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<DIV><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" size=4>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</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Baskerville Old Face" size=4>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 be!
ing 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 ]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>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 an!
d 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 i!
s 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 t!
o dress. among other things. </DIV>
<DIV>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 </DIV>
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<DIV>The song goes like this so far - to the tune of "all i want for christmas"</DIV>
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<DIV>All I got at Pennsic is 5 screws and a plate,</DIV>
<DIV>5 screws and a plate, 5 screws and a plate</DIV>
<DIV>All I got at Pennsic when I fell on my face, fell on my face, fell on my face</DIV>
<DIV>is screws and a plate,</DIV>
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<DIV>Thanks to all of you involved in my Pennsic Experience</DIV>
<DIV>Lady Geva de Lisle</DIV>
<DIV>"the lady with the broken arm"</DIV>
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<DIV>--- </DIV>
<DIV>--- <A href="mailto:ladygeva@earthlink.net">ladygeva@earthlink.net</A></DIV>
<DIV>--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.</DIV>
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