How easy is it to break a leg?

In my previous post, I reported that I broke my leg. Well, technically, ankle, the bottom of my left fibula.

The question always comes up: "How did you do that?" The answer: "Quite easy really."

Nothing heroic or adventurous... playing with our daughter at one of the local public play grounds.

Recently refurbished, this playground's centre-piece includes a dual slippery slide - just right for our thrill seeking toddler. However, it is set on a mound that is covered by a durable surface, intended to be safer to play on or near.

Toddler placed at the top of the slide; Dad decends the mound to assume the classic catching position at the bottom... slips, grips, falls forward, twist... CRACK... flat on face with shooting pain in ankle and up leg.

Toddler, waiting at the top of slide for me to crawl to the position, slides down; playtime unexpectedly cut short. I will keep the ensuing details and remind her when she is old enough to feel a little more sympathetic.

The thing is... it's THAT EASY. Analogies for life, experiences, ups and downs, good breaks and bad flow here. For now, when you are next playing with your play mate, keep in mind that you may be just a short slip away from a trip (apologies!) to the orthopaedic department.

[With many thanks to the wonderful and caring staff at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital]

Catching a Good Break

So my first post in a year and a half... and a pretty poor pun for the title.

1. I have had a break from this blog while living the Gen X and Y thing on FaceBook, Linked In and so many other parts of the Web-sphere

2. I recently broke my leg, so find myself awake a little more, unable to sleep in a comfortable position without waking myself with a painful twinge up as I turn in bed

3. As fractures go, though, I am told it was a "good" one; "Normally," the orthopaedic doctor at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital told me, "this kind of fracture would require a plate to be inserted to fix the bone... but you are lucky, it has not shifted..." So I can say it's a "good break."

4. I reckon that I catch good breaks often, I just don't often recognise them. In my current work contract (I build and manage enterprise type websites) I'm working with a great cross section of the generations - just how I like it - and they share their language, lives and culture with this boomer, in return for which I happily help them learn some useful stuff.

Catching a good break, I'd say.

BTW, our latest twenty year project is now a full-on toddler (20 months) and fills us with joy - and breaks - as she powers towards becoming the next gen. (No name for her generation has been popularised yet!)

New Beginnings

So, as previously warned, this blogsite has taken an significant turn... It's no longer the ramblings of a late (read young) baby boomer living in the convergence of Gen X and Gen Y and now contributing to the yet to be named baby boomers of 2000 - 2010.

After a few challenges, Kaelyn came home from hospital and her mum is well on the way to recovery from what turned out to be pre-eclampsia. That really messes with you, but she is improving every day and kaelyn is blooming.

And so the generation spread of influence represented on this blogsite stetches to another level. One of the best things about living and loving and being multi-generational is that there are new beginnings every day... for one of us or another!

Miracle Rescue, Miracle Information

As a miracle rescue unfolds in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, spare a thought not only of the two men who at this stage are believed to be in good condition, but also for the community for whom this calamity has been their focus for five days.

Clinging to the remotest hope that the miners could be found alive, family, friends, colleagues, rescue service people and everyone linked to this mining town community have desperately held out for any news.

Even as rocks are being removed and rescuers inch closer to the surviving miners, the community craves news, reports and updates - information.

Letting people know and ending the anguish is almost as important as rescuing the men.

The miracle is not just in their survival and rescue. It's also in the spirit of a community, joined by millions via information channels.

We will, no doubt, be deluged in media coverage of this miracle. Squillions of hits on websites will follow. And is it not about time we all had a news story to celebrate and give thanks for?

God bless the survivors, the rescuers and the global community now linked by this story... and thanks for the fact that we will have all the information we want about this miracle.

Blog your way to recovery

Imagine the scenario. You have survived a serious car accident. You are in hospital for an extended stay – surgeries, physio, medication and extensive healing required.

Amidst your pain and treatment, your hospital carer sets you up with a patient blog site.

If it was me in the body brace and bandages, I suspect the last thing I would be thinking about is sharing my thoughts on a blog.

Well this is the reality for a dear friend, Michelle in a hospital in Fargo North Dakota, USA

Clever people these hospital carers. One way or another, Michelle gets her “story” out and so begins the Internet element of her healing.

A not-for-profit organisation called CaringBridge, inspired by personal tragedy, has made it possible for 38,000 hospital patients to receive five million guest book messages and 235 million virtual visits. Who knows how significant millions of expressions of love and support for people at one of their lowest points of their life could be?

Instant virtual community of friends and family are connected via her site, and all are able to keep up-to-date and in some way participate in her recovery.

My friend Michelle has received hundreds of messages. She has a long way to go in her recovery, and her CaringBridge site will be part of it via her individual journal, guestbook, photos, tributes and links.