Just popping in to share that someone in the universe must have decided that my determination to remain calm was up for a BIG BIG CHALLENGE.
(One that I have not really risen to. Ahh well.)
Last night Josh fractured his tibia playing basketball. Badly. (I don’t really know what I’m talking about, but there was tibial plateau involvement, knee joint, displacement, and all that. Surgery today and possibly external fixator after; we won’t know until he’s done.) There were many late night hours in the ED last night and yes I am still on call. (My office thankfully did cancel today’s outpatients, and I was able to deal with the inpatient stuff because it’s on the same campus where he is. I got my notes done from his bedside. OBVIOUSLY this is worse for him, I know that — his pain was terrible. But thankfully it’s better now. I barely slept and just hope I will be able to function.)
If anyone has been keeping track, life has been a parade of calamities around here (this phrase popped into my head as the only way to describe the past couple of months). We went from my MIL’s death to my father’s fracture to now this. Plus a fracture of A’s finger in there for good measure. (My erroneous shock has been reduced to a mere blip on the radar by comparison, though I could have done without that stress).
Wish us luck, everyone.
33 Comments
Dang, Sarah. I am so sorry your family is hit with yet another “bucket of water”… it’s really A LOT and there’s not much to say to make this better, so I am just going to say it like it is: THIS SUCKS. For you and your family and right now especially for Josh. Do you know how long his recovery will be?
OH MY GOODNESS. Kae literally just texted about this and I am gobsmacked and just so, so sorry. You have had a never-ending stream of hard things lately (for the last few years, from my perspective) and this is too much. Ugh. I wish none of this had happened/was happening.
And the stress of being on call, having something major happen to the other adult in the house, and so close to such a major travel event with your upcoming family trip.
Hugs.
Oh no Josh!!! My brother also hurt himself playing basketball, right before his 2nd kid was born. So his timing was even worse.
One thing I always think about from your training is having an “After the Storm” category of tasks where I can put things I’d like to get to later, when life is not so stormy. Emergencies have a way of clarifying what is really important and really urgent. You’re in the storm for the moment, but you know what to do. Swift recovery to Josh and sunnier skies to all of you.
Oh Sarah, This is so much! You have a community of folks pulling for you and sending you all the good vibes, but HONESTLY, enough is enough. So sorry you all are going through this. I think it HAS to get better from here! Wishing Josh a speedy recovery. <3
Oh my gosh, Sarah, this just seems so unfair! I am so sorry you are dealing with ANOTHER calamity after a series of them. And also while on call 🙁 Best wishes to Josh for a smooth recovery and to you as the caregiver holding it all together…
Oh no, Sarah! This is such stressful news, and first and foremost I hope Josh gets the pain under control soon and can have a quick and full recovery. His identify as an athlete (Boston Marathon qualifier, skiier, basketball players etc) is vital to him, so I know he will give it his complete effort in recovery. And I hope you can get a full refund on your upcoming Hawaii trip! This just couldn’t have come at a worse time…my heart breaks for you all. Almost like the “Best Laid Plans” has a punch line aspect of late…like make a plan, and the universe laughs. Trying to find a positive, I am reading this book “Inside the box: how constraints make us better” by David Epstein and it might be worth a read…as has a few examples of famous scientists/athletes/philosphers who were constrained unexpectedly due to injury or circumstances and it led to more resilience and lasting improvement in how they did things. Hang in there and know we are all sending healing vibes and calming thoughts to you and your family.
It is a very good book! Highly recommend.
Sarah, I truly am so sorry. You are going through a lot. I know you will get through it with the many tools you’re inspired otheres to use in difficult times. My prayers to your hubby.
I’m so sorry. Wish I had something helpful to say, but I’m so bummed for you both. Hoping you have a string of good luck to make up for this period of crappiness.
Not to be super obnoxiously Pollyanna and stuff in your time of crisis… but I wanted to share that my colleague broke her leg playing hockey two years ago over the summer, and she told me that while it sucked from a pain and disability standpoint, she also said in a way it was lovely because she got to spend two whole months of summer at home with her kids which she never would have gotten to do otherwise. In much the same way, I have really enjoyed all the extra husband time I’ve gotten while recovering from surgery these past few weeks (daughter is away at camp). Maybe you and Josh will experience the same?
