Post Crash Recovery

As most of you know, I was in a pretty big accident last month and escaped with what in the long term should be negligible injuries (although there is still some soreness...it is decreasing each week). I just thought I would share a bunch of random things that have come up over the last month as a result. Oh yeah, that's the car I was in.

First, the accident itself. I was driving on I-1o to Safford for a teacher workshop about 8pm. I saw a truck overturned on the interstate in front of me. I stopped...the truck behind me barely slowed down. I heard an officer at the scene estimate he may have been doing about 70mph when he rear ended me. Fortunately, I was not crushed between the trucks, but pushed off to the side. I have not seen the accident report yet (Arizona DPS is dreadfully slow at such things) but I think I ended up in the interstate median.

First, I have to say I was very impressed with modern automotive engineering. Looking at my car, you can clearly see the crumple zones that saved me. I didn't walk away from the crash...I could tell I was hurt with potential back and neck injuries so I stayed put to let the emergency crews do their job. However, if there was a fire, I am pretty sure I could have gotten out if absolutely necessary.

I passed out briefly from the collision. When I first came to, I couldn't breathe at all. Not even a little bit. That's just an awful feeling if you have ever had it. I didn't know what happened, whether I had punctured/collapsed lungs or just the wind knocked out of me. During this time I remember doing something that, in retrospect, seems stupidly habit driven: I reached down and put the car in park even though the engine was off. After a minute or two, I passed out again. Second time I can to, I could breathe. Good sign! Emergency crews were not there yet, so I couldn't have been out long. There was a woman assuring me that she called 911. Never got her name.

I had to be cut out of the car. They put a towel over my head to protect from flying glass and debris. I asked for a pair of goggles so I could watch. They seemed pretty confused by this request. I didn't get goggles in the end.

A lot of my friends have (sincerely) asked if I considered praying during this. No one has tried to be a jerk about it, but I still have some christian friends who are hoping I may eventually come around. My response has been no. It's not like I thought about praying and decided not to. I am a real non-believer so praying is something that just never occurred to me as a course of action.

I got the helicopter ride back to UMC, just a few blocks from where I work. The helicopter was a little short for someone of my height, my left leg was bumping into something and I couldn't straighten it. Got the X-rays and CAT scan. They get you in quick when you come from a wreck like mine. One thing I found out is that it took more than 20 minutes to get me out of the car (although I was conscious, I didn't have a great sense of time during the rescue). That little tidbit right there is passed on to the emergency room and is considered a very serious accident so they don't mess around.

It didn't take long for me to get the news which they warned me was good, but painful: four broken posterior ribs. Good news, no other broken bones or internal injuries, no evidence of a concussion or anything else. The next morning I had double vision and got a small (~1mm) corneal abrasion added to the list, but that was pretty minor and healed quickly.

I stayed in the hospital for three days. Could barely get out of bed at first. Would lay there for a couple of hours just dreading the pain involved with getting up. Doctors told me I could walk as much as I wanted. Started short, but quickly worked up to walking several miles a day. About three weeks until I tried the first run. Now I am up to a long run of 10 miles (but still slower than before...hope the speed will come back). I hope to do the Disney Marathon in January, but I am behind my usual schedule on that one and may have to settle for finishing rather than going for time. Lifting weights is much tougher. I am doing what I can and slowly adding my usual exercises into the mix as I heal. Doing most of them by now, but a lot less weight than before. Again, I expect this to improve as time goes on.

I was supposed to run the Disneyland Half-Marathon on Labor Day. Since my accident was the Wednesday before, that didn't happen.

I got a new car...thinking about blogging about the new car buying experience as it has changed a lot since my last new car in 2000 (and I had no plans to get a new one in the near future since it was running well and I liked it).

A while ago, I published a short blog about the medical side. I have good insurance and this was a workman's comp claim. I have had virtually zero out of pocket expenses. It is much easier when you know you don't have to worry about the cost of your treatment. I can't imagine being an uninsured person in that situation...I am sure that airlifts, emergency rooms, and a few days in the hospital can wipe out quite a bit of savings even for a responsible person.

The pain is slowly decreasing and strength is slowly returning. In the end I expect a full recovery and will have one of those life experiences. I have had the auto accident one...prefer not to repeat but it looks like I am coming out of it okay.