A Hard Fall/Amazing Kindness Follow Up

[FChristopher1]

Hey, everyone. I hope this finds you well.

Back on 11 or 12 July, you may have read of my Camino drama. Long story short, during a thunderstorm in the hills above Ponferrada, I experienced a really awful fall. Four pilgrims helped me down. The pilgrims who helped me were Vincent, Vincent's wife [I'm so sorry I never got her name!], Jose, and Roseanne.

My ACL was completely ripped away by the fall. I tore a meniscus and bruised the bones with bleeding. Fun!

Surgery takes place on 4 September.

My doctors tell me that I should recovery completely in six to twelve months. I plan on returning to finish the Camino in a year or so because, well … this is what we do.

Lessons learned:

Always, always, always get the contact information for those who help you out in any way or when you are most in need! I have no way at all of thanking Vincent, his wife, Jose, or Roseanne and I am so sorry about that. They are amazing people. From my heart, I thank them every day for helping me.

Be very careful and vigilant. I had walked the Camino before and was not worried about my progress. Yet in a second, all things changed. Be respectful of the path, its challenges, and what it takes to walk along The Way!

Finally, share what you have learned. While I'm saddened by my surgery, many comments from others who have had similar experiences have helped. Similarly, many comments from other peregrinos/peregrinas about preparation have equally helped.

Rambling done and thank you for reading this!

¡Buen Camino!

 

[Former member 49149]

Hey, everyone. I hope this finds you well.

Back on 11 or 12 July, you may have read of my Camino drama. Long story short, during a thunderstorm in the hills above Ponferrada, I experienced a really awful fall. Four pilgrims helped me down. The pilgrims who helped me were Vincent, Vincent's wife [I'm so sorry I never got her name!], Jose, and Roseanne.

My ACL was completely ripped away by the fall. I tore a meniscus and bruised the bones with bleeding. Fun!

Surgery takes place on 4 September.

My doctors tell me that I should recovery completely in six to twelve months. I plan on returning to finish the Camino in a year or so because, well … this is what we do.

Lessons learned:

Always, always, always get the contact information for those who help you out in any way or when you are most in need! I have no way at all of thanking Vincent, his wife, Jose, or Roseanne and I am so sorry about that. They are amazing people. From my heart, I thank them every day for helping me.

Be very careful and vigilant. I had walked the Camino before and was not worried about my progress. Yet in a second, all things changed. Be respectful of the path, its challenges, and what it takes to walk along The Way!

Finally, share what you have learned. While I'm saddened by my surgery, many comments from others who have had similar experiences have helped. Similarly, many comments from other peregrinos/peregrinas about preparation have equally helped.

Rambling done and thank you for reading this!

¡Buen Camino!

FChristopher1, thank you for your post. I will make a wee note to think of you on 4th, and well done for hanging on to your positive attitude. I do not doubt that your angels know how grateful you are for their help when you needed them. All the best for a total healing.

 

[Marbe2]

Good Luck with your surgery! You may not be able to commmunicate directly with those Camino angels who helped you down...but we will pass your gratitude and story on to others. This year on our way down to Ponferrada, will remember you!

 

[VNwalking]

Thank you for the update, Christopher! Oh, my. I will be thinking of you on the 4th, wishing you well...
May you heal quickly and completely - and may you have an abundance of patience! Limitation and pain will 'get old,' if they haven't already.

Yet in a second, all things changed.

This is the bottom line everywhere but mostly we just don't want to think about it. You know it and can live from that place, which is not a bad thing at all...

 

[ksam]

Definitely will have you our prayers on the 4th and as you face the lovely PT to follow!! ;-) I know I'm so grateful to be alive in an age when these things can be dealt with so wonderfully! We are so lucky today Happy healing and good luck trying to find your benefactors! K

 

[tillyjones]

No worries. They know you are thankful.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

That is a rough outcome, and i am glad that there is an action plan for treatment in place now. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. Ultreya, pilgrim

 

[MeandIan]

Good luck with your surgery. I had two ACL repairs on the same knee. Of course at different time intervals . Take your rehab seriously and do all the exercises. Many people have come back stronger. What an accident and experience like this does is make you mindful of your vulnerability and your environment. Stay strong and positive!

