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It started when I drove over to my tax preparer’s business to leave my tax paperwork.
Once there, I had difficulties getting off the street onto the sidewalk because of a 1920s vertical curb and broken sidewalk.
A woman who works in a building across the street came over and asked if I needed help. Yes, I said and she helped by getting behind me and pushing! She also asked if I could use some water, which she went across the street to bring to me.
After I settled down – blood pressure, heart beats per minute, and acceptable oxygen level – I gave my tax paperwork to the clerk, noting it was too dangerous for me to come there, that I’d have to do my tax preparer’s talk over the phone and arrange some way for me to sign the paperwork.
The back end of my VW Golf Sportwagen looked like my safest option because there are rails down both sides of the roof that are strong enough to hold me.
Back to my car once I worked out this best solution to the problem I knew I’d have….
I put my walker down on the 1920s brick road, but one wheel got tangled in a crack or depression in the crap sidewalk.
As best I can recall or recreate the moment, the fraction of a second the wheel came loose, I also used both hands, losing the support of the rail…which meant I wasn’t holding onto the rail on my car long enough to notice the oxygen cylinder feeding me oxygen – that was hanging on my neck – became a swinging weight that pulled me down onto the brick paving!
I landed hard. I also had minor abrasions on my left knee.
Dr. Soltanpour, the dialysis nephrologist requires anyone who has a fall, especially involving the head, to go to the emergency room and have X-rays and a CT scan.
By this time, a crowd assembled to try to get me up. I shouted to call an ambulance, noting Dr. Soltanpour’s expectations. They did, with quick response time, using a couple men to pick me up to put me on the gurney.
The emergency room people made me comfortable and prepared me for the CT scan and X-rays. Later, they brought back the findings: nothing of concern, but they recommended a return to the emergency room if I felt nauseous, vomited, and a few other obvious signs of bad things to come. Standard stuff any “professional” faller knows by heart. Ha!
Andy finally got his 9:45 am lunch at 3:15 pm, when I parked my car ON THE GRASS, next to my front door. YES, I KNOW DON’T DO IT! As it was, I barely got in the front door, thanks to Bret coming over and doing some helpful things to facilitate a safe stumble inside.
It was a day.
I called the tax preparer to let him know I was safely home with surprisingly minor injuries. I reviewed what the emergency room people told me. I let him know that I was partly responsible for the fall, that I knew he’d brought the problems of disabled access to the city’s attention, with inadequate corrective action.
Credible because I told him I would be available to support their complaint if he wanted or needed me to be. I noted how the 1920s curb and broken sidewalk had to be a business problem because I surely wasn’t the only one with problem climbing it safely or stepping down. He noted they had had complaints.
More importantly, I noted he’d witnessed the ambulance crews’ work to get me up, that he now had me as a credibly witnessed injured person injured by conditions brought to their attention.
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So sorry but glad you are okay.
Thanks! It could have been a disaster.
Doug
That sounds terribly frightening. There’s nothing like knowing you’re going to fall and not being able to do anything about it. Hope you’re feeling better. The day after is usually worse than the day it happens
Yrs, that’s exactly right. I didn’t think I hurt my shoulder, but there was a huge hematoma on it from the fall that I didn’t see till after ghe emergency room. It doesn’t hurt, though.
Doug
I’m sorry you had such an awful day. That’s quite a bump on your head. I hope you’re better soon.
Th a bkd, Correne! I have a t hickey skull, fortunately.
Doug
So glad you are safely home with Andy ! I have gotten in the habit of giving thanks when I get home safely whether it’s from the grocery sore or the stroll down the driveway to the mailbox.
I totally understand! I do the same. Up till then, I’m stringing together lots of words I learned in the US Army that aren’t suitable in polite company!
Doug
What an awful day. I hope your head feels better.
A few days later, it’s sore to touch but not otherwise a problem. Thanks!
Doug
I am sorry to hear you fell again, Doug. I hope they fix the curb and sidewalk there before anyone else gets hurt.
Unfortunately, this us a problem the tax preparer has brought to the city’s attention. If it takes a multimillion dollar lawsuit payout or fatality to get their attention before they fix it, that would be typical.
Doug
Sorry this happened to you, Many blessings and glad you are all right to write about it and will feel better soon, I sure hope they fix the pavement,
Yes, that would be the smart, ideal solution, but I bet nothing gets done
Doug
Wow! You dodge the grim reaper this time! I hope the city fixes that problem.
Yhr rule of thumb is these hazards are taken care of after multiple complaint, followed by incidents like mine, more complaints, a fatality or multimillion dollar lawsuit payout.
Doug
The multimillion dollar payout would work for you! 🙂
What a day you had! Hopefully you will recover soon.
Yes, that was the climax to a day full of frustrations!
Doug
Ohhh dear Doug, how awful… feel so terrible that you went thru this.. but thankful that you had so many good people to come to the rescue… and a caring hospital staff to take care of you… and Bret always at the ready. Still, this is a terrible ordeal to go thru… very thankful you are doing so well after a fall like that. We can see the concern in Andy’s eyes too… kitties know when something is amiss. All best wishes that you feel better hour by hour.
Tha n ks@ i am a survivor, thanks to lots of good people.
Doug
How awful, Doug
I hit on the thickest part of the skull. It would have killed or seriously injured me if I’d hit on the temple or forehead.
Doug
Oh no! I’m glad you made it home safely, but it sounds to me like a poorly maintained curb and sidewalk were at fault for your fall, not you trying to hang on to the car. I’m surprised some ambulance chasing attorney hasn’t given you a call yet. I would certainly send a strongly worded letter to the city council and Mayor about the problem: winter walking is hazardous enough without having to manage a wheeled walker and an oxygen tank.
Ice that goose egg, and be very careful getting around your home, Doug. I hope you have friends who can look in on you while you recover. The city should pay for a home care nurse in the meantime!
I’m able to get around ok. Fortunately, I wasn’t hurt that much. I won’t sue the city, but I did offer to go before the city council with the tax preparer, who has tried before to get the city to address their problem, which also is a business issue since other clients have reported issues like mine.
Doug
So sorry to hear about that fall, Doug! What an ordeal! Sure hope you feel better soon! And I sure hope the city does something about those dangerous conditions, fast! Good photos of Andy.
I actually feel pretty good the next morning. The city does need to deal with the issue before someone is seriously injured. I just happened to land in a way that the thickest part of my skull hit the bricks, not a thinner part.
Doug
So sorry to hear about the fall, but glad you made it home and seem to be okay, aside from the goose egg! I’m considered a fall risk these days, too. Little Andy is cute as ever and apparently managed the change in his feeding schedule.
Andy wasn’t happy to miss his mid-morning meal, but I was fortunate to fall on the thickest part of the skull.
Doug
Oh good grief! How awful! How are you feeling now?
Actually, I’m doing very well! None of the concussion signs popped up, so it seems I lucked out.
Andy thanks you!
Doug