One cannot plan for the unexpected. ~Aaron Klug
Sometimes you have a bump in the road. Literally. At least for my husband. Monday afternoon, I needed some tomato juice to make chili since we were planning to have my husband’s brothers and sisters-in-law and sister over for a chili supper on Tuesday. My husband volunteered to make the grocery store run.
That turned out to be a bad move. At the grocery store, he decided to save a couple of steps by walking over the little end median type place with mulch and bushes. Another bad move. He tripped on the concrete edging and had a hard fall on his arm and elbow. He said people rushed from all directions to aid him. That was nice. Ambulance people came. I rushed up there from home. Off we went to the ER. Not by ambulance but in the car. At the ER they did x-rays. Two bones broken. Elbow dislocated and broken. That hospital couldn’t handle that bad a break. Off we go to the next hospital where they have a great orthopedic reputation. More x-rays. More tests. Got his elbow back in place and a temporary cast to keep it there until surgery.
Stuck in the ER overnight. Finally got a room. Felt like we were in a fancy hotel after the little cubbyhole room in ER. Thought they would do surgery the next day. They had more serious cases to do. Put him off to the next day. They still had more serious cases to do. So, here it is Thursday and he’s still waiting to get his arm fixed. Not sure they will be able to do it today because he had some other medical issues show up in the night.
The point of sharing all this is that sometimes plans can go awry in one second or one stumble. We had the visit all planned. I had planned to have some great writing days and was sure I would find those magic words the end. But as they say the plans of mice and men don’t matter much.
Once you make that stumble over a bump in the road, you have to pick yourself up, take care of whatever unexpected has happened and start making new plans that may or may not be disturbed by a new bump in the road.
So, thanks for the prayers for Darrell. We have high hopes that eventually he will get to the OR to have his arm and elbow repaired, and we can move on to the next phase of healing.
Have you ever hit some of those bumps in the road that upset your apple carts?
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I’m praying your husband will be able to have his surgery soon so you can both go home. I hope his recovery will be uneventful.
Praying for successful surgery and speedy recovery.
So many times that I’ve lost count!! Praying for both of you!!!
Praying for a speedy recovery and for you too. Sitting at the hospital is exhausting.
I hope Darrell gets fixed up soon. Terrible to have to wait so long. We’ve had so many bumps recently. Last fall part of our garage ceiling fell and damaged both cars. About 10 days ago the glass in our sliding glass door shattered into a million pieces for seemingly no reason. The biggest bump is my husband has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and undergoing chemo, etc. Many waits for drs, tests, etc., so, yes, I am well aware of bumps in the road. Always enjoy your books.
I am SO sorry, Ann! I hope Darrell was able to have surgery today and have that past him. Holding both of you close in my heart. Having just done the all day ER, then change hospital thing with my husband’s problem, I truly understand what you both are going through.
So sorry to hear of Darrell’s accident. On Facebook I commented I hope he didn’t break anything, but then went to this page and found out he did. I’m sorry you and he is having to go through all the waiting and the stress involved. You both will be in my prayers for him to heal quickly.
Yes, I know a lot about those bumps too.
I’m sorry to hear of Darrell’s injury and his surgery being postponed.
My husband had a fall 3 Saturdays ago. He landed on both knees and (somehow) broke both ankle bones. Surgery with a long rod and screws…
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Oh, my, Gail. That’s terrible. So sorry that he’s having to go through that. Both ankles!!
Hope he heals quickly and is able to regain full mobility with those ankles. Hard when you have to be screwed back together. That might happen to Darrell too.
I’m soooo so sorry to read about this! I truly know his pain. I tripped over my shadow once going down an embankment too fast. I broke my arm, cracked and dislocated my shoulder and chipped my elbow. Those elbow injuries are painful! The worst part was having a 15 month old baby to care for while recuperating. My guardian angel aunt moved in with us though and spoiled my kids rotten.
I’ll be praying for a successful surgery (soon!) and a speedy recovery for Darrell. Prayers for you too as you wait it all out. I hope Frankie and Marley are holding up ok with you away. I’m sure they miss your walks every day.
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You did a job on that arm and shoulder, Lavon. And what a hard time with a little one to care for. They say Darrell might have to have an elbow replacement. Didn’t even know that was possible, but we’ll see. So good you had a guardian angel aunt. My daughter has come home to be an angel for us for a few days. Marley and Frankie are missing me and these storms have had Frankie in a stir. Hoping we can get home soon.
So very hard for both of you. Prayers and distant cousin hugs. Yes, many episodes that changed plans for us over the years. My constant saying is “this too shall pass”. I hope surgery and healing goes well.
Shirley Gillenwater (Husband’s mother was a Gabhart. We corresponded a few years ago).
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Thanks to all of you for the prayers and best wishes for Darrell’s healing. They are so appreciated. You all are the best.
So sorry to read about that, Ann. You all will be in our prayers. I hope everything goes well with the surgery and that it happens soon, that you will get the rest you both need, and that recovery is smooth and successful. My goodness, what a number of setbacks you’ve had, but Lord willing, things will begin to move forward soon. Thanks for letting us know how to pray for you at this time.
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Pretty sure he will finally have surgery to fix his arm tomorrow, Amy. Pretty sure, but then I was pretty sure today. Thanks for the prayers.
Sending prayers for Darrell, you, medical team, family. Brighter days ahead.
So sorry to hear this. Accidents can and do derail our plans. You are both in my prayers.
Sending prayers for Darrell, you, medical team, family.
So sorry to hear this, especially the delay in surgery! Most of your readers have had bumps in the road, just not as literally as his was. Thinking of you and won’t be surprised if parts of this are used in a future story. May God’s healing touch be present.
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Not sure this would be much fun to write about, Fern, but you never know. Every experience burrows down in your mind and sometimes resurfaces to show you something new.
I am sorry to read about this. IT HURTS me to think about it. Prayers are going up even as I type that he can have a successful surgery and rapid and full recovery. Too many bumps in my path to mention, but the good LORD put earth angels around me to lift me up EVERY TIME!
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Glad the earth angels have always flown along with you, Sandi. Darrell has meet a few of those this week too. But he’s ready for them to help him fly on back to our house. Hope you are safe in all these storms and heavy rains.
8/6/96 in Hibbing on their trampoline. Final jump. Need to slow down so we can go. A painful pop in my knee. A positive is we now have a minivan so I have room to stretch out. Thursday I finally get to see a specialist. Displaced tibia fracture. ACL totally torn off. They tried therapy. Ended up with surgery 1/11/97! Afraid I didn’t have the best surgeon. But Jesus helped me through healing, though kneecap was never right. So. One jump too many! And lots of pain has ensued since. I know Jesus was there all the time.
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So, you were like Darrell in wishing you hadn’t taken that last jump. He wished he hadn’t taken the shortcut over the uneven ground and not had that fall. Gee, that was a long recovery, but I’ve heard that kneecap injuries are the worse. My granddaughter cracked her kneecap a few years ago and it took a while for it to heal. And you had kneecap plus.
So very sorry for Darrell’s injury. Praying that surgery happens soon so that his healing can begin! Also praying for his speedy recovery!
So sorry to read about Darrell’s fall and broken bones! I’ll be praying for both of you.