 

[FChristopher1]

Thanks so much! Be well!

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi there @FChristopher1
All the best for your (knee reconstruction ? Or knee replacement). You’ve got a great outlook on life and really hope you’re back to camino in good time. I’m sure you’ll have researched the outcome on this surgery .. just to give you my encouragement too., from someone who had a reconstruction to repair ACL - it was a quick recovery (I got stuck into the daily physio required). Walking is no problem / it was some time ago (2001) and I don’t have any twinges etc but always wary not to push it etc. My creaks etc now would be more related to age I think.

I hope you’ll be using walking poles next time if you previously hadn’t seen the need.
Good luck for September 4

Annie

 

[Kanga]

@FChristopher1 I am sorry this happened to you and hope the surgery and recovery goes well. I suppose the one good thing is that you might get time to read all the fabulous travel blogs that our members post! Laurie just bumped a thread with a pointer to this one. Enjoy!

 

[nycwalking]

@FChristopher1 You thanked them on this thread. We live in a small world in time someway somehow your camino angels may hear about your gratitude.

Pray your surgery has an excellent outcome.

Buen camino to you as soon as possible.

 

[Carol Larson]

Hey, everyone. I hope this finds you well.

Back on 11 or 12 July, you may have read of my Camino drama. Long story short, during a thunderstorm in the hills above Ponferrada, I experienced a really awful fall. Four pilgrims helped me down. The pilgrims who helped me were Vincent, Vincent's wife [I'm so sorry I never got her name!], Jose, and Roseanne.

My ACL was completely ripped away by the fall. I tore a meniscus and bruised the bones with bleeding. Fun!

Surgery takes place on 4 September.

My doctors tell me that I should recovery completely in six to twelve months. I plan on returning to finish the Camino in a year or so because, well … this is what we do.

Lessons learned:

Always, always, always get the contact information for those who help you out in any way or when you are most in need! I have no way at all of thanking Vincent, his wife, Jose, or Roseanne and I am so sorry about that. They are amazing people. From my heart, I thank them every day for helping me.

Be very careful and vigilant. I had walked the Camino before and was not worried about my progress. Yet in a second, all things changed. Be respectful of the path, its challenges, and what it takes to walk along The Way!

Finally, share what you have learned. While I'm saddened by my surgery, many comments from others who have had similar experiences have helped. Similarly, many comments from other peregrinos/peregrinas about preparation have equally helped.

Rambling done and thank you for reading this!

¡Buen Camino!

Wishing you all the best in your upcoming surgery. The Camino provides; for you, Camino Angels.

 

[Bala]

Thank you for the update, @FChristopher1 . Wishing you all the best for a full and swift recovery. You and your surgeons will be in my prayers.

 

[fransw]

I wish you also a full recovery.
Your comments remind me my own experience although not so dramatic. Last May I walked solo from Oloron up to the Col de Somport. The weather conditions were bad, pouring rain all the time. The path along the valley d'Aspe was very rugged and sliippery. Many times thoughts crossed my mind what could happen when I fall. I was alone and the route is very lonely! I finished my walk in Puente de la Reina but I will never again walk this route under bad weather conditions

 

[Sixwheeler]

Good Luck with your surgery, make sure you get plenty of physiotherapy support post op.
Ultreïa

 

[Kathy Jaudegis]

Prayers to you for a healthy, strong recovery! You will do it... Ultreia

 

[FLEUR]

Wishing you a very good surgery and recovery.
You may not be able to thank those who helped you but perhaps on another occasion you may be able to assist others on or off the Camino.

 

[FChristopher1]

Yes, that's so true!

