A Bone Of Contention

Earlier this summer I wrote a post about my cycling accident and the broken collarbone that caused all my summer plans to come crashing down.

I held out hope for 8 long weeks that by mid August I would have my summer back. Although publicly I was stating that my dream of cycling Thailand had died the day I crashed, there was a tiny spark of optimism … the final payment on our bike tour from Bangkok to Phuket wouldn’t be due until the end of August.

I TRULY BELIEVED that I could be healed and back in cycling form – albeit, marginal – in time for our October trip.

Those dreams however started to get wobblier with each passing week whenever I tried to spin indoors on my bike. Even a short ride of 30 or 40 minutes resulted in ugly feedback from my shoulder.

But I still continued to cling to a slim hope. It was going to be virtually impossible for me to complete all 1000 kilometers of the tour, but I thought I could likely complete *most* of it.

The weekend before my followup appointment with the Fracture Clinic, I bought a new helmet to replace the one damaged in the crash.  I planned to be ready to ride again because  I expected the followup x-ray to show a beautifully knitted bone – perfectly healed.

That’s how badly I wanted to go to Thailand … so I was emotionally unprepared for reality.

BEFORE – June 22,  the day of the crash ….

 

AFTER – August 10th – 7 weeks after the crash ….

I was absolutely devastated when I saw the new x-ray.

The problem with a collarbone is that it can’t really be *set* without surgery and a plate to secure the bone.  Apparently there isn’t a good way to immobilize a collarbone.  If there is, I didn’t have it, and unfortunately my version of ‘taking it easy’ was still too much for my injured shoulder.  Significant displacement (in my opinion) of the fracture had now occurred.

I was assured by my doctor in the Fracture Clinic that the almost-full mobility in my arm was good news and testament to the healing that was well in progress.

But there is still a long way to go – I was given a new 5 week window … not to mention the bump on my shoulder that would always. be. there.

A good friend managed to make me laugh out loud – in spite of my despondent mood –  when she called me Mo-Jo … a short form for Quasimodo Joanne.

Image from disney.wikia.com

So now my Thailand dream trip is truly dead.  Notification has been sent to the tour company and been acknowledged by them.  My travelling friends have been advised, their condolences have been received, and I’m trying to maintain a brave face.

But I know that on October 4th when our flight leaves Toronto without me …  I will be having a very unhappy day.