July 3, 2012 6:55 PM
Maddy and Mom - Mission Trail detour
It's Tuesday and time is standing still for Maddy and me. Though I posted a status at facebook, I forgot to post here. On Friday, after seeing our fifth mission - Santa Buenaventura, we decided to go to the beach.We changed into our bathing suits to go down to Ventura Beach, but unfortunately in stepping off the sidewalk to the incline to the beach, I lost my balance and fell. Some bystanders helped get me into the car and Maddy drove me to the nearest emergency room - Community Memorial Hospital - which I would never recommend to anyone. I was in excruciating pain from whatr turned out to be a broken fibula - a spiral fracture near the ankle.
They put it in a splint and gave me a prescription for pain meds and instructions to keep it up and put ice on it and see an orthopedist in a few days.
Maddy drove me to Santa Barbara, where - thanks to God's providence we had reservations for one night.
I say God's providence because we actually were supposed to stay an hour north in Buellton, which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere unless you are on your way to Mission Santa Ynez where we planned to attend Mass on Sunday morning. I had gotten tickets to a special Laura Marling concert in Santa Barbara Friday night, but didn't want to stay here because it was too expensive. However, after eating Chinese takeout Friday night, we didn't get much sleep (too much MSG) and I decided a splurge was in order so we could get more rest. so I made reservations at a modest ho9tel in SB.
Now i see God's hand in it, as Santa Barbara has two things we wouldn't have found farther north - doctors and an airport. Yesterday I saw a doctor who did more x-rays to determine if I needed surgery since the break is in a place that can create instability. She felt I would do okay with one of those huge black boots and a roll-about device http://www.roll-a-bout.com/. As of now, I am still sitting in our hotel room waiting for it to be delivered.
I am unable to put the slightest weight on that leg, and when I tried to use crutches, I fell using them so don't want to take any more risks. We were blessed that the hotel was able to keep us these extra nights. What seems a small miracle is that it turned out to be a suite so Maddy has a place to sleep where she is not disturbed by my snoring since I am sleeping on my back and i am not at risk for getting kicked at night.
We've been trying to determine whether we can continue with the trip in a modified version. In addition to 16 more missions, we have tickets to the San Francisco Opera to see the magic Flute, plus our friends and relatives in Marin and Sonoma County. We missed seeing the Hearst Mansion on Monday.
One big factor is the driving. Since I lived here for 30 years and spent 8 years in San Francisco, I have driven all over the state and am comfortable. Maddy is 19, and though she is a good driver, this would be a major challenge. I also don't know how much I will be up for even after getting the roll about which will make me mobile. Just getting up yesterday to go to the doctor made my foot and leg swell and burn.
On the other hand, going home isn't an attractive option right now. Our home was in the path of the freak storm that hit northern Virginia after a day of 110 degrees, wiping out power for millions of people. Since we live in the country, our water comes from a well - and the pump runs on electricity. Tripp has a generator hooked up to save our refrigerated food.but it isn't hooked up to the well or the air conditioning. Our four sons with Down syndrome were supposed to leave for Easter Seals Camp on Sunday, but their camp was without power so it was postponed. Fortunately, they got their power back quickly and so Tripp took the boys down yesterday.
So home is a hot (high 90s) and smelly place (to flush toilets, Tripp has to buy bottled water, carry upstairs and forcefully dump the water into the toilets). Though some people in our town have their power back, we don't.
So Maddy and i are sitting here waiting to see what the future holds. Right now it looks like we will come home Thursday, hoping our home is back to normal. There are no direct flights out of Santa Barbara, and i don't know how Maddy will manage everything at the airport.
It all turned out differently than I ever imagined. My plan is tyo save up again and come back with Tripp to pick up where I left off. I have a magazine interested in the story of the missions, which I can tell you is absolutely fascinating.
Pray that somehow we will recover our original flight costs and will not have to pay too much to get home.
Posted in Mission Trail 2012, My life | Permalink
Comments
Barbara,
I'm so sorry about your break! I took a tumble down stairs last fall and broke my foot and had two sprains--the top of the foot and the ankle. It took way too long to heal.
I'd like to share what I learned though:
I hated the roll-about thing almost as much as the crutches. It put pressure on my shin area that I couldn't stand. I hope yours is more comfortable.
