[MR] Pennsic Wounded returnee

Well hello all! I have made it 
home from Pennsic with a new appreciation of Pain, Service to others, and the 
value of not whining!  All though it may become a song yet...Here is my 
tale

I arrived at Pennsic happy and 
healthy and ready to go Friday Night. Saturday was hot but started promisingly. 
Got lots of things done that were must does - going well. Saturday night as I 
was going to my tent to get something I hit a patch of mud and landed with a 
thud arms out flung - face first in the dirt umpth I was down. Now I had I let 
out a yell as I started to fall and let out another on landing. (now remember 
I'm laying on the ground, in the dark, around tents, in a dark dress)  I 
spot 2 dark shapes coming around the tent (from the ground they looked 
incredibly tall)  Obviously they can't see me because they ask where are 
you? I answer quite calmly- I'm over here.  Then they ask the next logical 
question - Are you OK? [Note here: being a medical professional I know this is 
the right question to ask and why it is asked and all that but in that moment in 
time being on the other side of the question and not being ok it struck me as 
being rather inane - note to self remember this experience and remain humble] I 
managed to keep humble, polite tongue in use and respond no. by this point there 
are a lot of TALL people milling around [try laying down on the ground and 
having a group of people mill around you - note to self - remember to get down 
to injured persons level quickly and in a position perceived to protect injured 
area and introduce yourself ]

By this time the adrenaline rush has started but there is no outlet for it 
so my teeth are starting to chatter. Finally some one is doing the 1st Aid thing 
checking for injuries to other body parts [Thank you Hugh!!]  and finding none 
decide that it's okay to move me.  Now I've already told them that I'm not 
going anywhere until they put a splint on my left arm which is stretched out 
palm up on the ground. So the move is made but carefully protecting that arm 
[Thank you Hugh!!]  Leaving out the trip to Chirurgeon point that's a whole 
nother story [note to self - donate comic books and short story pamphlets and 
other mindless occupying things to do to Chirurgeon point it's $@#mumble$#@ 
boring waiting there] Off to the hospital in Butler I go Still in pain and only 
minimally splinted. [Note to all- Know where your ID   Insurance card are 
well enough to describe it to someone else who has no clue] I won't go into 
the 4 hour wait there [Thank you St Hugh!!] just to be told yep you broke it, 
it's not a common break either and you are going to have to come back at 11am 
Sunday [it is already 3am and it's not done yet] to see the Orthopaedic Surgeon 
[don't let any one tell you different from Pennsic to the Hospital is a 30 
minute trip - solid.] By this time My pain level has been ratcheted upwards past 
the usual scale of 10 to about a 12 - 14 due to the splint being removed and the 
arm being manipulated for x-rays [ I have refrained from doing bodily harm to 
the radiology tech who needs to be reminded of the pain associated with moving 
fractured bits about - and then I found she could have made it much easier on me 
to do this ... I still have not been medicated for pain - my right hand works 
fine...I HURT...I Neeeeed a distraction.... No we're not going to put the splint 
back on right now just walk down the hall this way and the Dr will see 
you.  The XRT is saved. Here sit on this stretcher in the hall and we'll 
put on a new and better splint and give you something for pain.  Finally!! 
30 minutes later - I speak loudly to the Dr I see passing in the hallway 
Puh-Lease can I have my Splint and my pain medicine. By this time ( it started @ 
10pm it is nearly 4am) My endurance is gone and I'm starting to water and 
whimper.  But I am still polite. Quickly then it is done and I and St Hugh 
get to go home for about 3 hours of sleep. At 10 AM I'm headed back to Butler ER 
- Four trips to B. Hosp. were taken on my behalf by different individuals THANK 
YOU!!! Showers of hugs and back rubs and scratches on you all. The Orthopaedic 
Surgeon pronounces my doom. Surgery you must have before Thursday and no you 
can't drive. Surgery Tomorrow.  Blessings upon the wonderful nurses in Out 
patient pre op They made the opportunity for me to get a hot shower before 
surgery YEAAA!!! [ Note to self:  Remember the pre- op shower and keep it 
Holy]  Note to those in the recovery rooms we do so remember what is said : 
I told you it hurt and to cut it off = thank you for keeping it cool and 
ignoring that instruction.  I recovered over night and was released back to 
camp Tuesday AM.  To Master Chirhart and his camp I am indebted for the 
care its members gave me in everything from washing dishes to aiding me in 
washing myself, to being gracious and repeated fillers of Ice Bags and toters of 
objects and myself, and cookers of vast quantities of food, and encouragers and 
allowing me to do those things I could still manage one handed. To the Toters of 
disabled people at Pennsic Thank You. To the People in Windmaster's Hill : Thank 
you for your care and assistance in seeing to my safe and uneventful return home 
at the end of the war. To Baron Iocoppo and Baroness Lucia (gosh I hope I 
spelled those right) Thank you for the Baronial Purple Heart - It was a boost 
when I really needed one. Thank you to Bella my Thunder Sister and tent 
mate for putting me to bed and helping me to dress. among other things. 

All of this is a humbling example of what service to others is all about 
played out for my instruction and I am oh so proud to have you all as my friends 
and caregivers and instructors. Thank you. As for why I didn't whine more... I 
couldn't have stood myself if I had .. recognizing how much was already being 
given. I'm home now and on my own - Now I can Whine:-P 

 

The song goes like this so far - to the tune of "all i want for 
christmas"

 

All I got at Pennsic is 5 screws and a plate,

5 screws and a plate, 5 screws and a plate

All I got at Pennsic when I fell on my face, fell on my face, fell on my 
face

is screws and a plate,

 

Thanks to all of you involved in my Pennsic Experience

Lady Geva de Lisle

"the lady with the broken arm"

 

 

---  

--- ladygeva at earthlink.net 

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.
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