Every few weeks I come into contact with an acquaintance who has not yet heard of my injury- the friend-of-a-friend or a professional relation from a job held years ago. Not everyone is connected to the same coconut telegraph.
Yesterday I rolled into my local dive shop for the first time since I hurt myself. I was there to drop off some gear for repair and was making my way to the service counter when I saw a familiar face. Some of the more tenured employees have known me from ten years ago when I was skippering dive boats out of Mission Bay. After I took off my sunglasses the manager did a triple-take before recognizing me. After he picked his jaw up from the floor I explained what had happened. I felt a little bit guilty for throwing my friend such a curve-ball on a Thursday afternoon but found quickly that if I didn't dwell on it, neither would he. We chatted about the dive business a while and it was like old times...and I think I may get a discount on my bill.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
July 18, 2011
Trying to avoid scraping my knuckles on the cheese-grater posing as our front door, I got hung up on the ramp and started rolling backward. A slight drift to the right and my right-rear tire dropped off the edge mid-ramp. The increased angle of recline, combined with the superior grip of my new wheelchair gloves as I tried to slow my roll, sent the chair up and over the anti-tip bars, which performed well in vaulting the chair (and me) even higher into the air. Upon passing the zenith of my trajectory I knew there was no chance for recovery and did the only thing I could: brace for impact.
My head bounced off the driveway like a dropped bowling ball and the air left my lungs in a rush. The stars danced around in my field of vision and I marveled that I was still conscious. My first attempt to inhale failed as did the second and I feared the worst: a spinal cord injury at C-4 or higher had disabled my diaphragm and thereby my ability to breathe. I closed my eyes, concentrated, and drew in a breath. My relief was short-lived as I attempted to move my arms and couldn't. "OK, just breathe," I thought. A few minutes later I again felt relief upon finding my arm function returning.
Unsure whether I was actually Ok, I asked my brother Charlie to call 911. Much to their credit, SD Fire Dept arrived in minutes. Vital signs were checked, EKGs were monitored, IV line and oxygen were administered, and I was strapped to a spine-board, lifted onto a gurney, and loaded into the ambulance. A short ride to Sharp Memorial Hospital and a CT scan followed and I was soon informed that I had not further injured my c-spine or brain. I had rung my bell but was essentially OK ( but for a sore neck and an abrasion on the back of my noggin)and was summarily discharged from the ER with peace of mind.
Nothing like solid head-to-concrete contact and a quick trip to the trauma center to slow a man down in his wheelchair.
My head bounced off the driveway like a dropped bowling ball and the air left my lungs in a rush. The stars danced around in my field of vision and I marveled that I was still conscious. My first attempt to inhale failed as did the second and I feared the worst: a spinal cord injury at C-4 or higher had disabled my diaphragm and thereby my ability to breathe. I closed my eyes, concentrated, and drew in a breath. My relief was short-lived as I attempted to move my arms and couldn't. "OK, just breathe," I thought. A few minutes later I again felt relief upon finding my arm function returning.
Unsure whether I was actually Ok, I asked my brother Charlie to call 911. Much to their credit, SD Fire Dept arrived in minutes. Vital signs were checked, EKGs were monitored, IV line and oxygen were administered, and I was strapped to a spine-board, lifted onto a gurney, and loaded into the ambulance. A short ride to Sharp Memorial Hospital and a CT scan followed and I was soon informed that I had not further injured my c-spine or brain. I had rung my bell but was essentially OK ( but for a sore neck and an abrasion on the back of my noggin)and was summarily discharged from the ER with peace of mind.
Nothing like solid head-to-concrete contact and a quick trip to the trauma center to slow a man down in his wheelchair.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
July 7, 2011
I have an opposable thumb! While I can't quite deliver any bone-crushing hand shakes, it is novel to turn the pages of a book with one hand. The ability to grasp small objects between the the thumb and fingers is a distinguishing advantage we primates hold over the rest of the animal kingdom- one that I wholly took for granted before I was injured. although still weak and limited to my right hand, every increase in dexterity is welcome and I hope similar improvements in the left hand will soon follow. Time to ramp-up the electrical stimulation!
Cheers, Berkey
Cheers, Berkey
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