April 8: Blink of an Eye
It’s amazing how our lives can change so dramatically in the blink of an eye. When the wheels of the cheap scooter I was riding in Hanoi, Vietnam slid out from under me on some loose gravel when I pulled on the throttle to avoid being hit by a car coming right at me, the first thing I noticed when I hit the ground was that my foot was twisted almost backwards.
Two and a half weeks later, after receiving surgery in a foreign hospital for three breaks in my leg, I have celebrated victories in small steps – doing movement exercises with my toes, learning to shower and dress myself, becoming more stable on crutches, and finding a way to transport a plate of food from my stove top to my kitchen table without the use of my arms or my good leg.
It’s a little early to put a specific timeline on when I will be able to walk without crutches, drive a car, or ride my bike. But I know I’m moving forward on the road to recovery. I’m working with an excellent local orthopedic surgeon, got my stitches out today, and already have several physical therapy appointments lined up.
It’s tough seeing such beautiful weather outside and not being able to ride, but I am choosing to focus on all the things I am grateful for.
I’m grateful I managed to pull myself over to the side of the road right after the accident, avoiding any further injuries. I’m thankful my children and I had three days together in Vietnam after I was discharged from the hospital and before I flew home. We were able to enjoy delicious spring rolls and pho on Train Street, go to a beautiful birthday celebration dinner at one of the top restaurants in the world, and take a stunning one-night cruise on Ha Long Bay.
I’m so darn appreciative of the wonderful friends in my church and community who set up my home to make it more accessible, moved my tutoring supplies downstairs so I could continue helping my clients, and offered to drive me to and from my high school so I can keep on teaching. Having meaningful interactions with others has been so uplifting.
