Regarding the fall from the trailer and the subsequent two day stay in an out-of-state hospital
August 4th, 2006 | Some of you have heard, some of you have not.
Let us rewind three nights ago. Every summer, the church for which I work takes a bunch of junior high students to the Lake of the Ozarks. We do our own week long camp where we are the counselors and event planners, etc. The first night, Tuesday, we played a night game called “Staff Search”, where – obviously – the staff hides and the students have to find us. My first hiding spot wasn’t very good, so after I was caught I decided to hide again. After some searching, I saw a canoe trailer hiding in the dark by the woods much like this one. I climbed to the top, thinking that I would be protected by the dark and also the height, which is above the sight line of a typical junior high student. I was sitting with my butt on the top rear rung facing the front of the trailer.
After several minutes a pack of junior highers pointed their flashlights at me. Now, in order to get the points for catching a staff member, they have to “tag” you, so the leader of the pack ran to the trailer and started climbing the back to get to me. Almost immediately, the whole trailer began to tip backwards and I found myself falling to the ground, yelling, “Get off! Get off!” I was afraid the whole trailer would land on top of myself and the student… then I hit the ground. I landed on my right hip/butt and I knew immediately that something was really wrong. I told the students to go back to home base and shortly after, Brandon returned. He tried to walk me to my cabin but I nearly passed out so I layed down on the ground. Brandon summoned the camp nurse who suggested a trip to the E.R.
Five hours, three X-rays, two cats scans, and a lot of invasive touching later I was in my very first hospital bed, hooked up to an IV and a vital signs monitor. The good news was that nothing was broken, but the wall of my abdomen was bleeding internally and my bladder was bruised, perhaps punctured. I stayed in the hospital Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and most of the day Thursday. The nature of my injury made it incredibly difficult to move my legs certain ways, including walking. The first three times that I attempted to stand and/or walk on my own I became dizzy and had to sit down. They let me go when the dizziness got better.
As for now, I am home. It is still quite difficult and painful to walk and I am unsure how long it will take to heal. The good news? While I was hospitalized Clarissa Explains It All arrived, which will keep me occupied while I am confined to my bed indefinitely.
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I’m just glad you’re alive. I once fell from a canoe trailer and I died…twice. Seriously though, I’ve never fallen from a canoe trailer and I’ve only died once in my life. But, I was really scared when I heard that you got hurt. Glad to hear that you’re on the mend, good to talk to you, get well soon.
shalom.
Dude. You looked totally fine that night at dinner. You were sweaty and stuff, but I figured that was just because you were happy to see me.
I was also scared for you – the words “internal bleeding” are just not good. My favorite memory of my last hospitalization was that when you need to pee but can’t because it hurts, the words “I’ll go get the catheter” do wonders to help restore bladder function.
Glad you’re ok, man. If you’d only hurt yourself a few hours earlier, I could have hauled you home in my sweet rental cavalier! Plan ahead next time!
Get better. Really. And stay off of canoe trailers. Oh, and try to avoid fans without safety guards. It is also good to avoid swimming within 30 minutes of eating. Also avoid mixing mexican and italian foods in the same meal. Except for taco pizza. Taco pizza is ok.
Dude,
You totally get the award for most hardcore staff hider.
When you go back just get a sticker that says, “Be nice to me, I was blinded by junior high kids who bruised my bladder and made my insides bleed.”
Forget the sticker, lets make t-shirts.
See you soon when school starts, miss you dude.
Brother, it’s good to hear you’re doing well. I read Ryan’s comment above…”catheter”?? Hang in ther man! Also, you’ll probaby get some good reading done, eh…
I know you like NT Wright…what do you think of the New Perspective on Paul?? Piper and J. Ligon Duncan III have some books coming out on the issue. Just curious:)
Anyhow, we are still praying for you and hope that you’ve been able to see God’s hand in the midst of your injury. You know, when I leave work at the end of the day and I have tons left to do, or I try to do something else and I don’t do it well, or I get hurt it reminds me, “I’m Not God!” and it’s humbling at times, but a good reminder. Hopefully you’ve caught a little glimpse of His splendor in the midst of this!
2Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
Isaiah 37:16 “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.”
In Christ
Noah
dear jake,
here is a list of things that i loathe:
canoe racks
2 interns instead of 3
starla without skye
hospitals
being one wheel short of a tricycle
loathe. we came good room because we missed you.
Hey Jake! Im glad youre doing well! It sounds like you and my dad are in the same canoe. Although, his hospitalizatoin has nothing to do with a canoe trailer and he will be there till end of this week. But anyway get well sooon! You’ll be in my prayers.
theend.
Dr. Thunder’s wonderful cure-all elixir for internal bleeding and bladder puncture:
Dr. Thunder, or any other beverage from the Sam’s Choice Soda Line.
Get better Bouma.
DT
good to hear you’re keeping yourself busy this summer Bouma…