My Flying Trip Off Maverick

OK so here goes the story of my clavicle’s traumatic day. I began the fateful day of August 5, 2009 by telling my stepmom that I was feeling brave and wanted to saddle up Maverick and ride. With the help of dad Maverick was saddled and I was feeling better and better with every lap of the round pin. Pat (stepmom) asked if I was bored and ready to get out of the pin and of course I enthusiastically said “yes”. Maverick was doing everything I asked as we walked calmly down the dirt road. I made one lap and decided to go for one more. At the end of the lap I turned Maverick to head back toward the pin and saw a van coming toward us. As the van approached I was getting Maverick and I on the side of the road to give us more space when I noticed that the van did not slow down and swerved from left to right. At this point the van was maybe 20 feet away and Maverick decided it would be a fabulous time to start running, not trotting, but running. I pulled the reigns, calmly told him to stop, much to my dismay Maverick decided to amp up his little tantrum to a full out run. As I held on for dear life with my fat rolls bouncing in dusty wind I found that I had to let go of the reigns and hold on to the horn of the saddle. At this point the only part of my body actually touching the horse was my death grip on the horn, this was due to the fact that Maverick thought that he would show off by bucking. Keep in mind that I had no idea the freakin’ horse was even bucking. By the third buck I took flight. I could feel Maverick going right so being the brilliant horsewoman that I am, I chose left as my fate. I vividly remember flying through the air and screaming (and we all know how quite I am). I really thought that it was a dream until I opened my bloodshot, hazel eyes and realized I was facing the opposite way in which I was flying. In the distance I saw the van’s break lights and looked for Maverick to make sure that I wouldn’t be trampled on. Maverick was stopped and a safe distance away from me. I heard people yelling “don’t move”, “be still”, “oh, #$%^”, and “I’m calling 911”. All I could think was that it wasn’t necessary to call an ambulance. After all I was breathing and could feel my toes so what’s the need in bothering people.
Well being the rebellious person that I am (I know that this comes as a surprise) I pushed myself up and on to my butt. Note: sitting on a dirt and gravel road is not recommended. Once I sat up I realized that there was warm liquid pouring down my face. Since I am an avid weather watcher (insert thick sarcasm) I deduced that it was not rain and in fact was my vital fluids leaking from my already swollen head. At this point I asked my father to run to the barn and grab my camera and document the fabulous occasion; Thus the less than glamorous smile and hair due picture. If you take a moment to look closely at this picture in the background you will notice a nice pool of blood in the dirt-always have to leave my mark ya know! I did a halfway job at a self rapid trauma exam and found a unique lump on my left side in the mid clavicular area. I obviously couldn’t reach and feel the left side of my head but I was good with the knowledge that blood was escaping from my head.

Well, the volunteer fire truck with 7 firemen arrive to my rescue from the harsh reality of my gravel bonding. I told them all the vital info and then informed them of my findings from my self trauma exam. I told one of the firemen that my butt was really hurting and he thought that it might be the gravel that I was on and he asked me to lean over. The sweet guy swept the rocks out from under my rear. I was really thankful for that. You can only imagine. I quickly educated them that I did not want to be strapped down to a backboard! And of course they told me that they would need to do so for my safety. I pulled the “I’m a paramedic” card and of course was met with the typical “well then you know that your mechanism of injury indicates……..blah blah blah”! Who cares! Didn’t these people know who they were dealing with? Geez! The firemen were great except for the small fact that three of them were unsuccessful at finding a pulse on me! Anyway, I kept them entertained with my witty, head injured, banter. After a nice long wait the woo woo, ding ding (aka ambulance) arrived. And I was soon starring into a tan face with green eyes…..ok he was the paramedic! What do you guys expect from me! I had a head injury! Anyway, they lift me on to the stretcher and then hit the cheat button-airlift stretcher. My quick reply to the airlift was “oh, my! You guys are cheaters!” Very original right.

Being the sweet patient that we all know that I am, I might have told the gorgeous paramedic where to insert my IV catheter. Seriously, I needed to feel like I had some control over the situation-I was strapped to the backboard after all. Give a girl some credit.

It was literally a 25 minute drive to the friggin’ hospital and so I made conversation with the EMS personnel while waves of nausea slapped me down the winding roads.

Anyway, made it there alive and was quickly seen by a great nurse –from New York! I was given toradol, diladid and zofran after telling the ER doctor that I was a light weight when it comes to medications. Several x-rays and a CT of my noggin and pelvis I was released from my prison of a backboard and given a sling for my broken clavicle, scrubbed and bandaged road rash.

This ends my exciting night of experiencing the California EMS and hospital systems and begins my healing process! Hope you enjoyed my story of flying, landing and clearing off the gravel.