2.07.2008

day2, run2, ski-over


one minute you're traversing across the tail end of a perfectly bumped and pow'd run on ajax mountain. and SNAP. just like that. you're being hauled down ruthie's run on a ski patrol sled, loaded into the back of an ambulance, and dropped onto a gurney at aspen valley hospital.



in the ER, every draped cubicle they wheel you past seems to have a ski boot poking out from behind the curtain. these guys know what they're doing. form follows function. the ER leads to the xray room which leads to the MRI room which leads straight to physical therapy, where a guy named louie teaches me how to put on my new BFF, bracie. say good-night bracie.

this is most definitely NOT where i envisioned myself spending my days when i set out on a girls ski trip to aspen last week:



instead, THIS is where i envisioned myself...hiking up the knife-edge of highland bowl, dropping in somewhere around gate six, and sliding and gliding my way down through the ohhhh, two to three feet of freeze-dried powder heaped inside like a jethro bowl full of confectioners sugar.



my plans for the perfect ski week unraveled faster than a skein of red heart. the hottie PA sean delivered the verdict: ruptured ACL, torn meniscus, and a lateral tibial plateau contusion, otherwise known as a bone bruise.



over the next four days, i gazed through the wooden blinds from my vantage point on the couch. over THREE FEET of snow accumulated over the mass of white stuff already on the deck. see that beige pointy thing jutting out of the snow bank? that's the tip of a tabletop umbrella.

tea and sympathy were in abundance. or shall i say, pinot grigio and vodka and sympathy. my husband even sent flowers. (speedy recovery AND happy birthday! feb 4 was my b-day. don't ask how old. it will only make me crankier.)



the good news is, what i'm missing in ski time, i'm more than making up for in crutch time. turns out, i'm a hell of a crutcher. a true crutchinado. the crutchinator. arnold crutchenegger. in fact, i highly recommend the crutch workout over all other forms of upper body conditioning. try doing it with sleeveless tops and you may never have to shave your armpits again.

also, of course, as everyone tells me, i should count my blessings. it could have been much worse. thank god i was wearing a helmet. there's always next year. i will feel much better soon. thanks also to the nice lady in the airport yesterday who told me not to worry; that she, too, had had a ruptured ACL and was back to normal in no time. i thanked her and watched as she limped back to her seat in the waiting area. and that other lady on line to board a flight who, upon noticing my predicament, advised me to "go for the cadaver." apparently, the tissue from a 20-year-old male dancer is preferable to any other form of ACL repair. "don't let them take your hamstring!" she called out over her shoulder as she passed me.

oh, and aspen has an awesome yarn shop where they measure the fur yarn by the gram on a scale formerly owned by a coke dealer.



something tells me i'll be doing a lot of knitting over the next couple of months. and of course, working. as luck would have it, a bum knee has approximately zero impact on my ability to work on a laptop. or procrastinate from my work on a laptop by blogging incessantly.

34 comments:

female interpreter educator said...

OH MY, dear dear Kate!!! Not good news at all, although you seem to be doing well...could be all that pinot grig!!

And, where oh where does one find the tissue from a 20-year-old male dancer?? is there a website for that?

Do take care of yourself!!
chris

Mandy said...

Glad you're okay! What a terrible way to spend a vacation though.

Steve said...

Kate - take heart, a bunch of my ski-patrol buds are up to their old tricks after sustaining similar injuries. Meanwhile, keep blogging -- I love how you write.

K8 said...

In 2003 my ACL managed to fracture my leg (turns out I had a very stubborn ligament) on the first run of the day and they had to sled me down. So sending tons of good thoughts your way :) You'll be back to skiing soon!

K8 said...

Sorry for the multiple comments - I had my ACL done later, and got patellar tendon. My boyfriend has had both his own tissue and cadaver, and both worked for him. He's going backcountry skiing this weekend....and the next :)

Jennifer said...

Ohno! So sorry to hear about your injury, but I am relieved to see you handling it with your usual style and humor! Get well soon!

Unknown said...

so sorry your trip to colo. wasn't what you planned. the torn acl is a rite of passage around here. so now you are in the club!

feel better and take care!

Vouray said...

Oh Poop! Feel better, knit lots, and read a bunch of good books! Hugs!

Glaistig said...

Oh, geez, I hope you are loads better SOON!! And I'm glad as terrible as it was that you will recover.

My husband is a PT here in CO and he sees all sorts of mishaps daily. Hope you'll give us another chance!

soknitpicky said...

So sorry about your injury...sending best thoughts for a good recovery. And happy belated birthday, even if it wasn't quite what you wished for.

Anonymous said...

Oh, no! Heal well. x

Anonymous said...

