Hi blog world, it's with a heavy heart that I write this post. I have not been able to update my blog because I suffered a brain injury roller skating on September 6, 2011. First off, don't be freaked out. If I wasn't okay, I wouldn't be writing this post. I did get hurt but I don't want anyone thinking extreme stuff. Let's face it, you can get yourself killed roller skating. And walking outside, and riding in a car, etc. So with that disclaimer, my story. September 6 was Adult Night and it was a great, fun night. I remember lots of awesome moments. Nero was there and we did plenty of couple skating. 9:30 is the normal time for the beginners backwards special. I remember going out. They were playing "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers. I was doing my usual backwards step, I went around a few times.
Then the worst happened. I took a normal step back and somehow completely lost my balance. It's hard to describe because I don't really know what happened. I fell back and basically landed completely on my head. My skates somehow flew from under me. I didn't hit my butt, my elbows, not any other part but my poor head. I completely blacked out. Friends have described the sickening sound of my skull hitting the wood as being difficult to erase from memory. The next thing I remember is being on my stomach, looking at the lines painted on the rink floor. My glasses were off. One of my best friends, Wonder Boy, was laying next to me, trying to get me to wake up. He helped me to my feet. My head was in terrible pain and there was blood on the floor. It was obvious I needed medical help. I felt completely disoriented and confused.
The next few days after that pass in a blur. I was admitted to the ICU at the hospital. I had fractured my skull and had bleeding on one of my frontal lobes from the jarring to my brain. Although I had cracked my head open, the crack was not deep and I luckily did not need stitches. If they had done stitches, they would have shaved my lovely blond tresses. Thank goodness for small things.
Anyway, it's been 12 days sicne the injury. I feel a little better each day. I'm eager to skate and also completely terrified. I really can't believe I got hurt like this, this is not a usual roller skating injury. It's fairly common to hear of broken wrists, bruised tailbones. Normally if I was backwards skating and I felt like I was losing my balance, I would turn around. I would take a step back. Why I didn't, I will never know.
I sure as hell am not quitting skating. But I have to take my time getting back into it. Obviously I have a new found fear for when I'm skating. Never worried about cracking my head open before! Imagine if I was at a rink with a concrete floor. Shudder. But I do need to make sure I'm good before I go back. The biggest side effect for me is dizzy spells. I also have completely lost my sense of smell and taste. Absolutely bizarre. I taste absolutely nothing, I have no clue if I have bad breath, I don't know if the fruit is ripe or not. I can't even taste bacon for pete's sake. The doctor said to give that a year to return. Brain injuries are no joke.
So the blog will continue, but not as often. And I can't do the pretty pictures right now, I'm sorry. My home pc is kinda janky. I will still be skating, I will get back to the level I was at and beyond that. I can't wait to get to Cerritos. But I have other things I must consider, like my job and family. Yes I have a real job that I'm not able to go to right now. And I have a family that means more to me than anything in this world. I never really thought a three hour session at the rink could end with me in the hospital, or worse. Definitely a new perspective.
I love you guys and thank you always for your support. You'll hear from me again very soon.
