emeraldcity Posted March 6, 2022 #1 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Three hours after checking into my pre-cruise hotel 2 days prior to the cruise, I was returning to the hotel after lunch. There was no crosswalk in view in either direction, so I crossed the highway and started to cross the dividing medium strip. What appeared to be a concrete sluiceway in the medium strip to handle excessive rain runoff ended in what looked like a scattering of leaves. It was actually a hole filled with leaves. (My cruise friend checked it out later and told me it was 7 inches deep,) I went down hard and broke both ankles. It was to have been a girls cruise ... the three of us hadn't seen each other since a cruise group get-together in New York City two and a half years earlier. Once I got confirmation that the ankles were broken, I had to cancel my reservation. I'm still awaiting the FCC. I urged my friends to go on the cruise and have a wonderful time and send me lots of pictures. I spent two days in a hospital in Florida before flying home after a great deal of work on the part of friends and family to get me back to Cleveland. As the plane took off from FLL, I kept saying to myself "Don't look. Don't look. Don't look." But of course, I looked. And there was the Odyssey with the unmistakable Northstar stretched across the top ... and I buried my face in my hands and sobbed for quite some time. I finally got home yesterday to a house that has seen considerable modification by my mobilized family to accommodate a mom in a wheelchair. I have subsequently cancelled my March cruise and am holding out hope I can go on the one in May. 16 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewiswharf Posted March 6, 2022 #2 Share Posted March 6, 2022 I'm so sorry this happened to. Better days ahead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coralc Posted March 6, 2022 #3 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Oh no D! That's terrible news. So sad that you missed your cruise. I hope you are on the mend quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted March 6, 2022 #4 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Im so sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted March 6, 2022 #5 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Wow, very sorry that happened to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy planning mom Posted March 6, 2022 #6 Share Posted March 6, 2022 So sorry this happened to you. Hope you heal well and can go on your May cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emeraldcity Posted March 6, 2022 Author #7 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Being non-weight-bearing on both legs is particularly challenging, but I've become pretty proficient with the use of the transfer board to move between the chair and the bed or the commode. But transfer to a car is weeks away. If I have a doctor appointment that becomes necessary before I can handle that, I have arrange another very expensive ride in a vehicle that can take a wheelchair bound passenger. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizzing Posted March 6, 2022 #8 Share Posted March 6, 2022 That sounds terrible and challenging. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4 Posted March 6, 2022 #9 Share Posted March 6, 2022 I’m so sorry that happened to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingos Posted March 6, 2022 #10 Share Posted March 6, 2022 I am so sorry - I've only been non-weight bearing on one foot, not both. Goodness, what a challenge. When the time comes, I wish you a competent physical therapist to get you back to normal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#55worktoplay Posted March 6, 2022 #11 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Oh my goodness I’m sorry to hear this. That had to and likely still is very painful. I’m sure the two others are heartbroken that you aren’t with them. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted March 6, 2022 #12 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Forget about the cruise how are you, how is the rehab going? That's tough injuries no matter what your age is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emeraldcity Posted March 6, 2022 Author #13 Share Posted March 6, 2022 I did not have a very good experience with the Florida hospital, but my care here in Cleveland has been top notch. The plane was met by an ambulance waiting for me on the tarmac and I was taken directly to the Fairview satellite of the Cleveland Clinic. After several days in the hospital here, I went to a 5-star skilled nursing facility where my daughter-in-law works. It was a little taste to what life might be like down the road if I ever need long term care. They were very warm and welcoming, and I valued the caring staff and the stories they shared of their lives. My PT and OT sessions went well. I have transitioned to the Cleveland Clinic Home Health Care group and I anticipate they will be very effective. I am highly motivated to get my life back and intend to do everything they tell me to do. