Bone Broke

At 11:11pm Bryan and I were skateboarding east towards a downhill left turn. Unfortunately, a car was quickly heading towards the same turn coming in our direction. The car turned right into us, and with very little time to think, I was forced to make a quick decision: moving car or parked car? I swerved my skate hard left right between the vehicles into a sandy ditch. My wheels caught, sending me out into the street. I slammed my body, then my head onto the concrete, snapping my clavicle in two. After a quick trip to the emergency room, I have a new found interest in X-Ray Technology, and a strong dislike towards the red mitsubishi that took me down.

UPDATE- Sunday September 28th, 2008:

The post above^ was from the night of the crash, posted from my iPhone.  I was under heavy sedation, and I’m not sure how I pulled it off from my phone, but that’s a funny story in itself.

I went to the emergency room that night, and the doc advised surgery.  I visited my primary doctor the next day, and he advised against the surgery, but mentioned that I might want a third opinion from his friend and colleague, Dr. Chao.  Chao is the man.  If you watched the Charger / Raiders game today you may have seen him helping our wounded players on the field.  He loves his job as a surgeon and head trainer for the San Diego Chargers.

I went to see him on Friday (two days after the accident).  His assistants took some new X-Rays and we talked about my options.  He said surgery will greatly increase my chances and speed of recovery.  I knew I couldn’t be out of work for long, and if I don’t get in the water soon and shred some waves, I will go nuts.  Surgery was lookin’ good.  I had never gone under the knife before, so obviously I was a little reluctant.  Chao and I talked for a total of 5 minutes and within another 15 I was out the door, with my paper-work filled out and my appointment scheduled.  Prompt, easy.  However, the Operating Room was closed on the weekend, and booked till the following Wed.  This meant I had to wait a full week from bone break, to bone fix.  A week of my life, gone.  I was bummed, but there was nothing I could do.  Nothing except, wait.

After a painful / delusional  7 days I was faced with one last thought.  “Vacation”.  As the anesthesiologist led me to the OR in my little slippers, backless gown, and party hat (hair net) he let me know that the last thought I had before I went under would be the first thing I would remember when I woke up. “You can go anywhere in your mind” he said, “Pipeline?”.  And he assured me that I wouldn’t feel a thing. I mounted the OR table in the 50 degree room.  BRRR.  They covered me with a nice hot blanket and put soft pads behind my heels to ease on the pressure.  I closed my eyes, seized my shakes and felt completely comfortable. Next the gas man numbed my arm and linked my I.V. with no pain at all.  He then asked me to think of my happy place.  Bali bound.  He told me that I would get a funny taste in my mouth and then some tingles and then I would open my eyes and be done.  The taste sure was funny, the same taste as when you lick a battery on a dare from your friend in 5th grade.  Then the tingles, and slowly, while I was getting shacked in a crystal blue Polynesian barrel, my body slowly sank into the OR table and I was out.

I opened my eyes to see three nurses flittering around my bed, checking my vitals and pushing buttons on machines.  Apparently I didn’t want to wake up.  I was sleeping like a little baby, and it felt good.

Fast forward four days, 35 Hydrocone pills, 20 hours of icing my shoulder, 12 movies, 2 showers and very little sunshine, and here I am; typing again on this computer that I can hardly get away from.  On a good note I have full use of my hand and arm, as long as it is down near my waste or lower than my chest, and my slice is healing.  I don’t have to wear a sling anymore, I’m starting to get feeling back at my left chest.  I’ve got some pretty gnarly bruising, and a wicked scar.  The stitches are internal, and will be unravelled from within and pull out the sides next week.

Here is the latest X-Ray showing the alloy plate and seven screws that hold my clavicle together.

Thanks Dr. Chao, AJ, David, Jons, Beth, Amy, Mom Dad and Bros for taking care of me/ putting up with me.