What can I say?

It was a lovely fall day yesterday when I arrived at school and parked. I loaded my arms up so I wouldn't have to make a second trip to the parking lot. I had my purse, keys, lunch bag and a whole pile of books which I was trying to juggle while I headed toward the steps to the door. I felt my left foot slide...on a small rock? uneven pavement? I still don't know exactly what happened, but the next thing I knew, I went down on my knees. Geez! What an embarrasment. I was glad nobody was around.

I checked to make sure my hip was OK. No problem there, but boy did my knee smart. I got up and looked at the dirty patch on my right knee and the dime sized spot of blood. Dang! I was going to have to go through the day with that stuff on my pants. Well, at least there were no rips or snags. I started to gather up my belongings when I felt the first trickle down my leg. I hoped it was not what I thought it was. No, I didn't pee my pants.

I made it up the steps, into the school and into the ladies' room where I found a huge gash that was gaping open in my knee. Blood was running down my leg and splattering onto my sock and shoe. At first glance, I knew I was going to have to head for the emergency room. So I went to the nearby counselor's office and he jumped into action.

Soon I found myself in the hospital getting stitched up. The PA put what I think she called "mattress" stitches in. They are extra strong and are used on placed that might have a hard time holding together...like a knee or elbow. She pulled the skin together with a tiny ridge at the top. The stitches went in from the side, underneath the ridge and out the other side. The she moved down the gash about 1/4 inch and put the needle back through going the other way. She put 3 of those stitches in. The laceration was 3 cm wide and pretty deep.

After I got sewed together, they put me in a brace that extends from ankle to hip so I couldn't bend my knee. Yep, here we go again! Same knee, same side as my new hip.

I was most amazed that the laceration was caused by the impact of the fall rather than by some object that I fell on. My skin and underlying tissue just split open. My pants don't even have a loose thread on them. And they were rayon type slacks.

I saw Lance Howell, RN, at the hospital that day. He asked about everyone. I also saw Eric Whitesides again. When Eric saw me he said, "What now?"

What can I say?