2 months ago, I was in a terrible accident.
Why do I talk about this now on the blog, finally? I don’t know.
Just a few weeks after the Los Angeles Organizing Awards concluded, I was finally gathering up my bearings to re-ignite organizing Los Angeles and in a split second, severely injured myself, bad.
While working, I was wrapping up my day (or rather, night) and went checking on some details in a backyard up in the Hills above Hollywood. In relative darkness, I mis-navigated a set of outdoor stairs/rocks/dirt and slipped/fell into a funnel-shaped drainage hole filled with hard cement. How horrible it really was!
After the fall, organized emergency assistance was needed– stat. When I was able to get going, temporarily, I hobbled to the car and checked with my navigational buddy for the nearest urgent care center. TomTom whisked me off to Hollywood Community Hospital, not too far from where I was in Hollywood.
Hours later I discovered from the doctor that I fractured my left foot just under my small toe. Almost immediately, my life changed. Within two days I had a non-weight bearing cast from my toes up to my knee, and two stainless steel crutches I would become very good friends with. Oh, and a bottle of Motrin, too.
Again, why do I talk about this now, finally? I don’t know. Obviously many friends, family, some clients and organizing colleagues all know about this. Some don’t.
Earlier this month I traveled to the NAPO National Conference in Reno on my crutches and various wheelchairs (you can see my LAX visit above with the fabulous Betty Vasquez, Passenger Assistance Specialist with LAX G2 Secure Staff— love her!) And I had pictures taken all over conference including these two of the Los Angeles Chapter winning a big award (you can see my crutches being held in the background.) Do I even need to tell you which one was me?
The outpour of support and love has been incredible. Imagine not really being able to do anything for yourself. No shopping. Very little driving. No pool. Limited commercial breaks for drive-by cappuccino. It’s been tough. And I have a new deep appreciation for people who are handicapped, injured or disabled. Like I told my Beverly Hills podiatrist, I can totally see someone moving into a health-care career after an accident or illness– to fight for global wellness and disabled rights. The world is not necessarily designed for them/me. I have fallen down three times on staircases and while crossing Wilshire Boulevard. I have slipped on wet pavement. I have a handicap placard for my car, but I hardly ever can park at a handicap space because the spaces are full of people illegally parked and "waiting for their friend who went into the store for one quick thing…." At one point I had to drive a grimy Whole Foods scooter around for my Pelligrino. What’s an Angeleno to do?
My recovery continues, with lots of support. The healing will take time. And time has shown me what kindness lives inside friends, family and especially strangers. I am not the same person I was two months ago.
***Have you ever had a life changing experience? Are you willing to share? I would love to hear your stories, as would our readers. Use the comment feature below.
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