Scooter Accident - Hospital 4th October

4^th – 8^th October

Well, this component of my blog sure is the highlight to date and hopefully this type of highlight won’t happen again.

It started off (from what I remember) early Saturday morning myself and Lee decided to ride the scooter to a special breakfast place near to his home in Fengshan that prepares fantuan (pronounced fawn twahn), which is made with rice and veggies and/or meat inside.  Not far from the apartment the next thing I remember is lying on the pavement asking Lee “what happened”?  Ok, this is the story…

I was the passenger on the scooter.  Apparently as we approached an intersection (we were traveling at 40km/hr) the light turned yellow and the rider ahead of us stopped abruptly and since we were following closely, Lee swerved away from avoiding hitting the scooter.  We still managed to hit the bike somewhat, which forced us to fall.  I remember nothing from the fall but simply a forceful jarring then lying on the road.

I don’t think I blacked out but I can only remember segments from the time I was lying on the road until the time I was actually in the hospital with a Doctor talking to me.  Perhaps the shock of it all I’m not sure.  My question to Lee was “were we riding too fast and unable to stop because of this”? His response was no.  In my life experiences, I think it’s common to assume that in any accident, if the person from behind strikes the vehicle in front then that person is liable. 

Anyway, with that aside the accident happened and I’m typing this now on Wednesday 4 days after the accident.

Ambulance police were called because of the seriousness of the incident. 

We were taken to the nearest hospital in the vicinity called Kaohsiung Municipal Ta Tung Hospital.

I don’t even remember being lifted into the ambulance or transportation but remember once I arrived at the hospital emergency.

Soon after arrival I was taken for x-rays and then afterwards the Doctor came to me and said that I have a fracture of my femur bone and needed surgery.  Yikes I was thinking!

The Doctor then said that this particular surgery could not be done at that hospital and I would need to be transferred to the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, which was also not that far away but the largest hospital in the city and is more extensive in surgery techniques.

I remember not having to wait too long before the nurses and medical team came for me and said the operation is ready to go.  I was checking clocks as I was lying on the gurney traveling through the various hallways, and people staring enroute to the operating room.  I even noticed it seemed we passed right through the main entrance of the hospital, as there was a lot of commotion going on with people coming and going.  I think it was not a daily site for people to see a Caucasian person being rolled through the hallways of the hospital.

Lee and his family had to sign some paperwork for me along with my signature and they were translating what all the signing was for.  Because I have no relatives or partners in Taiwan, then someone had to be the co-signer on my behalf.

Before the surgery a seemingly young man/Doctor approached me and said that through some EKG results, my heart showed irregular heartbeats and he was somewhat concerned for the operation.  He was asking me many questions from past to present about any heart problems etc. and my responses were all negative.  He was contemplating on having another specialist check me prior to the operation but then I guess he decided against that from my answers to his questions.  I’m thinking perhaps because of the incidence my body simply went into shock or spasmodic reactions, as I’ve never had any past heart issues.

After all the signing off we went it seemed through door after doorway before I finally reached the operating room.

Various people moving everywhere and attaching tubes and electrodes to various parts of my upper body.

The last few seconds I remember prior to the operation was that a male Doctor said to me ok I’m going to be giving your this medication, which will put you to sleep.  It was a large looking syringe fill with some creamy looking solution.

He finished with the infusion then I said to everyone in the room “ok, I guess I will say good night now” and they all gave a smile and chuckle and that was the last thing I remember.  I was out like a light.

The next few days were going to be a bit rough but to my surprise not really.

I remember clearly once someone (either male or female) pulled something from my mouth.  Felt like some tube or something being extracted but still to this day don’t know what it was but whatever it was, felt good that it was gone.

Now that I’m back in the regular room (semi-private) Lee and his family are in the room and simply just talking among themselves.  I think it was still a few hours before I was totally coherent.  I noticed there was another patient next to me and as the days went by, everyone became very friendly with one another.  That’s just how the Taiwanese people are!

I now seem to have various needles in my left arm and a few in my right plus a bottle hanging above me with some clear solution dripping slowly.  I was told in hindsight that my veins seem to be very challenging to find and it took sometime for the medical team to find them in order for the needles to be stuck in.

My right leg is in a little pain but nothing I cannot endure.  The biggest surprise of the entire ordeal was the following day.  Oh yeah, this made me cringe when the nurse said ok take a deep breath because it’s going to sting a bit.  Huh????  There was a tube (long) placed in my penis during the operation and was necessary to keep there for the first night.  I then realized when I kept saying I think I have to pee but I cannot…hahaha

Oh yeah, if anyone has had one of these removed, you will know what I talking about.  Oh I cringed and that’s saying it mildly but the nurse was so nice about the entire ordeal.

I think the worse is now over!

Going now into the 2^nd and 3^rd day and still sore but more maneuverable with the new walking support I must use for 3 months.  Yes, 3 months on this and crutches as I cannot put any pressure on my right leg for that length of time in order for the bone to heal.

The surgeon comes in everyday to check on me along with his medical followers.  I asked one of them if he was a student and he replied no that he was in residence.  His English was actually far better than the Doctor but I’m thinking in this profession that most young medical students must learn English with the practice.  He comes in everyday and always looks disheveled and a lot of seemingly loose paper bunched up in every pocket of his white jacket.  I’m sure his days of sleep and work are a far cry from the normal person.

One HUGE dislike I’m not coping with well is that I was told no coffee for 3 months !!!  For those who know how much I enjoy coffee, you can empathize what I’m going through right now.  With this said, the resident Doctor said if I’m addicted (LOL) then I could consume just 1 or 2 ‘decaffeinated’ coffee per week.

