Tarzan's Bad Day
Yesterday we went off to the woods with our friend Misty for a walk. Of course, I use the term "walk" loosely since most of the time is spent jumping across water, climbing trees and exploring. After quite a long time, Kendra was asking to go home so we had finally decided to actually listen to her and turn around to head back to the car.
That was when Gerald spotted the branch. It was perfect, really - reaching across the stream beckoning him to swing. Checking the elasticity of the branch, he decided it would pull him across the stream for a fun ending to our fun day. Right before he took off, he turned to the girls and said, "Look girls! A physics lesson!" So off Tarzan went - sailing across the stream when we all heard a loud "Crack!" and watched in horror as Gerald fell into the shallow rocky stream. Though it was not a long fall, it appeared that he landed on his neck and head. The look on his face told me he was in pain. Upon reaching him, the first thing he said to me is that his hands were tingling which made me even more afraid. I checked his head for bleeding and there was none. Thank God his head and neck were fine. Then he said it was his ankle that felt injured. Somehow it must have landed first, twisted and taken the fall. Submerged in the cold water, we decided to leave his foot there until we figured out what to do.
Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw about 8 Moroccan and French picnickers running towards us, so I stepped out of the way as they lifted him out of the stream. Once Gerald was out of the water, I was trying to figure out what Gerald needed and they were all offering suggestions in French and Arabic which was very confusing. After they had asked several times if I can drive (women don't normally drive here), one man ended up giving the girls and me a ride back to our car which was quite far away. When we arrived back at the scene, the biggest man had decided to carry Gerald in spite of his protests that he could simply limp using them as crutches. But they were determined give as much help as possible, so off Gerald went, piggy-back-style over a stream, across a rocky, rough terrain, up a little hill and back down on a rocky slope to deliver him to the car.
We returned home where Misty stayed to take care of the girls while we made the one-hour trip to Meknes though Gerald was still muddy, wet and cold. Ron called a bone clinic so they were ready for us when we arrived at 6:30 pm. We tried not to think about the complete lack of protection for Gerald in the x-ray room, the dirt on the walls and the extremely long, steep hallway up and back down that Gerald was wheeled to for the x-ray. Thankfully, Gerald had not broken any bones, but the swelling was so severe that the doctor diagnosed it as a torn ligament and a bad sprain. We were also grateful that Ron came to the hospital to translate and that they were able to lend us some crutches once Gerald was bumped out of the hospital on the rampless exit.
So now Gerald has to wear a cast (in spite of his protests) to immobilize his ankle for three weeks, use crutches for one week, and not play sports for three months. The university campus is NOT handicapped-access able as all the buildings - even his first floor office - have at least 10 steps to go up first. All his classes are on the second floors and of course there are no elevators. But the big problem is the tile walkways which become terribly slick when it rains. Several fully healthy people have wiped out on these in the two years we've been here.
But overall, we are very, very thankful that the injury was not to his head or neck and that the bones in his ankle are not broken. He has not been in very much pain, either - mostly just a numbness, stiffness and heaviness which leads to a dull throbbing.
Apparently right after Gerald fell, Katrina looked at Misty and said, "He should not have done that." As far as the science lesson goes, I guess the girls did not learn too much about elasticity, but they did learn about gravity, dead branches, ankle x-rays and ligaments.
Tarzan resting comfortably. Me, Jane, must go now.
Aaaaaaah!
That was when Gerald spotted the branch. It was perfect, really - reaching across the stream beckoning him to swing. Checking the elasticity of the branch, he decided it would pull him across the stream for a fun ending to our fun day. Right before he took off, he turned to the girls and said, "Look girls! A physics lesson!" So off Tarzan went - sailing across the stream when we all heard a loud "Crack!" and watched in horror as Gerald fell into the shallow rocky stream. Though it was not a long fall, it appeared that he landed on his neck and head. The look on his face told me he was in pain. Upon reaching him, the first thing he said to me is that his hands were tingling which made me even more afraid. I checked his head for bleeding and there was none. Thank God his head and neck were fine. Then he said it was his ankle that felt injured. Somehow it must have landed first, twisted and taken the fall. Submerged in the cold water, we decided to leave his foot there until we figured out what to do.
Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw about 8 Moroccan and French picnickers running towards us, so I stepped out of the way as they lifted him out of the stream. Once Gerald was out of the water, I was trying to figure out what Gerald needed and they were all offering suggestions in French and Arabic which was very confusing. After they had asked several times if I can drive (women don't normally drive here), one man ended up giving the girls and me a ride back to our car which was quite far away. When we arrived back at the scene, the biggest man had decided to carry Gerald in spite of his protests that he could simply limp using them as crutches. But they were determined give as much help as possible, so off Gerald went, piggy-back-style over a stream, across a rocky, rough terrain, up a little hill and back down on a rocky slope to deliver him to the car.
We returned home where Misty stayed to take care of the girls while we made the one-hour trip to Meknes though Gerald was still muddy, wet and cold. Ron called a bone clinic so they were ready for us when we arrived at 6:30 pm. We tried not to think about the complete lack of protection for Gerald in the x-ray room, the dirt on the walls and the extremely long, steep hallway up and back down that Gerald was wheeled to for the x-ray. Thankfully, Gerald had not broken any bones, but the swelling was so severe that the doctor diagnosed it as a torn ligament and a bad sprain. We were also grateful that Ron came to the hospital to translate and that they were able to lend us some crutches once Gerald was bumped out of the hospital on the rampless exit.
So now Gerald has to wear a cast (in spite of his protests) to immobilize his ankle for three weeks, use crutches for one week, and not play sports for three months. The university campus is NOT handicapped-access able as all the buildings - even his first floor office - have at least 10 steps to go up first. All his classes are on the second floors and of course there are no elevators. But the big problem is the tile walkways which become terribly slick when it rains. Several fully healthy people have wiped out on these in the two years we've been here.
But overall, we are very, very thankful that the injury was not to his head or neck and that the bones in his ankle are not broken. He has not been in very much pain, either - mostly just a numbness, stiffness and heaviness which leads to a dull throbbing.
Apparently right after Gerald fell, Katrina looked at Misty and said, "He should not have done that." As far as the science lesson goes, I guess the girls did not learn too much about elasticity, but they did learn about gravity, dead branches, ankle x-rays and ligaments.
Tarzan resting comfortably. Me, Jane, must go now.
Aaaaaaah!
posted by Reimer Ramblings @ 8:20 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Out of the mouth of babes. He shouldn't have done that. Countless accidents occur daily right after those mighty words, "Watch This!" Thankfully it was an injury to his ankle and his pride. Pat him on the head and give him a bannana. Tarzan stupid, jane nice. Bad Tarzan.
MUD
Jane encouraged Tarzan. Jane likes risks. Jane also stupid. Jane happy Tarzan not couch potato.
JR
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