Much can be said about looking forward to retirement, and for Chris, he had set the date and sold his work van, and was even getting ready to have a tool sale. One last small handyman job for a long-time customer and he would hang up his tool belt on Tuesday.
That's when I received the phone call at work. "Honey, could you meet me at Lions Gate Hospital emergency? I've fallen and broken my wrist. My customer is taking me on the ferry to the hospital.
What?? So I managed to make it to emergency by 4:15pm and there he was, sitting, waiting to be seen by the doctor since 3pm; wrist distorted, and in a lot of pain. What happened? Well, apparently he was standing on the kitchen counter hanging curtain rods on a kitchen window and he slipped, fell to the floor, and his wrist smashed against the kitchen island as he was falling! Ouch!
Chris was finally seen by the Doctor at 5:15 and sent for an xray. At 6:30 they confirmed 2 wrist bones on either side were broken. Next he would have to have it set and casted. A 6 inch needle was stuck right inside his wrist to freeze it so they could pull the hand to set it. He said it hurt sooo bad having the needle put it. I can only imagine.
They gave him some hydromorphone at 6:30 but it really didn't help with his pain. Then they took another xray to make sure the cast was on proper, and we were done, and able to get the last ferry home at 9:30pm.
The broken wrist just happens to be his left hand and Chris is very much left handed. He is really at a disadvantage now, and so limited in what he can do effectively. Things he struggles with include: cutting and buttering his bread; putting on socks; writing; opening jars; the list is long, plus having a stick shift in the car, means he is not driving as he needs 2 hands. I seem to have become his left hand now.
Chris will have to see an orthopedic surgeon next week at some point to have it checked, but I suspect this will be a long haul. He won't be chopping the kindling or using the broom and dustpan for a while either. I'll do my best.