I’m not getting out of bed a few days per day every time I need to use the washroom I will go for a short walk down the hallway.  The motion is slow but I’m progressing.

I have had various students and faculty alike come to visit.  I feel somewhat embarrassed or ashamed that I’m there and they’re coming to see me but it is nice to see them of course.

What I found out from my students is that it’s Taiwanese tradition to carry some type of herb/flower with you into the hospital when you visit someone then you throw it away once you leave.  This is to take away any bad things from the patient and allow them to heal quickly.  Each student pulled some of this out his or her pockets – amazing actually.

On Monday as I was taking a short walk down the hallway, a couple of young Taiwanese approached me and said “Chef, do you remember me”?  This was my student teaching assistant 2 years ago in one of my classes.  He was visiting from Taipei and heard I was in the hospital so he and his friend come to visit.  It was such an amazing feel to see this.  Again, shows the respect and admiralty of the students here.

Ok it’s now Tuesday morning and the Doctor came in along with his entourage of medical residents and said ok you can go home today but will return to the hospital next Friday for a follow-up and removal of stiches if everything is ok.   Wow…I’m so happy at this moment. 

The morning was occupied with the signing of more papers, insurance follow-up, the rental of a walking support and crutches, medication for the next two weeks etc. 

Lee’s best high school friend and his wife came to assist us in going back to the apartment as they have an SUV and somewhat easier for moving all of us.  I will say that it was a bit of a challenge getting everything into the car and this included 2 wheelchairs. 

We managed and off we went. 

One major component that I neglected to mention was throughout this entire ordeal, everyday Lee’s family would come in during the morning and early evening to bring food, fruit and any other supplies we might be needing.  So helpful!

I’m back in the apartment.  Lee is staying here for the time being as he also cannot walk and it’s easier for his sister and family to take care of the both of us together.  We had to rearrange the apartment somewhat to accommodate our walking supports and wheel chair.  Also we had to take the mattress from the spare bedroom bed and place it on top of my bed as it was too low and I couldn’t get off the bed.  I’m going through the scenario of what it must feel like not having 100% control of your body movements and rely on others to assist.  It does feel uneasy and I’m thinking to myself I can do it I can do it - but truthfully no, one cannot do it alone.

Ok it’s now Wednesday day 4 after the accident.  Not a lot has changed but I’m hoping in the next week that I will see and feel physical improvement and movement of my body.  I will be away from school for minimum 2 weeks but then will see how it goes at that time.  I’m just concerned about the practical classes how I’m going to stand there to do my demos with my limited mobility.

Recovery - Day 5

This has to be a first for me.  One of Lee’s friends is a hairdresser so she came to the apartment to give us haircuts…

Very nice girl and she works at some salon in Fengshan and will open up her own hair dressing business soon she said. 

I’m working on completing the next couple months of lessons in two of my theory courses so I can send them to Analeigh so she can forward them to the faculty who will be teaching my classes until I return.

Couldn’t sleep very well last night and it was to do with the pain in my right hip area.  I need to position my leg in such a way that the joint doesn’t give pain but for some reason, I couldn’t find that position.  A little groggy today but it’s all about the ups and downs of this type of circumstance.  I’m not complaining.

I took the walker support and when down to the ground floor just so I could stand outside for a few minutes to feel fresh air and sun.  I’m feeling like a hermit being stuck in the apartment and this is only my 2^nd day of being out of the hospital.  I’m going to go stir crazy soon maybe..ha-ha

I can get around the apartment but it just takes time to do anything.  I can sponge bathe myself, wash my hair, shave etc. and even prepare simple tasks for food.  Since Lee is also staying here, we try to assist each other the best way we can.  I’m more flexible than he is since he’s in a wheelchair because of his left leg having serious damage and is in an apparatus that ensures the leg is extended straight.

Since I’ve never been in a circumstance like this, each day is a new learning experience for me in many ways.

Lee’s sister and brother in law came this afternoon, as he needed to go back to the hospital for a change of his bandages and check-up.  They returned around 2 hours later.

They brought some food so we all had dinner while waiting for his other sister to return from the café.  They went to Costco and got for us a container of the ‘soy energy blend’ snack since they know I like it.

Another full day and I’m exhausted as this maneuvering around with this walking support and sitting for prolonged periods of time actually take a lot of energy. 

The one part that I’m so appreciative of is with is the amount of support/generosity that is given to me during this time.  The reason I say this is because I feel so helpless and angry at myself that I deserve to receive this treatment.

Recovery Day 6

Since being back to the apartment, I’m able to move myself around to prepare simple food for us to eat.  I can peel the fruit and cut it and we have pre-made sandwiches and other breads to eat as well. 

I was observing our movements this morning as we were getting breakfast ready and wish someone was taking a video of how all this comes together. 

Both Lee and I now use walking supports plus he has the wheelchair for going outside to ease the strain on the walking support.  So this morning I’m handing Lee the food I’ve prepared and he then places it on a tray sitting on the seat of the wheelchair then he hobbles with his walking support pushing the wheelchair to the other room.  The entire ordeal looks hilarious but I can tell you that I was exhausted by time I sat down.  One would or could not think there’s so much energy used in trying to move around in this state.

Well it’s now around 10:30am and I just finished assisting Lee in changing some of his minor bandages and redressing them and I don’t think I could be a Doctor.  My work is sloppy and I felt nauseous when I saw the wounds.  Lee’s family will be here later today but we are fine for having food and drinks in the apartment for the day.  They usually bring fresh supplies every time they come here.