On being indestructible

Jul 20, 2010 15:23

Short version: I was hit by a taxi. I'm generally okay ( Read more... )

Leave a comment

Comments 35

OK backwards is xo hydrozoa July 20 2010, 19:36:26 UTC
jeeeeeesus christ. sorry that happened--how totally and completely scary! i was gripping my desk while i read this (seriously).

really glad you're generally OK. xo.

Reply

Re: OK backwards is xo petit_chou July 21 2010, 21:08:28 UTC
People kept asking me if I'd blacked out, which I didn't, but I kinda wonder how that'd change the experience. Because being fully conscious while an automobile plows into you? SCARESVILLE.

Thank you! I'm really glad, too.

Reply


michaelboy July 20 2010, 19:51:34 UTC
Heatherjte! I am so sorry this happened to you. I am glad that you were wearing a helmet though. I crashed my bike two years ago and was wearing mine and it was totally broken, which that could have been my head.

I've seen many head injuries in the ER where I volunteer and a broken collarbone or leg can usually be be mended.

Please take it easy as you will probably be very sore tommorrow.

Heal fast, my friend!

Reply

petit_chou July 21 2010, 21:11:59 UTC
I look forward to buying a new helmet for sure. My parents did a couple of things right: I always wear my seatbelt in cars, and I always wear my helmet on a bike. It's scary to realize how very little protection you really have on a bike. I keep being thankful for my gloves, which kept my hands from getting too scraped up (thumb excluded). Gloves and a helmet! That's it! I wore more stuff when I roller skated!

Last night I slept soundly and I expect I will for the next week, as my body is just so relieved to be laying down by the end of the day. It's gonna be a tough one, but I'm so thankful that I'm all in one piece.

Reply


puffpastry July 20 2010, 19:56:47 UTC
Oh EM GEE! I'm so sorry that happened to you!!! WHERE is karma? You already donated a kidney willingly -- that wasn't worth a big stack of "protection against bodily harm" points? I hope you get some rest and feel better fast. And you're showing a lot more, um, generosity towards that cab driver than I think I could have. WAY more. (You are clearly a very nice person.)

Reply

petit_chou July 21 2010, 21:14:37 UTC
How thankful am I that I was hit on my right side, where I have no kidney, rather than on my left, where my one remaining kidney could have been damaged? The answer is "very very freakin thankful."

I don't know how nice I am, I had a bit of attitude at the time. After he kept trying to say that he didn't see me and didn't mean to and all that, I said, "Sir, the reality is that you HIT a PEDESTRIAN. That's what you did. IN A CROSSWALK." While not entirely accurate, still close enough to the truth to shut him the hell up.

Reply


ranai July 20 2010, 20:00:06 UTC
Holy shit, I'm glad you're okay!! I rode my bike without incident in Queens, but was always mindful and reminded of the multitude of accidents involving cyclists. You can be as careful as possible, but you can just never account for what drivers will or won't do. It's very good you had a helmet on. Common sense is worth a lot.

Feel better!

Reply

petit_chou July 21 2010, 21:15:40 UTC
It's nuts, because I always feel like the path is the safest place for me to be! We're protected from traffic 90% of the time! It's weird to say this is a good reminder to be cautious, even when I should be fine, but it is. Consider me reminded, universe! No more bodily harm!

Reply


picodulce July 20 2010, 20:10:30 UTC
Glad you're okay, and ouch, and this is why we wear helmets. The way people drive and interact with bikers... ugh. I think I've gone off on this in your presence before.

Have you tried a good long bath for the aches? And it's a good thing you went to the hospital, because I know that first urge is to be "I'm okay," and just get away from the whole situation (at least for me. I was hit by a car when I was 16 and just said "I'm going the eff home." I almost got hit by another car and was in a daze for the rest of the evening, but luckily no permanent damage, but I am pretty sure I had a bad sprain).

Reply

petit_chou July 21 2010, 21:17:51 UTC
I'm not supposed to do heat for two days, but I am going to enjoy the hell out of a hot bath this weekend. Oh yes.

Yeah, while I was sitting in the aid car and recounting my injuries I was like, "oh, you know what? My thumb hurts now beyond the nail stuff. I didn't realize it, but I think something's wrong." It took a while for all the adrenaline to subside for me to realize that I was hurt more than I'd originally thought. I can't believe I thought I'd go to work yesterday after all that! Silly overachieving Heather.

Reply

picodulce July 21 2010, 21:24:25 UTC
I suppose ice does reduce swelling.

And that adrenaline is such a liar! After I got hit, I remembered the whole thing. The flying was really cool! The landing sucked, though. Do you have more aches today? From all the other crazy active stuff you've done (derby, trapeze - it was trapeze, right?, etc), you probably know the feeling of bruises and feeling strangely beat up, so I'm sure you know how to handle yourself!

Again, happy you're not badly hurt!

Reply

petit_chou July 21 2010, 21:42:24 UTC
Hahaha, I actually said that at one point. One of the traffic cops was like, "Ooooooh! You're going to have some nasty bruises! Lookit 'em already!" I said, "Bruises I can handle. I was a roller derby ref. I'm used to having bruises." I do feel more sore today, which I expected. My neck feels a bit tighter, but it's still got a full range of motion and isn't PAINFUL. My right side is quite tender, muscle-wise, and when in bed last night I discovered a horrendous bruise that I hadn't seen before because it was under the side of my underwear. It's swollen and creepy and hurts. As I said to my boss, I feel like I did three really strenuous workouts in a row while being shot at with a paintball gun. But if that's the worst of it, I'll take it.

(You're right, it was trapeze, and BOY did I get some crazy bruises with that!)

Reply


Leave a comment

Up