Wednesday, December 23, 2009

One year

It has been one year to the day. This will be my last posting. Thanks to all of you who have contributed with comments and sharing your experiences.

When I look back, the day of the accident and the following week was the worst time: the pain, the uncertainties, the helplessness, and the lack of sleep. The feeling of having the broken arm just hanging in a sling was just an appalling feeling. (Since my accident two colleagues broke their collar bone and ankle, respectively; they were back to work within a week. A humerus fracture is really something else.) But from then on, things improved, slowly, not always daily but on a relatively straight path.

Today, though, I'm in better shape than before the accident. I'm stronger, I swim better, I run faster (at least the 5k distance) than eight years ago. I have no tendonitis any longer, and the range of motion is the same in the left and right arm. I know that I'm able to overcome severe difficulties. I've also met people at the hospital and rehab who are far worse off than me.

I also experienced American health care at its best. My doctor was wonderful. He never tried to over-treat me to make a few extra bucks. He never tried to hide anything from me, may it be the level of pain of recovery time, and all his predictions turned out to be correct.

The flip side is the knowledge that I'm not immortal. I can feel it slippery winter days and I may be a bit overly cautious sometimes.

In hindsight, I there were good things about the accident. But I hope it will never happen again. And, I have not returned to the ice arena. I probably won't unless my kids want to go.