The Story of Gael's Knee
Gael and I were really looking forward to the National Corvette Museum's Fifth Birthday over the Labor Day weekend in 1999. Heck, she's not nearly as "into" Corvettes as I am -- she's good for one Corvette event a year -- and this was it.
.. (this place is HUGE!), Gael suggested that she hop out and get into the check-in queue at hotel registration while I parked the car in the "Corvette Only" lot that had been arranged. I'd meet her in the lobby.
She hopped out -- and I thought she'd just stand there until I passed. But she stepped in front of the car and I tapped her with the right front bumper -- and knocked her down. I wasn't looking in that direction (I was watching the guy who was directing the cars to turn into the parking lot) and only saw her go down out of the corner of my eye.
I jumped out of the car and joined a crowd already gathering to see if she was OK. There was no obvious inury (no torn clothing, no broken skin) and I honestly thought she'd just tripped and would hop right up. People who saw her only after she went down asked her if she knew who had hit her. She knew, all right.
The Hotel Security and EMT folks were there in a flash. We got her up and it was clear she could put no weight on her left leg. Her right elbow was sore and she had abrasions from the hot asphalt on her left arm. They hustled her into the Security van and she yelled that I should go register and she'd meet me in the lobby.
Even if I'm not good at avoiding running her down, I am good at following orders.
Once registered, I located the Security folks and learned that they were taking her to a local doc-in-a-box and would pick me up in front of the hotel. They graciously took us to the clinic and we were left on our own, Gael in a wheelchair. Her left knee and right elbow throbbed but we were unable to score anything like a painkiller.
We waited for an hour to be seen and, to make a long story shorter, never did see a doctor in the three hours+ we were in their care. They took x-rays and the physician's assistant showed them to the doctor. He observed a telltale indicator in her right elbow that he thought indicated a broken or chipped bone -- but the really bad news was a fracture in her left tibia
just at the top of the bone (at the knee). He prescribed a sling for her right arm, an immobilizer for her left leg -- and said we should go home to consult with an orthopedic surgeon. He did come through with some pain killers and we called the hotel for a ride back to the hotel.
One painkiller later and Gael felt up to joining the Caravan party. We ordered up a wheelchair from Guest Services (the Hotel continued to perform very well) and I wheeled her the mile or so from our room to the Delta Island ballroom where the party was booming. We had a bite to eat, a drink and ran into several C5 Registry friends who were VERY solicitous of
Gael's wellbeing and suitably skeptical of mine. Richard and Susan Clark and Buzz and Jackie Nielsen in particular offered to help in any way they could. When they learned the plan was to drive back to Atlanta in the
morning (in the C5 Corvette) doubt was raised that Gael could get into and out of the car with her immobilizer. Buzz and Jackie volunteered to drive the C5 back to Atlanta and we would rent a larger vehicle. Gael was sure she'd fit into the C5 so Buzz and Jackie and Gael and I took a trial run at putting her in the car. No problem.
While were in the "fitting Gael and her immobilizer into the Corvette" process, a fellow in a C4 Corvette kept driving by our parking place. The place was jammed with Corvettes and he was obviously looking for a place to park. He drove 'round and 'round as we were manipulating Gael into the car. He stopped when it looked like we were wrapping things up, planning to take our spot as we left. He was there when I asked, "Honey, are you comfortable in the car? Will you be OK for the ride home in the morning?" She replied in the affirmative -- so I closed the door and Buzz, Jackie and I turned and headed for the hotel, leaving her in the car. The guy's eyes bugged out, "Are you just going to leave here there?" but he caught on when we turned back to get her out and back into her wheelchair. Oh; and he didn't get the space, of course..
Friday morning we left and drove directly to our orthopaedic clinic (doesn't everyone already have an orthopaedic surgeon on call?) where Gael was diagnosed with a serious sprain to her right elbow (no treatment indicated) but a more serious problem with her left knee. Her knee had collapsed inward when she fell. The femur (thighbone) had gouged a divot out of the top of the tibia (legbone). There were two courses of treatment. If the divot was deeper than 5mm, reconstructive surgery would be indicated (plate and screws); if less, the bone could be expected to regenerate on its own. A CT scan would tell.
We were unable to get the CT scan scheduled until tomorrow so we won't know for sure which course of action will be taken; I'll let you know.
Either way, Gael will be on crutches for three months. Yes, three months. Who'll take care of ME?
The story reached Bowling Green before we reached Atlanta. I've heard several versions, one of which had me chasing her through the parking lot while she dodged and weaved until I ran her down. Some offered advice that, if I were planning to commit "divorce by automobile", I was really no good at it. Someone said I'd been in an autocross and knocked over one of
the "Cones" (get it?).
Our daughter is an on-air personality on a sports-talk radio station in Dallas. This event gave her an entire show Saturday night.
The good news? Gael will recover and she's not even mad at me. Not very. Not much..
Dan and Peta Adovasio stopped through today on their way back to Merritt Island and gave her the wonderful cards signed by so many Registry friends wishing her a speedy recovery. That meant a lot to both of us; thanks.
Update - 9/10/99
Gael WILL have surgery on her knee Monday 9/13; her spirits are good and the surgeon expects a routine event. I'll post results when I know 'em.
Update - 09/14/99
Gael came thru the surgery in fine shape. Rocky day the day after, but recovering nicely now. She has two screws, three pins, a metal plate and a bone graft in her knee. Should make passing through airport security interesting. She comes home tomorrow!
Update - 09/15/99
She's HOME!
Update - 10/05/99
She had a good report from her first post-op exam last week. Already has the physical therapist gone (she's doing so well with her exercise). Prognosis is light weight on that knee in another two weeks, full weight in eight. She should be walking unassisted by Thanksgiving (and that's a good thing because otherwise, who would cook?)
Update - 11/05/99
She threw away her last crutch today and is getting around with only her hinged knee brace while the bone graft does its thing. 'Way ahead of schedule. She's walking but (fortunately for me) not yet kicking...
Update - 11/19/99
She pitched the brace! Now in the hot tub nightly and walking unassisted.
Update - 11/25/99
Thanksgiving was great! Gael cooked up a storm, hobbling pretty well without walker or crutch.
Update - 12/07/99
Final post-op visit. She's doing great and the surgeon is thrilled (and he's been paid so he's doubly thrilled). Recovered!
So, it's been nearly three months since (what we call) "the incident". Here's a picture of the right front bumper area of the C5:
Reminiscent of the symbols painted on the side of WW II fighter planes, this is the international symbol for "knocking your wife on her butt":
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