What a weird feeling..to walk back into
your house like I was just finishing that wonderful Sat...only to realize it's a
week later.....
I guess I need to thank Susan for being
the "blabbermouth" but really, I am so glad, as the cards, flowers, and many
phones calls while I was in the hospital was really a lifesaver! You don't
know how many times I had to explain to the drs and nurses about how we
endurance riders have a connection, and we all know it could happen to any of
us!
In summary, it was a perfect Sat with
nothing to do but work with the horses. I had done all the chores and had
my last broodmare to tease before I could ride. When I moved her tail to
the side to see if she was winking (she was tied up) she sent me flying across
the barn. I was familiar with the "wind knocked out of you" so I told
myself to relax and breathe. I laid on the floor a minute thinking, no
lung damage, but darn, I've broken ribs again, but it really didn't feel the
same. I got up and walked (quite a ways) to the house. My husband's
cell phone was on the counter! Luckily one of his work buddies had called
asking where he was that am, so I managed to go downstairs and look up his
number and he went and got him. Off to the ER, blood pressure 45/36.
That's when I went "OH CRAP" because that means internal bleeding.
Stabalized, life flighted to Tulsa, emergency surgery, the surgeon was very
happy to be able to save half of my spleen.
For two days, I thought sure my alarm
would go off and I'd wake up from this nightmare. But when I saw that I
look like Frankenstein with 20 staples down my stomach, it just hit me like a
rock.
Prognosis: 2 weeks pretty much
bedridden, six weeks before riding, 8 weeks complete recovery. I guess
that's better in the long run than a shattered knee.
Anything I would have done
differently? Actually no. I was inches from the mare (I was always
told to stay close to the horse so they only "push" you away..yeah right).
I have been doing this with this particular mare for 9 years; she's never kicked
a person before. My cell would have done no good, as I don't get service
in the barn, and if I had been wearing it, I would have had more
kidney damage from the fall on the cement. We are always working
alone with the horses, and that just can't be helped. I have thought about
Kelvar vests, but I wouldn't have been wearing it
anyway.
What went right? I never got
light headed or sick. I was able to keep 100% of my mind and knew
where help was. The scarey thing is that if I had been light headed
or sick, I wouldn't have gotten up off the floor.
Now for the hard part; not being able
to do anything!
Thanks again for you support! It
really is very helpful!
I am still hoping for a celebration for
Amber at Bluebonnet!
