The Fall
On Monday January 22nd at around 1:30 in the afternoon I had an accident in my backyard. It had snowed the previous weekend leaving about four inches of snow on the frozen ground in Cincinnati Ohio. I was taking my dogs out to go potty when I slipped on the ground on the apex of a hill in our backyard. My body went vertical and I slammed on the ground on my back hard.
Initially everything went fuzzy for a second the sky above me and a branch o could see lost color and went out of focus. Then everything was fuzzy and I felt woozy. Then the scene above me flashed back into focus. I was conscious, could see but was lying flat on my back.
Suddenly I was aware that I could not feel anything below my neck and could not move. It was probably the most terrifying moment of my life. I did not have fall detection on my watch turned on. Technology fail. I immediately began screaming for help. “Please help me. I’ve fallen in my backyard and I am paralyzed. Please someone hear me and call 911.” I then would try and activate SIRI to call 911. It did not comply. So for four minutes I alternated between screaming for help and begging SIRI to activate.
Finally one of my neighbors happened to let her dog out and heard my screams. “Where are you? What happened?” I recognized the neighbor as Patty and began talking to her. “Patty it’s Rich. I’ve fallen and I’m paralyzed please call 911.” I still had my faculties and was able to communicate. Patty asked for my address and was calling EMT. Soon another neighbor, Michelle, was hopping fences and telling me she was coming to help. I warned her of the slippery conditions as she jumped out fence and made her way to me. She’s a nurse. How can she help. I told her I fell and couldn’t move. I think I’m paralyzed. She said she would help me and call 911. I said 911 has been called. She went in my house and got a blanket. Michelle retrieves my phone and calls Rebecca. I tell her I've fallen and cannot move. She's on her way.
After a few minutes I could feel my legs. I moved one. Then the other. “I can move my legs” I sobbed. Michelle said “thats great! Take it easy though.” I continued to use my legs but was aware I could not feel my torso area still. Soon I'm able to lift my shoulders but arms are useless. My fingers are jello. More terror. I keep moving my legs and lifti g my shoulders. I'm so cold. So scared.
Patty, Michelle and my mother in law Linda are now all at my side as we await EMT.
EMT arrived in about 9 minutes. They assess the situation. Where I'm at on the snowy hill is precarious. They make a plan to dig their heels into the snow and through the dirt to secure themselves to get me on a backboard and up the hill. Soon the plan. Is in motion. I'm on the board and up the hill. On the stretcher. In the ambulance.
On the way to the hospital i begin to feel my fingers and can start to move them. A moment of relief.
We arrive at the hospital and the trauma qteam is assembled. They begin assessing me. Rebecca arrives and sees i am moving. I hear the surprise and relief in her voice.
X-ray. CT Scan. MRI. STRESSFUL
Tests revealed an existing condition on my neck and spinal cord that would have required surgery anyway. The fall caused my spincal collumn to squeeze my spinal cord causing a bruise. So surgery. On Friday. Wish me luck.