Also, I had a black boot, which allowed me to be pretty mobile, but my body didn't really heal well until my doctor put me in a solid cast. If you continue to have a lot of pain beyond the first couple of weeks, they may need to cast you.
On a spiritual note, God used the time to teach me to "walk differently." I learned (and am still learning) to rely more on Him and less on my own strength, wisdom and plans.
My recovery took months. I hope yours is much quicker. I really had to learn to be patient with myself--and my family as they took over many of my household responsibilities.
I'm praying for you and hope your pain abates quickly and that your leg heals well. Hugs!
Posted by: Elizabeth M Thompson | July 4, 2012 2:45 AM
Dear Barbara,
I'm so sorry to read this post (but I thank you for sharing it). Knowing that you were travelling, I waited a few extra days between checking in a your blog so I could hold out for (hopefully) a good repository of journal-style summaries. My heart is just heavy to see that while you were faithful in providing the entries, life just took over the best laid plans. Please take care, and many prayers for your safe journey.
Posted by: Tiffany | July 4, 2012 3:51 AM
Praying for you both, for safe and affordable travel home, for healing - physically and emotionally. For eyes to continue to see His hand in all of this. And for the ability to look back on this episode with thankfulness. Oh, and also for your home to be comfortable and cool when you get there.
Posted by: Nana | July 4, 2012 8:24 AM
Barbara,
I am so sorry to hear about your break...This is definately a big change of events...It is good to hear of God's providence as well. He is always there when the unexpected comes up in our lives.
I will be praying for his continued watch and care over you as you work out the details.
blessings,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | July 4, 2012 11:15 AM
Oh, Barbara!
I have been checking for your posts and when there was nothing more after day 2, began to ponder why. At some point, it occurred to me that you had had an accident. No other explaination except the Holy Spirit on that! Although I thought maybe an automobile accident, I began to pray for your safety and well being. God is so amazing!!!
I am so sorry that this has happen, for both you and Maddy and wish we were closer (to you or Tripp) to help!
I will pray for traveling blessings for you and Maddy as you travel home on Thursday.
Just a thought......would it be easier to manage if you asked the hotel to box up some of your belongings and you had them shipping (FedEx, UPS, etc.) back home? I realize that may not be your biggest issue, but having one less thing to deal with at the airport could make a big difference for y'all. When circumstances are different, it is sometimes helpful to think outside the norm.
Praying for ALL the Curtis'.....
Posted by: von | July 4, 2012 11:51 AM
You are in our prayers Barbara, and I hope you and Maddy are able to complete your trip. Maddy has a strong mom and this is making her stronger too.
Posted by: MOTUS | July 4, 2012 11:57 AM
Good Buddy! I can't believe that while I was in the very act of writing a post on my blog about "the danger of falling" titled WATCH YOUR STEP! YOU, dear friend, were in the very act of falling!
I am surrounding you and Maddy and the family at home with my prayers for big time angel intervention to make the "rough places smooth and the crooked ways straight." God has not been caught by surprise...there are hidden blessings somewhere in all of this. Watch for them and give thanks to Him, as you always do.
"Sal" (Leona Choy)
Posted by: Leona Choy | July 4, 2012 12:37 PM
What a terrible turn of events! I'm praying for healing and for the airlines to get you home cheaply. Barbara, this will be a major challenge, but you always find a way to make lemonade out of the lemons life throws you - or rather I think you see God's hand at work in all circumstances.
Posted by: Judy | July 4, 2012 12:53 PM
Oh my goodness! So sorry about your accident and altered plans! Praying for your safe travels, healing, and all kinds of comfort throughout. For me, it is most difficult to rely on my children when something indisposes me, and yet they come thru it stronger and more competent and resourceful than ever would have been the case otherwise... Hoping you can continue with as much as possible while keeping that break elevated!
Posted by: Kate J | July 4, 2012 3:15 PM
Ugh! Very sorry!
Posted by: Lisa @stretchmarkmama | July 4, 2012 9:24 PM
Praying for you!.. Hope you don't feel too discouraged... & that somehow, someway, your mommy/daughter trip ends in a fit of giggles - all things considered :).. hang in there...
Posted by: Melanie | July 4, 2012 9:29 PM
