Life changing accident

Life Changing Accident

In September 2023, I was involved in an accident that resulted in what the medical profession termed a traumatic injury. The result was that my kneecap was split into two pieces.

Although it involved me and another person, no one was to blame—it was just a bizarre accident. It could have been the type of injury that left me with permanent repercussions, but all that I have left now is an 8-inch scar where the surgery to repair it was done, and some reticence about going downstairs and crossing the road, which I’m sure will abate with time.

The reason why I am telling you this story is because I want to share what I learned from my experience.

1. The kindness of strangers, i.e., the staff throughout the NHS, is both moving and humbling.

2. The love and compassion shown to me by my partner made me realize how lucky I am to be with them.

3. I have courage. I was not going to let this injury stop me from pursuing the life that I want. I was determined to recover.

4. The physical side can improve faster than the emotional side. As I said, I still have some fear—going downstairs is still a bit tricky, and I’m always cautious when crossing the road just in case I have to pick up the pace.

5. Friends help you heal. Some of my friends were very supportive, applauding my efforts to regain my ability to walk properly and for distance.

6. Work will wait. When you spend eight weeks sitting on a couch, you begin to realize that your organization will arrange for someone else to pick up the slack.

7. Although I had always believed that I would work into my 70s, the prospect of doing less was very appealing.

It’s been 17 months now. I gave up my full-time job in March 2024 so that I could pursue my dream of having a diverse career in teaching and coaching. I guess I learned something else: Sometimes what can seem to be the worst thing that happens to you can turn out to be the best thing that happens to you.