BLOG 28

09 June 2010

Hello all again,

Through all things, I remember that I am blessed, regardless of my challenge or what we face as a family.we get on with it.smile, accept it & use it to make a difference. That is my dream anyway. I pray that all I endure will make a difference for someone else. This is bizarre - I had a fall (3rd fall from the R leg) 04th June out the back of the Royal Children's Hospital, whilst exiting a QLD health building (visiting a friend) my R (weak) leg crumbled underneath me - my R knee bone hit the concrete & I twisted the L ankle. I even had a massive wound to knee through my clothes. The poor bloke & his 2 kids, who picked me up off the concrete, said he heard the bone smash from about 6 metres away. Apparently I have ripped the 'extensor digitorium longus' tendon from my L leg bone, fractured part of the Talus L foot bone & a small piece of bone has ripped away with the tendon.

I went home after that, thinking I could just ice my injuries, but returned for X-rays on Sunday....I only found out Tuesday that I have been hobbling around on a fractured foot. I was at the hospital (to meet the same friend & see my therapist) - the resident Dr. just happened to call me & said I needed to immediately go to the ER & get a plaster on my L foot, as I had a ripped tendon & a fracture. I was so surprised when he called, as I thought no phone call Sunday & Monday - I must be fine. I presented to the ER and got my temporary plaster....I now understand why my foot was so sore in a particular spot. My R knee looks nastier than the L foot, so both I and the doctor were surprised, as originally we were not going to X-ray the L foot.

Immediately, before I had the fall, I had presented at the Heam. Registrar and through testing confirmed that my leg (only 20 days since the last spinal chemo) was weak again. I had not noticed that my leg had weakened again, only when he tested it. After this examination, I was trying to be careful, as I walked to see my friend. But, after coming down 4 flights of stairs, I assume this weakened my R leg more and as I came out of the building, it just crumbled. My friend who works for QLD health (in the building where I fell), has been telling me of the plight of these workers in this building that has no lift!! Workers are forced to climb 4 flights of stairs to get to their offices. They have been asking for a lift for a long time. The team in this building will now report my injury to QLD health in support of a lift for disabled workers and visitors. I find it odd that my injury may in fact help the workers in that building. A report has been lodged with workplace health & safety.

How can anything about this possibly be good? Well, this highlights a safety issue of me walking around with a weakened leg really is a sign to my home hospital medical team that my safety is being compromised and supports the need for transplant. Regardless, I try to smile and deal with everything in a positive light, as best I can. As long as I am being looked after medically and the rest of my family is healthy I am happy. I do all I can to support Greg and he supports me a very patient husband and very loyal. Even with injuries and Lymphoma and other challenges God is still good to us and helps us every step of the way.

This coming Friday, I am due for another Chemo lumbar puncture to rid this weakness again and continue with lumbar puncture treatment as we wait for more medical opinion from various doctors! Watch this space. Thank you for your continued prayers and love.

Blessings, Jodie & Family.