Here is hoping that his injury doesn’t result in a bunch of other tasks being dumped in your lap while he recovers (can you hire another driver for the kids? Can the camp schedule be adjusted so there is less driving? If he can’t go to HI, can you go with the kids anyway? If not, can you do a shorter more local trip with less walking?). GOOD LUCK getting through these next difficult couple of weeks. You can do it! It’s going to be ok.
So sorry to hear this. Sending good thoughts to you and family.
I’m so sorry, Sarah. I call this ‘being in the dumpers’… Without being trite or glib, ‘This too shall pass’ – it really will, even if it doesn’t feel like it. I wish you all strength in the meantime x
Oh Noooo – I’m so sorry to hear this Sarah. Your family has had to deal with so many fractures over the last couple of years, and right now multiple serious ones at once is too much. So far not the summer you had planned. Hope you can get a lot of support from family and friends locally, and know all your readers are thinking of you.
Oh no! This is awful.
Times like these I tell my kids and myself it’s good to cry lots and let it out of our bodies.
Oof! You are having a year, aren’t you! I hope you’re both able to get some rest today and/or tonight.
Wow, that SUCKS. I’m so sorry.
Oh sarah, so sorry to hear that. I cannot imagine your state of mind right now. This is so hard and shocking to have this series of events happening one after the other with no breath in between. Really hope this is the biggest one and then back to “normal”.
I’m so sorry, Sarah. I have been reading but not commenting, and this sounds miserable. I wish you the best of luck, since sometimes it feels like that’s all we can do.
That really sucks. I’m sorry that happened to Josh on top of everything else you are handling.
Nooooooo! Just no. Enough already. Sending love.
OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING. This is definitively NOT what your family needed right now. I’m so, so sorry. I hope the surgery went well and that he is now poised for a full and complete recovery. I’m sure it’s going to take a lot of time (a brief google/AI aided search seems to think so) which absolutely stinks. I’m really sorry.
I liked SESB’s reminder that even when something you absolutely would never wish to happen, happens, sometimes there are silver linings.
I’m sorry that Josh has now lost his mother and his mobility within a few weeks. I’m sorry for the additional caretaking time and energy that will fall on you. I’m sorry for the impact this will have on your summer plans, especially your much anticipated upcoming Hawaiian vacation. I hope that you are able to muddle through as you shift from the summer you thought you’d have to what the new reality will be.
Sending a lot of positive thoughts your way.
Sorry you’re going through such a rough patch! Thinking about Josh and your dad, of course. I broke a femur traumatically five years ago and it was quite the recovery involving three months at inpatient rehab and a year off of my hospital job. I have all the prayers for anyone dealing with orthopedic recovery. Hugs to all of you!
I’m so sorry that this has all been happening to you and your family. What a tough season. Holding you in my heart.
Oh crap, life is life-ing, as we say here 😖 lots of love to you all and wishing Josh and your dad both swift recoveries x
I’m sorry about all these things life is throwing at you right now, that sounds really rough. Sending you power and strength and best wishes for quick and uncomplicated recoveries for all family members.
Oh wow, Sarah, what an ordeal. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with all of this.
Oh NO. Seriously, you guys have had some bad luck lately. I feel really bad for Josh- obviously he won’t be running for a while and that really sucks for him. Well, let’s see… it’s Friday so your call week is 4/7ths done? This is probably the longest call week of your life. Sending healing vibes to EVERYONE.
I’m so, so sorry that you have had so many really big stressful events in a row. Hoping the surgery went well, and thinking of you guys!
I’m so sorry Sarah. This really sucks. Hoping he has a speedy pain free recovery. Sending you love and hugs.
Thinking of you and hoping this complicated situation works out as smoothly as possible!
Gah! So many transitions. It legit sounds like you guys could be in the midst of a lifequake. Hang in there!
So sorry to hear this. Wishing Josh a speedy recovery and thinking of you as you navigate this tough time.
Oh, Sarah! You guys are having a rough year. I’m so sorry, please consider yourself hugged and best wishes for healing for poor Josh.