The end of my adventure in paradise

My big adventure to Galapagos got too big last Tuesday.  I was biking home with a group of bikers when I lost balance went over the retaining wall and down the hill into the brush dislocating my knee and breaking my leg.  Some of the guys picked me up and carried me up to the road.  They put me in the back of the station truck and took me to the hospital.  Luckily the X-Ray machine was working that day and they had film.   They sent my friends from the station to the local pharmacies for the supplies they would need to sedate me and splint the leg.  The hospital does not stock supplies. 

Soon I was sedated and the leg was straightened out and splinted.  I got the only air-conditioned room for 3 days and friends to stay with me 24/7 because the hospital works on the plan that family & friends will provide the bulk of your care. 

I had repatriation insurance that sent a rescue nurse to see me home.   My wonderful friends from Charles Darwin Station arranged all the paperwork on Friday afternoon.  Jay Sacks, the rescue nurse, returned to the hosp on Saturday morning and all was ready.  The Insurance Co had reserved a taxi and the hospital provided their truck for the trip Puerto Ayora on the south side of Santa Cruz island, across the channel, to the airport, on the north side of the Baltra Island. 

I got the entire back seat of the 6 passenger truck to myself and my injured leg.  At the airport I was carried in on a stretcher and we waited in the airport medical area while they fixed the hole in the runway.  Then we road out to the plane and I was carried up the steps.  I had the first row of 3 seats to myself so I could put the leg up and Jay, the nurse, sat across the isle.  We stayed on the plane while we fueled up in Guayaquil then flew on to Quito where we had a 6 hour layover.  I discovered that airports do not have wheelchairs with leg supports.  I wrapped my scarf around the foot and held it up myself while I was moved.  Then we put the chair up against a seat and rested my leg on the seat. 

 On AeroGal airline I had a row of 3 seats and was able to sit side ways and keep the leg level.  When we changed to Delta airline we flew first class.  Lots of service but less space for my leg.  We use the backpack to prop it up between the seats.  The angle was uncomfortable but I got through it. 

In Atlanta we went to the head of the Customs line and rechecked our bags through to Albuquerque.  We again had access to the Delta VIP lounge for the 5 hours before our flight to Albuquerque.   We left Atlanta at 11 AM eastern time and I was at UNM Hospital by 2 PM mountain time.   At first they were going to make an appointment for me to see the Orthopedist on Tuesday for an initial evaluation but then the ER Doc called the Orthopedic resident.  I think he saw a more immediate need so they put me on the standby list for surgery on Monday.  It all went well and I was back in my room by early afternoon.  I now have a plate and about a dozen screws in my left leg.  I’ll probably set off the alarm the next time I fly. 

 

The rest of me is working just fine so the hospital released me Wednesday afternoon. Rich picked me up in his big truck.  The physical therapist and the nurse came down to help me get in. I'd been telling them how high Rich's truck is and they wanted to be sure I got in safely.  I did, but it was probably quite a site to see.  Modesty is not compatible with a broken leg.

 I’m now at my brother, Rich’s, house. I'm wearing a big black brace with lots of Velcro.  There is a hinge at the knee but it's locked so I can't move the left knee.  Even though there is a plate and about a dozen screws in the leg, I'm not to put any weight on it.  The fractured bone will take a couple months to heal properly and they don’t want any micro movement while it does.  

I have a walker and a wheelchair for getting around and the hallway is nice and wide.  I'm not as steady as I'd like on the walker so I'll use the wheelchair whenever Rich is not home. I'm still wearing the sundress I wore for the 2 days of travel to get here because I don't own any skirts but that's going to change.  I thought I'd have to send Rich to the store for me but Rita suggested I shop online and have it delivered.  I think that will work fine.   

Ellen