Last Sunday, my husband had a freak accident that changed our lives in seconds.
It was in the early hours of Sunday morning when the freak accident happened.
We’d been out that night to a disco, which he had arranged, and we had had an awesome time. I decided to sit up as I was tipsy and had to drink water, looking through some photos of China and backing in our memories. D had been asleep but had gotten up to go to the loo. His knee gave way, he fell, got up again and headed towards the loo – I thought all was good. And then I heard this god-awful sound I will never forget.
I left the dining room to find him flat on his back, not breathing. It looked as if he had slipped on the tiles in his socks and fallen back onto the tiles hard.
I knelt next to him and watched his chest.
No movement.
Nothing.
It’s weird what goes through your head in a life or death situation.
I don’t even really know myself. Be it your whole life with that person flashing before your eyes, the futility of life, the ease at which something like that can happen, the disbelief, the guilt of mopping the floor that morning, the feelings of hopelessness, the fear, the whole ‘what do I do now and why hadn’t I paid attention at school’. There’s so much more than that…but it’s hard to think right now.
All I know is that something kicked in, whether it’s instinct – no, it was probably adrenalin, and I fought for his life, our life, his life with his kids…
The no breathing was followed by breathing, seizures, vomiting, not breathing, seizures, vomiting, and so on. I was blessed to have had help from his daughter and her friend, who had spent the night. I don’t know what I would have done without them and the 000 operators who stayed on the phone and guided me until the ambo arrived. And then the Emergency staff and the Nurses of the High Dependency Unit. They have been amazing.
We are lucky.
D has made an unbelievable recovery from his accident and the bleeding near the brain, contusions and fractures of his skull. It’s been six days, and he is walking, eating, talking, realising what has happened, and being cheeky – and stubborn. We saw his brain scans this afternoon. He thinks it’s nothing. I think it’s something alright…I’m not religious, but someone is looking out for us, and I thank you.
Thank you to you all for your prayers, support and well-wishes.
There’s a long way to go, and we’ll continue to need support and understanding, but all along, I have had faith, and I know we will all get through this.
My word of advice to you – go out and get first aid training, and continue to get it. I got lucky – I’ve had no training, but I’m sure as hell gonna get some now.
