Grounded: Broken Wing After Skiing

Grounded: Broken Wing After SkiingDear friends and readers just wanted to let you know I have been grounded and won’t be flying around cyber space anytime soon. I broke a wing. I should have stayed in the save confines of the gym instead of sailing down the slopes. I wiped out cross-country skiing in the Jura Mountains trying to keep up with my Frenchman who defies gravity and age. One minute I felt on top on the world celebrating life soaring under a blue sky on a snow-covered mountaintop. The next moment, I was lying in a heap on the icy side of a treacherous incline with my head shoulders pointing east and my legs twisted west.

To make a long story short, after a bumpy rescue squad ride in a snow mobile, a curvy trip back down the mountaintop and a 5 hour wait in emergency room, a doc diagnosed what I already knew, “Broken collar bone.”Grounded: Broken Wing After Skiing

“It exploded,” he said pointing to the jagged edges on the computer screen, “looks like you will need surgery.”

But just before I fainted, he called his buddy the orthopedic surgeon who balked when he found out I didn’t have insurance. (Well, I have insurance but not the kind that covers this swanky private hospital where peasants move to the back of the long waiting line.) The doc strapped me in a sling to immobilize the shoulder and sent me home with instructions to stay off slopes and out of gyms. Next week I will return for another X-ray to assure that the bone is aligning properly on its own.

At least I am in good company. My buddy Aaron Rodgers busted his collarbone twice and still throws 70-yard touchdown passes. Ditto for Charles Woodson who broke his in the Packers 2011 Super Bowl victory and he still had a heck of a career. And according to my doctor daughter, who has seen her fair share of broken bones, the clavicle is the most common fracture in the human body.

My advice to all you skier wannabes, stick to the flatlands of the Midwest, and leave the European mountains to the foreigners.

Also never ski alone. To be extra safe, bring along your own favorite doctor.Grounded: Broken Wing After Skiing

In the meantime, if I you want to hear any of my tall tales in the near future, give me a ringy ding. Thank goodness for the old fashioned, one arm operated telephone.

Posted in health, humor, sport.

24 Comments

  1. So sorry you are injured, Pat! I broke my collarbone years ago and recovered fine without surgery. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

  2. OHHH NOOO! I knew there was a reason that winter sports don’t appeal to me!! I am sure the Frenchman will wait on you with a big smile!! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

  3. Funny post! Loved your chipper voice in it. Well, the positives: you won’t get a surgery bill, you look great in the picture, you have every expectation that this will heal fine. But oh, poor Pat! May you mend quickly.

    • Good news no surgery IF I continue to behave myself and do nothing for a few more weeks. Thanks for sending your uplifting vibes from sunny California.

  4. Oh no Pat! I broke my collarbone about 7 years ago, had surgery and now have a metal plate holding everything together. I hope it heals well for you my friend! I don’t think I’m brave enough to try skiing. I’ll leave that to the younger folks! Ha ha.

    • Oh dear Mar Mar. Why am I not surprised you broke your collarbone too. We share so many of the same injuries. Hope you able to manage your neck pain.

  5. Oh Pat, no! Another injury, and it must be awfully painful. Take care of yourself and I hope you won’t need surgery.

    • Thankfully I won’t need surgery IF I can be still and behave for a couple more weeks. It sure cramps my style, but there is a silver lining…more time to read books. ha ha Appreciate your encouraging words.

    • Wonderful to hear from you again. I need a pep talk…looks like it is time to read your book Unleash Your Pearls Again again. What are you working on now?

  6. Oh Pat, I’m sorry to hear that you are sidelined again. You and I have spent too much time unable to do the things we want to do. Don’t keep up with that Frenchman of yours, he’s got nine lives. Love and hugs for a speedy recovery.

    • We seem to be stuck with a lot of physical challenges. Luckily we have great family and friends to lift us up during setbacks. Hugs and healing back at you.

  7. I pray that you heal well and completely, Pat! You know what they say, “If you can’t run [ski] with the Big Dogs, stay on the porch [in the lodge]!! Hope a little humor helps! 😉

  8. Ouch! Your experience makes me wonder how often we have surgery when it’s not really necessary? I broke my wrist a few years ago and the doctor said I could have surgery or not. My choice. The difference would be speed of healing. Hmmm. I wish you a good alignment of the bones and speedy healing, Pat.

    • Carol, I wondered that exact same thing. Did you opt for surgery in the end? I am thankful my bone seems to healing slowly on its on. Thanks so much for your encouraging words.

  9. NOOOO!! Poor Pat. Sounds dreadful, even if it is the most common fracture. I’m glad it wasn’t ribs — I can personally attest to the pain broken ribs cause. I’ve never been skiing … never felt the desire to. And your story convinces me that was a wise decision! After all, if Midwestern girls were meant to travel on skinny planks down a mountainside, God wouldn’t have made our part of the world so flat! Take care, my friend, and hope everything mends soon.

    • I guess you are right us Midwestern girls should stick to the flatlands. Cross country skiing here is almost equivalent to downhill skiing in the Midwest. ha Like you, I have also had broken ribs, very painful too. On the brighter note, I could hang a stunning collection of X-rays to decorate my home. ha

  10. Pat, Oh no! But I know your spunk and sense of humor will get you through this. Fingers crossed you’ll avoid surgery so behave yourself! Wishing you steady healing.

  11. Oh, dear Friend,
    I’m sorry to hear of your exploded bones. Stay home…watch the amazing olympics and cover your eyes when you see “threatening” tricks….Don’t want you to injure yourself vicariously!
    Now it’s a couple weeks later: I hope the news of recovery is going well.
    love,
    Amy

    • After my last fall, I am afraid to even watch the Olympics except for maybe curling. It’s a safe sport kind of like chess on ice. ha Thanks for your wishes for a speedy recovery. Remember all those injuries you helped nurse me through during our college days?

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