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tree_skier Posted March 6, 2022 #14 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Wow that is so sad... I'm sorry that this has happened to you. Better days are ahead and you will enjoy your next so much more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BND Posted March 6, 2022 #15 Share Posted March 6, 2022 I dislocated my kneecap and dislocated my ankle and fractured my fibula in Aug 2019. I had surgery and a plate put on my ankle 10 days later. My OS said, nope to our Nov 2019 HOTS b2b and WDW trip and he was right. Ankle/fibula healed fast and really well but knee is still an issue although it is much better than it was. It was two years after my accident before I could cruise. Covid made it easier to deal with. You really learn to appreciate so much when you can't do a lot. There are things I will never do again because of my knee. Did you have surgery? Whether you did or not, you will more than likely get back to doing everything you want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missusdubbya Posted March 6, 2022 #16 Share Posted March 6, 2022 So sorry @emeraldcity, wishing you a speedy recovery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbeyg Posted March 6, 2022 #17 Share Posted March 6, 2022 How awful that must have been, and how difficult it must be for you as you recover. I hope you heal quickly, with no serious long-term effects, and you are cruising again before you know it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare perfect match Posted March 6, 2022 #18 Share Posted March 6, 2022 I’m so very sorry that happened to you. Glad you’re getting good care and on the mend now. I hope your recovery is quick and that you will be able to get back to normal activities and be back to be cruising soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brillohead Posted March 6, 2022 #19 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Oh, I'm so very sorry you've had to go through this! If I'm not mistaken, public transit (bus) vehicles are all wheelchair accessible in the Cleveland area, so if that's an option where you're located, that would be cheaper than paying for an accessible taxi. Most areas, even smaller towns and rural areas, also have tax-subsidized accessible transit options for people who aren't on a bus route. I have worked with a lot of wheelchair-bound patients, and many of them without their own accessible vehicle utilize these paratransit services for medical and dental appointments. Your doctor's office should be able to refer you to a program in your area. Sending you healing thoughts! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaBear55 Posted March 6, 2022 #20 Share Posted March 6, 2022 What a horrible experience. It sounds like you have a great support team, best wishes for a speedy recovery and a great therapy team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emeraldcity Posted March 6, 2022 Author #21 Share Posted March 6, 2022 1 hour ago, BND said: I dislocated my kneecap and dislocated my ankle and fractured my fibula in Aug 2019. I had surgery and a plate put on my ankle 10 days later. My OS said, nope to our Nov 2019 HOTS b2b and WDW trip and he was right. Ankle/fibula healed fast and really well but knee is still an issue although it is much better than it was. It was two years after my accident before I could cruise. Covid made it easier to deal with. You really learn to appreciate so much when you can't do a lot. There are things I will never do again because of my knee. Did you have surgery? Whether you did or not, you will more than likely get back to doing everything you want to. No. I didn't have surgery. The Florida hospital pressured me heavily to agree to surgery, but it pays to get a second opinion. Here in Cleveland they indicated that surgery was not immediately indicated and they would re-evaluate three weeks later. That eval took place two days ago and after more imaging, they delivered the welcome news that the area of concern was doing well and no surgical intervention was necessary. The key factor was whether or not the bones were out of alignment and apparently they are not. So I don't have to also recover from surgery, I just have to recover from the initial injury. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smplybcause Posted March 6, 2022 #22 Share Posted March 6, 2022 Yikes! I hope your recovery goes smoothly. If you're looking for a silver lining, in the process of me recovering from a badly sprained ankle twice I heard that while the recovery is longer (and rougher with the long no weight bearing part) that if it's just broken bones it heals much better than a sprain. So I'm hoping that for you, because I still curse my badly sprained twice ankle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted March 6, 2022 #23 Share Posted March 6, 2022 My heart goes out to you. I wish you a speedy and complete recovery. What a tale you now have to tell! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey & Sophie Posted March 6, 2022 #24 Share Posted March 6, 2022 So sorry to hear about this. As I have personally had a similar break, I know how you feel. I had a shattered left ankle and left broken shoulder. After re-had I came home to a bed and bath on 2nd floor that I could not negotiate. Borrowed a wheelchair and commode from friends. Slept on sofa for 6 weeks. I don't have complete range of motion but close. Keep up with therapy. I still do my exercises and it's been a few years. Your ship is waiting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani negreanu Posted March 6, 2022 #25 Share Posted March 6, 2022 8 hours ago, emeraldcity said: I went down hard and broke both ankles. 6 hours ago, brillohead said: Oh, I'm so very sorry you've had to go through this! Sending you healing thoughts! + 2 🌺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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