Ahh..., Sundays. A time for families to gather in living rooms across the US huddled together around the latest in LG’s curved glass, 147”, hi-def, free-range, gluten-free, LCD TV in hopes their beloved NFL team doesn’t embarrass themselves by losing to the San Diego, oops..., Los Angeles Chargers. Other options might include gathering at a place of worship for a solemn day of prayer, or possibly something more low-key like meeting with friends for lunch. Maybe enjoying an afternoon picnic or backyard barbecue while savoring the early days of a warm Southern California autumn is more to your liking. For Mary and I, it was a casual bike ride along the highly polluted and toxic waters of San Diego Bay - despite the water’s virulent condition, the ride is actually quite pleasant.
With the Miramar Air Show (featuring the world-famous Blue Angels) screaming through the airspace above the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, drawing an estimated 700,000 people over its 3-day show, we figured the typical ‘hot spots’ in San Diego would be barren of the usual locals and tourists, thus assuring a relatively crowd-free ride.
Pulling into a small shopping plaza adjacent the airport, we stopped at a parking spot shaded by the few trees present and parked among a small cluster of drivers and their ubiquitous black Suburban limos, all waiting for a call to zip over to the airport and pick-up a fare. After offloading our bikes, we headed south, pedaling our way along the water’s edge. Riding past parks, hotels, the Coast Guard Station, the Harbor Police's office, and the many derelict boats and homeless that call the area home, we approached the stately and majestic Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing ship.
As we rode by the ship, Mary turned to look over her right shoulder and inadvertently steered her bike to the left – a very common effect whether driving or biking. As her bike veered left, she gently bumped into me. Holding my line, I continued as Mary attempted to pull away. In her attempt to correct the situation, she apparently over-corrected and ended up on the hard asphalt, now hot from the sun’s rays. Hearing a yell and the subsequent crash, I slammed on my brakes, jumped off my bike and found Mary lying motionless and prone on her belly with blood weeping from her forehead, creating a small pool on the ground.
My immediate panic was swiftly relieved by a band of good Samaritans who rapidly gathered to a possible call of duty to whatever help might be requested of them. One of the first on the scene was a military-looking guy who immediately took control of the situation and promptly went through the usual questions to assess her condition. As he barked out for someone to call 911, a 1st aid kit was rushed over by a couple sitting nearby, as was a stack of folded cloth to act as a makeshift pillow. Those not involved in the rescue stood stone-faced with cell phones poised filming the carnage, no doubt acting quickly to post to their Facebook page for all the world to witness. Once the paramedics arrived and took over, they all agreed Mary’s elbow was a tangled mess and gave her a shot of Dilaudid (an opioid) for the horrendous pain she was suffering. Gently loading her onto a stretcher and wheeling her to the ambulance, the patient was whisked off to the hospital - sirens and lights piercing the air. Arriving at the ER, Mary was again surrounded by another group but this time filled with doctors, nurses, and orthopedists.
X-rays and scans showed a fracture in her right pinkie finger, but the major damage was to her left proximal radius and ulna. For those without an MD following your name, these are the two bones that run from your wrist up to the elbow. As the RN described it in less technically medical terms, the ulna is what forms the pointy part of your elbow when you bend your arm (for any 13-year old boy reading this, that's also where your winus is). The two bones had become many. As I type this, she is under the knife in the experienced hands of the surgical team. Along with all the bolts, screws, pins, plates, pulleys and winches being installed to get her arm back to its 65-year old normal state, they are replacing the head of Mary's shattered radius, with 21st-century technology consisting of titanium and plastic. I’m hoping to bring her home tonight, but it’s dependent on her pain level once she is awake.
My early days of retirement that have been spent lounging on our deck or at the beach with book in hand will now be served as cook, laundress, chauffeur, shopper of groceries, adjuster of pillows, washer of hair, sleeper of sofa, wiper of… Well, you get the point.
In closing, I want to thank the numerous unknown people who jumped into action when the need arose. Special thanks to Officer Chambers of the San Diego Harbor Police who not only made two follow-up calls to check on her but stood watch over Mary’s bike as I pedaled back to the car as she was being driven to the hospital. Unbeknownst to the officer at the time of his guard duty, I had locked it to a barrier along the water so his services were greatly appreciated but not needed. A hearty pat on the back to the paramedics and fire & rescue professionals who arrived on scene and stabilized her arm and tended to her other wounds. Hats off to Kim Kovacik, the ER nurse who with attentive good cheer and humor, took care of Mary in the early hours of her stay at Kaiser Hospital's ER. And finally, a standing ovation to the doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists in the OR who are slicing and dicing through her elbow to make it as healthy as it can be.
Sleep deprived and loaded with legal and medicinal drugs; Mary's either waving to you all or giving me the finger for taking her picture. It's difficult to tell.