Broken Ankle

Well yesterday was our first official day of surgeries.The day went fairly smoothly. I was finally given the job I'm most familiar with as a nurse, charge nurse on the ward. We operated on 14 patients.
All did well.

At the end of the day I made the short walk back to our hotel. Our room is on the 3rd floor. No elevator. After a cold shower and a short rest Peter and I decided to head downstairs for dinner....we never made it.

There is a small 1/2 step at the top of the stairs and no lights or handrails. I missed the half step and twisted my ankle...bad. I think it it was some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. Crying, swearing, and shaking I made back to our room with the help of Peter, Kaui and Anita. Anita ran for ice...but this is nepal, no ice. She did find a frozen Tuborg (beer). We put that on my ankle and bundles me up. I couldn't seem to stop shaking. The other surgeons, our FL and Jo came to tend to me, as well as Peter of course. Brad predicted a fracture, I told him he was wrong.  Just a sprain. It was a long night with lots of pain killers.

This morning Bikash and Rajat (2 Nepali Drs) help me make my way to the hospital for X-rays. And unfortunately Brad was right. X-rays confirmed and ankle fracture. Later today one of Bikash's MD friends from Dharan (2 hours away) is going to come cast it. I can't believe my first broken bone in 52 years and it happens in Nepal. At least as I understand it, it is a stable fracture and just needs stabilization.

Needless to say I'm not working today. And probably won't be able to stand on it for a week or so. Not sure if we'll be able to find crutches or not.

Also not sure if going to Japan is still a possibility. We'll see how it goes from here. Wish me luck.