Breaking a leg here in a country that has become my second home has been a challenge. 

It all started on July 11, when Andre left for a two day farm trip and I had just finished showering and went to the other bathroom to put on some moisturizer.  Slipped on the bathroom floor and broke my left leg above the knee.  The miracle was that I did not knock myself out; I did not break my hip or back on neck.  Now looking back I can see how ludicrous and funny the whole thing was but at the time I must admit, lying there, with my breath literally gone, I did for a moment think, this is it – I am going to die here.   I eventually took stock and noticed the left leg was at an almost 90 degree angle going the wrong way. The short story is that I moved my leg into place (well yes I thought I had dislocated my knee) and then over the next 45 minutes, moved myself, first on my tummy and then rolled over and eventually on my backside, back onto the bed.  I thought” I am just going to lie here for a while, the pain will go away and then I can carry on”.  There was bottled water on both sides of the bed, so I knew I would not die of thirst. 

I eventually about an hour later decided maybe I should call Andre.  He was already 2 hours into his 4 hour journey but my hero turned around and came home.  The end result, the next day an operation and 4 screws in the bone and 8 weeks off the leg.

I have learnt many lessons and made some remarkable discoveries.

For instance, did you know that it is possible to keep clean by just doing “bird bathing”?  You may ask, what is bird bathing?  That is “bathing” in my basin.  I perch on the loo, lean over the basin and wash.  Not very flattering, I assure you, but after the first two days, all my dignity flew out the window anyway.  The process is as follows:  Three drops of liquid tea tree oil shower wash on my hands.  Add a little water, foam up, get myself, the loo and the floor soaking and hope to get 20% of the soap on my body.  Soap in all the areas I can reach.  Then wet the facecloth, wring it out, wipe down.  Repeat at least 10 times to get rid of the soap.  In between I pray that there will be an early morning breeze so that the bathroom is not the sauna it tends to be.  This little process takes about 45 minutes and then hop with the walker back to the wheelchair and then back to bed, where I wash my legs with the facecloth and my feet.  Bird bath complete.

Washing my hair is a whole other story.  Can’t do that one on my own.  I put a little shampoo in a cup, mix with a little water and little by little I pour it onto my head, get the soap into my eyes, down my back (this is not too bad though – it runs into the loo), lather and then I stand on one leg, balance on the basin, stick my head in the water and Andre rinses.  Between water in my nose and ears, my hair is eventually soap free.

I have often longed for a shower that is flush with the floor and big enough for my wheelchair.  My kingdom for a shower!

While I sit on the bed and struggle to put on my bra, I often think about the conversation I am going to have with Eve one day.  If she had kept her hands off that forbidden apple, I would not be struggling with my bra and thinking about who I could strangle for inventing the damn thing in the first place.  I wonder if a man or woman invented the thing.  Somehow I think it has to be a man – no rational thinking woman would have been so inventive.

The things I miss most, is being able to just get up out of bed and walking to the loo at night.  The hop hop with the walker just doesn’t do it for me.  I miss the feeling of the floor under my foot.  Talking of my foot – did you know that the act of walking is like giving yourself a pedicure every day.  My foot is shedding – I know I know – Gross…  but honestly, not using my foot is causing the skin to shed – yuck.  Enough said on that subject. 

I have gained a great deal of respect for people who are disabled and yet are living full productive lives.  It takes guts.  The whole process of bathing, getting dressed, undressing, going to the loo, going out, doing the washing, hanging the washing, cooking, simple everyday tasks become mountains, challenges that have to be met and conquered. 

I have learnt to be grateful for the things we take for granted.  Walking, the privilege of dressing without effort, being able to serve those you love, cooking family meals, lying comfortably in bed, getting into the elevator with ease, having electricity that makes that elevator move.

In the last month I have realized again how blessed I am to have Andre in my life.  He is the most selfless person I know.  His patience is boundless and he does everything I would normally do without complaint. 

In the end, breaking my leg, although at the time painful, has forced me to reevaluate and the lessons learnt and still learning is priceless.  I am grateful and thankful every day for the little things that make life worthwhile.

On a last note, the doctors, nurses and medical system in Egypt has been amazing.  Professor Aziz, who did the operation and his staff have been gracious and kind.  They deserve a special mention and  thanks from the bottom of my heart.