Surgery

A little over a week ago, I took a tumble off my bike and fractured my clavicle (collarbone).  The red lines show the break and direction of the bones.  One look at the x-ray and surgery was recommended.  The bones would have fused at the location where they lay, which to my mind seemed like a big problem as my shoulder had shortened about 2 inches, and I had a hard time imagining how I would have a normal range of motion.

About the wreck, it was about the least exciting accident ever.  We had stopped to take some pictures, I found a little trail with a drop as it joined back on the road, and it turned out the drop was bigger than I bargained for (3ft instead of 1).  Over the handle-bars, onto the shoulder, and I knew it was a hard fall, but about 5 minutes later I started to get dizzy, and that’s when Rich looked at the shoulder and realized it was broken.  So we rode/walked home, ran into another visiting orthopedic surgeon on the trail home, who confirmed the initial suspicion, and advised us on what he thought, and said wait and talk to Dr. Mara the next day, which we did and they both agreed on treatment.

Miraculously, Dr. Newton, our Anesthesiologist who is on faculty at Vanderbilt and has worked at Kijabe off and on for 15 years had just returned from a visit to the states after being away for several months.  And also miraculously, on Monday morning there were no surgeries scheduled because of a national holiday (normally Orthopedics has a waiting list of around 100 patients).  So Dr. Newton got me intubated, which was not straightforward due to the anatomy of my throat. . .so grateful he was here.  And the surgery went well, through was not simple.  Dr. Mara (Ortho) did a fantastic job, as I have seen him do for countless other patients.  Dr. Davis (Gen. Surg, good friend and riding buddy who was with me when the accident happened) stopped by to say hello and ended up assisting and putting in several screws.

So now I am titanium!  At least one little part of me:)  Healing is coming along.  I have a much better range of motion, can usually manage to get a shirt on by myself, and can now brush my teeth right-handed.  Pain is very legitimate – as everyone who has ever broken a collarbone or rib knows.  But I have been able to sleep with no trouble, which is a huge blessing.

Arianna has not had the easiest time of things – she’s been cooking, cleaning, fire-starting, mosquito net-hanging; in addition to working a normal (aka, very busy) schedule.  The day of surgery was not her favorite either, she knows everything that can possibly go wrong, and even in the best of hands it’s scary to have your husband put under anesthesia.  Thankfully our wonderful friend Mardi joined her for the 3 1/2 hour wait.  She tells me that when I woke up I was very grateful, saying to everyone, “you’re so cool, thank you, you’re so cool.”

Waiting for surgery – happy and nervous!

Thanks everyone for your notes and prayers, definitely much appreciated.  This could have been a nightmare in so many ways, but God is good and our friends have been amazing.  And it is definitely a confirmation of just how fantastic a place Kijabe is, and how fortunate we are to live and work here among missionaries who are colleagues, mentors, friends, family, and rockstar doctors combined.  So grateful!