I was trying to end my last year at Lander with a bang and it backfired. The goal was to figure out a way for Lander to be more accessible to their students with disabilities. I had been meeting with one of the vice presidents on campus to make it happen. On May 1st at 1 pm is the time we picked for the “accessibility tour.” I had different parts on campus that I wanted to take him around and throw out ideas on the way it could be more accessible. We left the library and headed towards the pool. I was explaining to him that they should put a pathway that led to the entrance. He suggested that I go up this grassy, hilly area. I’m assuming so he could get a better understanding of my suggestion. As I started up that hill, my scooter (use it to get around campus) and I went sideways. All my body weight went to my arm. It’s been so long since I’ve felt that kind of pain. It felt like I could feel the dislocation of my arm. The VP called campus safety. I did not want to be touched. They had to call the ambulance to get me. When I got to the ER it took them forever to give me something for pain. Without a doubt one of the worst days of my life. Oh and did I mention, this was the week before graduation? So yeah, I walked across the stage with a cast on my arm and not to mention, I still needed to get through the exams and I didn’t, still haven’t taken my graduation pics.
I was down and out for about a month and a half. I had a cast on for about 3 weeks and then I was put into a splint until the end of June. The cast was the worst part, I couldn’t bathe as I wanted and it itched so bad. It was horrible. It was a tough time for me mentally. Here I was, a recent college graduate that’s supposed to be getting the next steps in her life together, and I was stuck in the house, broken. I pretty much sat in the house except for a few outings with my grandparents and my best friend got me out of the house a few times.
Despite how hard it was, I had to remind myself that it was just my arm. I could’ve gotten a concussion, broke my leg, both my arms, damage my scooter and have a longer recovery time. So without saying, I got lucky.
Thing is, the last thing a person EVER wants to do is a break, especially the older you get and sucks even worse when you’re a disabled individual. The types of disabilities vary, and the seriousness of the breakage ranges. For me, my bones and joints are already stiff and fragile. So, it’s a possibility that it has become even fragile and stiff and the healing process may or may not be the same as it would be for someone who’s not disabled. Luckily, I know that God creates miracles. My arm healed in the normal predicted time. Unfortunately, as a result of the break, my arm has become a little more stiff. It sucks because I already had limited mobility in my right arm, but I make the best of it and keep pushing.
God makes no mistakes. I was put in the situation to make me stronger. To get me to slow down. I always had an appointment, a meeting to attend, supporting a friend, etc. I was wearing myself out. I needed the rest. It sucks that I had to break my arm to get it, but I got it.
For anyone readers that I personally know and was on the journey with me. I thank you. Thank you for the prayers, encouragement, ones that were there for me in the beginning & checked on me until the end
#stillRising
#stillRising 