If you haven’t already, you can read all about the broken kneecap saga in these posts:
sometimes they take out kneecaps
coming home
I May Never Skate Again!!!
So as of today we officially got one bill from the Ambulance Services. A bill for $300. Yes an ambulance bill for just $300! I can’t even believe it myself. And we would have been more than happy to pay for it BUT luckily we read the small print because it said that if you hold a health care card the bill is ZERO!!! And we do! My partner, Dan, had to leave his full-time job to care for me and my daughter. So a health care card, which is a card for people that have little to no money coming in and can be used to get discounts on prescription drugs and other services is extremely helpful. Yep, I was taken to the ER in an ambulance, stayed for 4 days, and still have not paid a cent 6 weeks later. But that is not all!
Yesterday I went to the doctor for my 6 week check-up. I was going every two weeks since being discharged. I usually get seen in a reasonable amount of time for a large public hospital AND the doctors talk to you for more than 15 minutes. While in x-ray the student technician told me about his knee injury and how lucky I am to be in a rich country like Australia-he is from South Korea and it took him two years to get his full range of motion back-TWO YEARS. My doctor told me from the day of surgery it would be 3 months until I can walk (slowly) up and down steps again.
My X-ray showed the docs that the bone was healing well but the wires that hold it all together would have to be taken out in a year or so from now since they are gonna be pushing up against my skin when the swelling goes down. The surgery shouldn’t be a big deal. My knee still doesn’t look like “a knee” yet. It is getting close, but it is bigger than the other knee-and with my muscles being non-existent that whole leg is looking a bit bizzaro. So basically the doctor told me to stop wearing my brace and not to use the crutches anymore. It is time to walk! And I was like wait, hold up, I love my brace!!!And even though it is all sweaty and dirty and gross and totally annoying and if I hear the sound of velcro one more time..it is the only thing that holds my LEG together!!!Well except for those wires…so yes a bit excited and scared to go at it alone, sans brace and crutches. You see this is like more about your mind getting over it then what is really going on physically. Right now my mind is having a lot of trouble figuring out how the hell my skinny ass leg with the swollen kneecap is gonna keep the rest of me upright without breaking again!
Then the physio came in to tell me about some exercises I can do to strengthen my leg. This guy, Nick, was great because he actually listened to me! I had fears about walking that he said were valid but if I do the exercises, build up the muscles and go slow I should be fine. And no, my leg was not going to fall off. I also told him that I wanted to go to physio closer to the house ’cause the hospital I go to now is in the city about 40min + tolls and parking. I also wanted hydrotherapy (exercising in a pool) and that I would be happy to pay for if needed. I had heard from other sources that medicare would not cover my physio and that I would have to find someone on my own, so I was taken aback when he said he was gonna call around for me and see what he could come up with. HE CALLED THE PLACES FOR ME!!! Public healthcare people, do you believe it? By the time I got home he called to tell me he found a public hospital close by, it has a pool, and the PHYSIO WOULD BE FREE! He faxed them my information and said I should be hearing from someone early next week. I seriously was gonna shell out some cash monies (beg, borrow or steal it) to walk again! But now, because of my best buddy Nick, I don’t have to turn to a life of crime!
So today I have been trying to walk around the house a bit without my brace and it is a lot harder then I had thought it would be. No, I did not think that as soon as I took the brace off the heavens would part and my knee would be 100% better BUT I did not think I would be less mobile without the brace. I have to use the crutches for now and if not, take small baby steps. I do wear the brace to play on the floor with my daughter because it is easier to get up quicker if needed. I am now sitting in a chair while writing this post, and my leg is bent but feels stiff and achy. In the world of broken kneecaps this is what we call PROGRESS.
Again small baby steps-I look at Ramona who is starting to walk and am like yeah she’s got the right idea. But my patience is wearing thin (not like I had a lot to begin with) and the waiting is the hardest part (Tom Petty got that right….) The last 6 weeks have been very trying on myself and my little family (oh man does Dan need a break!!) and I haven’t been in the best of moods. It is hard to keep a positive spin on things when you are having trouble just getting your baby a new diaper because her naked butt is crawling away from you and you can’t reach her fast enough without straining/breaking something and you pray that she doesn’t crap on the floor, furniture, or the cat. Or you haven’t taken a shower in four days because your partner is too busy doing EVERYTHING and you don’t have anywhere to go to anyway because you can’t drive and don’t have any money to do anything-but at least it is not South Korea, right? Wait, what I meant to say was at least it is not the UNITED STATES where we would be even more screwed with money, more debt and loads of red tape.
THE THING ABOUT AUSTRALIA IS... 