 

[Cayou]

FC1: The good news is you get to look forward your 'finishing' Camino. In 2015, I met an Aussie girl who in 2014 had fallen badly only 3 days from Santiago. Ended up in hospital and required pins in leg. When released, she went to Pilgrim's office in a wheelchair with her story of almost an entire Camino from St Jean and just short of SdC, and they agreed she had earned her Compestela! What wasn't enough, so in 2015 she started once again all the way back in St Jean, and finished, leg covered in multi colored KT tape the whole way … you couldn't miss her.

 

[Adrianna Mortier]

Hey, everyone. I hope this finds you well.

Back on 11 or 12 July, you may have read of my Camino drama. Long story short, during a thunderstorm in the hills above Ponferrada, I experienced a really awful fall. Four pilgrims helped me down. The pilgrims who helped me were Vincent, Vincent's wife [I'm so sorry I never got her name!], Jose, and Roseanne.

My ACL was completely ripped away by the fall. I tore a meniscus and bruised the bones with bleeding. Fun!

Surgery takes place on 4 September.

My doctors tell me that I should recovery completely in six to twelve months. I plan on returning to finish the Camino in a year or so because, well … this is what we do.

Lessons learned:

Always, always, always get the contact information for those who help you out in any way or when you are most in need! I have no way at all of thanking Vincent, his wife, Jose, or Roseanne and I am so sorry about that. They are amazing people. From my heart, I thank them every day for helping me.

Be very careful and vigilant. I had walked the Camino before and was not worried about my progress. Yet in a second, all things changed. Be respectful of the path, its challenges, and what it takes to walk along The Way!

Finally, share what you have learned. While I'm saddened by my surgery, many comments from others who have had similar experiences have helped. Similarly, many comments from other peregrinos/peregrinas about preparation have equally helped.

Rambling done and thank you for reading this!

¡Buen Camino!

Hey, everyone. I hope this finds you well.

Back on 11 or 12 July, you may have read of my Camino drama. Long story short, during a thunderstorm in the hills above Ponferrada, I experienced a really awful fall. Four pilgrims helped me down. The pilgrims who helped me were Vincent, Vincent's wife [I'm so sorry I never got her name!], Jose, and Roseanne.

My ACL was completely ripped away by the fall. I tore a meniscus and bruised the bones with bleeding. Fun!

Surgery takes place on 4 September.

My doctors tell me that I should recovery completely in six to twelve months. I plan on returning to finish the Camino in a year or so because, well … this is what we do.

Lessons learned:

Always, always, always get the contact information for those who help you out in any way or when you are most in need! I have no way at all of thanking Vincent, his wife, Jose, or Roseanne and I am so sorry about that. They are amazing people. From my heart, I thank them every day for helping me.

Be very careful and vigilant. I had walked the Camino before and was not worried about my progress. Yet in a second, all things changed. Be respectful of the path, its challenges, and what it takes to walk along The Way!

Finally, share what you have learned. While I'm saddened by my surgery, many comments from others who have had similar experiences have helped. Similarly, many comments from other peregrinos/peregrinas about preparation have equally helped.

Rambling done and thank you for reading this!

¡Buen Camino!

Our very best wishes for your recovery following surgery on the 4th. Rehabilitation excercises are important and will help you get back on the Camino.

Last September, just three days into our Camino my husband fell and fractured his ankle on both sides. We spent seven weeks in Pamplona following surgery and the commencement of rehab.

We are about to start our Camino again in 13 September and looking forward to it. Despite having a fair amount of metal in his foot and and limping for the first few steps when he stops for a while, he is determined to go back and have another go.
Stay positive and you too will return to complete your Camino.

 

[FChristopher1]

Our very best wishes for your recovery following surgery on the 4th. Rehabilitation excercises are important and will help you get back on the Camino.

Last September, just three days into our Camino my husband fell and fractured his ankle on both sides. We spent seven weeks in Pamplona following surgery and the commencement of rehab.

We are about to start our Camino again in 13 September and looking forward to it. Despite having a fair amount of metal in his foot and and limping for the first few steps when he stops for a while, he is determined to go back and have another go.
Stay positive and you too will return to complete your Camino.

Thank you so much for your great message! Likewise, I will be sending best wishes and Camino energy your way as you and your husband walk again!