still been an unexpected benefit, to give my brain a genuine break.
CLARITY
A little more awareness perhaps, about what really matters. I mean, work goes on without me, and it doesn't matter if the house is messy. What matters is my family and our relationships, the time that we spend with one another, and that each of our needs are met.
I also seem to have a sort of understanding hovering around in the back of my head, too, that creating memories and doing things contains some risk, and the outcome was worth it. And, even this perceived negative event will have POSITIVE OUTCOMES. We will laugh about it when we talk about this as we all get older, "Remember those school holidays when Mum fell on her bum and broke her arm on the first day...". Yeah, but remember how AWESOME she skated before she fell! haha.
I dunno. I mean, I suppose I expected to sit around feeling sore, unable to do stuff, and like a broken arm would just be a big, HUGE inconvenience. But, i don't feel that much at all. Instead, I feel glad and grateful, a bit sore, but still able to do stuff, just a little slower.
Will I go rollerblading again?
Maaaybe I will. Before I fell, we actually won the door prize, which was another free pass hah! Guess I owe the kids a re-do.
Much love,
Marley
P.S / UPDATE:
It's been three days since I wrote this blog post and yeah, to be honest, I kinda think it was the drugs talking. I'm still tired with a shaky brain, feeling a bit less sore but a bit more miserable today (+fat, useless, untalented, uncreative etc. etc.). Fun times. But even still, the above still stands. My family rocks, my body is healing, and I have a lot to be grateful for. Like you! Thanks for being here. Stay safe and may your days be blessed - Marley xx
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