I'm Officially A Cyclist

On Wednesday May 18th, my friend Shay and I set out on what was to be our most difficult ride, in terms of climbing, of our {or should I say of my} training.  We started at the Pony Espresso in Jacksonville {our favorite place to meet}, and headed out of Jacksonville, up Applegate/Kady Rd...which for those of you familiar with the area, know that hill is a doozer {is that even a word??}. The plan was to head up and over Woodrat Mt., loop through Applegate and end up back in Jacksonville.  

Well we made it up Woodrat Mtn...

..and down! {which isn't Shay's favorite part} As we began to head towards Applegate, something completely unexpected, that I never thought would happen to me, happened...I crashed my bike! All I remember was waking up, sitting up on the side of road, seeing 3 people {Shay, and two people who stopped to help}, and noticing my bike on the ground out of the corner of my eyes. I had no recollection of what had happened, and even the events of the day were a blur to me...I kept asking Shay what happened, where we were, where our cars were, etc.  Despite being aware enough to know that something was wrong, and being in pain, and I had a peace {God given} that everything was going to be ok.  After being dropped off at our cars, Shay and I headed to the ER so I could be examined...mainly for a possible head injury.

This was my helmet...

On the way to the hospital I called my parents, who headed straight there {I really am blessed to have the best parents} and my friend who I was supposed to be doing the triathlon with.  For some reason I really felt like I needed to call her and let her know I had been in an accident, but that I was ok.  After about an hour or so in the ER, I was diagnosed with a minor concussion & a broken collar bone. 

Initial x-ray...

 Of course, the first question I asked was, "How long will I be out? I am supposed to do a triathlon in 4 weeks." Well it quickly became apparent that that wasn't going to happen. Despite a concussion, a broken bone, and a goal temporarily put on hold, I chose to still have a smile on my face as I thought of what could've been...

{Fast forward two weeks}...I went to visit a dear friend of mine, who is an orthopedic surgeon and wanted to see me two-weeks following the accident for another x-ray. Well, this is what the x-ray showed...

Within 2 weeks {I actually think it happened the evening of the accident in the ER}, my collar bone had become completely displaced {yes, I had been walking around like that} and now I had to make the decision to have it treated surgically or non-surgically.  After consulting with other surgeons, and people who had treated their broken clavicles both surgically and non-surgically, it seemed unanimous that I needed to have the surgery. After seeing Dr. Galt on Thursday, I scheduled the surgery for the following Tuesday.  Although I had accepted the fact that I would no longer be participating in the triathlon, I was determined to not allow anything to prevent me from going and cheering on my friends and spending some time in the mid-west {my flight was Friday following the surgery}.  Despite thinking I was crazy, my doctor thought that if all went well I would be able to travel that soon following surgery {as long as I promised him I wouldn't participate in the triathlon. He figured me out real quick}

If you don't know already, my mom and I enjoy taking pictures when most other people wouldn't...

NO, they hadn't started the drugs yet...

I'm now Bionic Woman

A very dear friend {who was constant support throughout everything} and I enjoying a sandwich after I hadn't eaten for over 24 hrs :) 

I could not of asked for a better surgery experience...I came out of the anesthesia wonderfully {I was nervous because other than having my tonsils removed, this was my first surgery}, had minimal pain {I was on narcotics for less that 24 hrs and then nothing after that} gained full range of motion in my shoulder within 1 1/2 weeks, and most importantly I was able to get on a plane Friday morning!

Throughout the last 5 weeks, I have...

1) been so thankful for a mom who loves and cares for me unconditionally. 

2) been blessed beyond understanding by the love & support {meals, cards, texts, cards, etc} I have received by family & friends

3) been joyously thankful to have a broken bone.  I realize how fortunate I was to have no major head injury. 

I now have a 5 inch scar to remind me that the Lord protected me that day on my bike, and can't wait to get on my bike again this summer.  Being head cheerleader at the Kansas 70.3 was a blast, and I am looking forward to my next leap of faith...the Nike Women's Marathon in October.