What  Happened? 

Those are the words I heard my brain give my mouth. I repeated it several times. I was trying to make sense of what was going on. I remembered that I was jogging and smiling as I stayed in the rhythm of step after step with my eyes feasting on the sky. But now I was looking at pavement and groaning.

But I'm getting ahead in this story. Our day started early with Tim checking into the hospital for his scheduled cardioversion. After months of irregular heart rate called atrial fibrillation and having times of weakness and tiredness, the doctor agreed to try to shock the heart back into the normal rhythm the rest of us have. He had this experience 12 years ago so we knew what to expect. We knew it might not work and knew the risks but looked forward to success. Upon completion of the procedure and Tim having a happy heart, I drove Tim home and we reviewed his instructions to not drive and to take it easy for the day.

We were both looking forward to the afternoon for a planned date to see the movie, The Chosen and enjoy some Christmas music. Covid had squashed our movie going fun the past 2 years. With Tim resting, I threw on my jog clothes, laced up my shoes and planned a 5 mile jog to clear the brain and breath in some outdoor air.

I was completing my first mile and in the intersection crosswalk of a rarely used road. My next awareness was the loud, "smack/crack" sound followed by the impact of my body into something and then slowly realizing I'm faceplanted in the road in pain. I lay there stunned. After awhile i decided to see if I can move and try to sit up. I feel blood on my lip and see a man standing off in the distance to my right and a see a white van off to my left. That's when the words scream out of my mouth, "what happened" but he doesn't answer. I realize standing up was a very bad idea so I sit back down as i sort out the pain on top of  pain in my trunk. While I check out my limbs, I next hear a woman asking the man if he has called 911. He probably didn't because she says she will. I'm trying to figure out how I can get Tim to just come and get me. 

Soon paramedics and police and campus security have surrounded the corner. Oh no, I need to get out of this attention as the questions come. I'm still not sure I'm clear of the events leading up to the pain I have. I'm slowly arriving at the conclusion I was struck by a vehicle but how? The paramedics are trying to convince me to go to the hospital and I know I'm protesting. The medic slides the dreaded C-collar around my neck. Tim arrives and the conversation is over the assessment that I need the trauma center. I realize I'm not getting out of this unwanted experience of becoming a patient as the seatbelts of the gurney are placed, the code 3 sirens go off while the medic jabs me with an IV and the blood pressure cuff squeezes my arm. The medic offers me fentanyl but that's for severely hurt souls and not me. I hear the medic give report describing his patient and gives the details that I'm oriented but with bruises, blood and swelling to my head with repetitive speech,  he believes I have a head injury. 

So I'm delivered to the trauma bay and become a Doe patient. Thankfully not a Jane Doe but my name was Vessel Doe. The team surrounds me and pokes me, questions me and shears shrewd my favorite shirt off. Each time they role me over I know I'm groaning loudly. I'm still trying to have my question answered, "what happened?"

The next hour is filled with multiple tests. I'm delivered to a curtain drawn cubicle and the nurse attaching wires and I'm trying not to move. Tim arrives and we wait for the doctor to discharge me but that didn't happen.  The comedy was my need to pee after all the contrast dye and the nurse delivers a small bedpan that i quickly over fill. The nurse gently says I'm admitted due to my injuries which is not in my playbook. We try not to eavesdrop to the troubles on either side of us but we can hear it so clearly. i entertain the idea of signing out AMA, I rather be home with my pain then lay on a gurney all night. Just like in my hospital where I work, "no room in the inn".

Tim agrees with the medical staff that i should stay and I resign. I keep my secret that the neck collar is not placed correctly and I can get some relief and move a bit.

Since it will be midnight before the doctors come in, the nurse kindly shares the results that I have 5 fractured ribs so at least i can understand why the pain. It's my age that makes the doctors conclude I need to stay and be admited so breathing treatments, lovenox shots and frequent checks become my intrusions to the night. Not an easy night but each hour my heart rested while my body could not. Death didn't get me this time and I will recover these very minor injuries.