Delurking to say I ruptured my ACL, had the cadaver, am 46yrs old...and was back teaching my 7 yoga classes/week within four months. I learned alot from the injury, as I had always been athletic, strong, etc....I had a reflective summer, did lots of knitting, and came out of the "experience" a better instructor. (And knitter!)

a friend to knit with said...

OH NO!!!!
i am SO sorry.
that really is such a bummer.
look forward to seeing loads of knitting coming out of your blog! :)
oh, and happy belated birthday!

knitlit kate said...

delurker kate: thank you so much for your words of encouragement. if you stop back, would you mind leaving your email or email me though the link on the sidebar? i'd love to ask you some questions about your ACL experience.

and thanks to the rest of you as well. the support is really helpful.

Macoco said...

Oh, I am so sorry. I am really hoping you have a great surgery and quick recovery!!!

Re: cadaver. My brother had gum graphs due to receding gums and instead of having them take the skin from the roof of his mouth he opted for the cadaver skin.

icccccckkkk. Cadaver in your mouth. Made and icky brother seem even ickier.

Reckless Glue said...

oh nooooo, that sucks. ACL injuries are always brutal.

at least there will be some quality knitting time in your future :(/:)echinur

Team Knit said...

Happy Belated Birthday! The flowers look lovely. That really, truly sucks about your leg.

- Julie

ingrid said...

Holy jeez! I hope you're feeling better soon.

I am the clumsiest, most accident-prone gal I know and, for that reason, have never tried downhill skiing. I know I would end up in a full-body cast.

Happy belated birthday too!

Amy in StL said...

Wow, sorry to hear about your injury! Couch surfing isn't the best way to spend a vacation when one plans on being outside, is it? On the upside, I can vouch for Crutching as being a great upper body exercise. When I broke my ankle two years ago, it's what convinced me that I needed to get in better shape overall!

Debbie D said...

Happy late birthday. Sorry about blowing out that knee. When I worked at a large well known outpatient PT clinic here in Atlanta we had a rush of local folks that blew out their knees on their vacations skiing out West. Doesn't help your situation but you are in a large crowd.

Best advice I can give you IS GO TO A SPORTS Orthopod. You want the one that is the surgeon for your local pro football or basketball team.

Oh, be nice to your nurse and your physical therapist. Trust me on that one!

Shea said...

Oh you poor thing! I hate that your vacation got messed up. But look on the bright side, now you have a reason to expect your husband to be at your beck and call. Milk it while you can!

OLGAJAZZY said...

I am heartbroken for you, Kate! I am soo sorry, this should have been so much fun! But I honestly wish you a speedy recovery, spirits up! Happy Belated Birthday, Girlfriend and lots of yarn sending your way!!
Hugs <3

Nadine Fawell said...

Hi Kate

You make a hilarious post out of a distinctly un-hilarious incident. Take, care, get well soon, knit (and drink) up a storm.

Nadine

Anonymous said...

Hi...delurking Kate here....for some reason I can't get your e-mail address up on the sidebar, so....here is my e-mail: Katecarey123@yahoo.com. I would be happy to answer any questions, encourage, and share....my daughter, 20 yrs, college soccer palyer, tore her ACL 8 weeks after me, and had a different surgery, different experience etc. We're both doing great....her back to soccer, me back to Yoga. Look forward to "talking" to you~

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear that! And also, sorry for the late Happy Birthday!
Get well soon and enjoy your recovery time,at least try to.
Love reading your writings!
Glod bless you and your leg, too!

beijinhos Ana

krazybarrister said...

oh no! sorry to hear about the accident, but glad to hear it's not worse. let me know if you need me to bring anything by! happy belated birthday ...

chookie said...

Hope you have a speedy recovery :)

Tracy said...

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry...It happened to my son 4 years ago on the 2nd day of our vacay...he broke his femour--ouch--he was only 6 yrs old :-(
But, alas he recovered and as they say, you just have to get back on that horse next year...Good luck and happy knitting.
Milena

Amy said...

Oh no! You poor thing. I'm oh so familiar with the crutches. I almost knit myself some crutch cozies, but never get around to it. Perhaps you'll best me on that front. Maybe you'll even get off the crutches soon and get to rock a cane for a time.

I hope you heal quickly and that your surgery goes well. Belated birthday wishes to you!

-Amy

Lolly said...

Kate, I am so sorry to hear about your accident! wow, not fun at all. I do hope you are feeling better and are slightly more mobile now. please take care of yourself and don't push too hard!

i hope you were able to be happy for your birthday :)

bunnnyfoofoo said...

Hi Kate,

Sorry that you got hurt skiing. I only had to go as far as motorcycle safety class to break my collarbone! Hope you are feeling better soon,

m
xox

brsmaryland said...

Coming out from lurking to say I hope you feel better soon. Enjoy the extra knitting time!

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