Secret #8: My worst injury.
By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund
I'm really fortunate that I've been blessed with good health most of my life. I haven't been in any major accidents. And in fact, I've never broken a bone.
Of course, I've had the usual scrapes and bruises. I got my first stitches when I was playing high school softball, and the ball decided to hit my sunglasses into my eyebrow, splitting it open nicely.
Then I gave birth to five children, including one C-section as well as stitches in places I won't mention.
I've had my share of painful moments.
But I'd have to say my worst injury came during a family vacation in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan. We were staying in a large cabin overlooking Lake Huron. It was fall, the changing leaves were gorgeous, and the weather perfect.
Now, if you've ever visited the shores along the southern stretch of the U.P., you'll quickly realize that the terrain is mostly rocky with Big. Jagged. Rocks.
And you'll also realize that storms sometimes seem to spring up off the lake out of nowhere. Especially when you're hiking on Big. Jagged. Rocks. With very young children.
My husband and I decided we'd have a better chance at out-running the storm, if we each gave one of our twins a piggy-back ride. I can see where your mind is going at this point, that you're thinking we may not have made the best decision to give piggy-back rides while out-running a storm on Big. Jagged. Rocks.
Well, if you were thinking that was a stupid decision, you were right.
I tripped. And in order to keep my daughter safely on my back, I didn't use any hands to brace myself during the fall.
Yes, I fell straight onto a Big. Jagged. Rock. And I slashed open my knee. Very deeply.
So now, I was out-running the storm on Big. Jagged. Rocks. While holding my knee together. With young children who were crying and scared.
Fun vacation, huh?
I ended up getting 12 stitches and having to keep my leg up for most of the rest of our time in the U.P. But thankfully, I was the one who got hurt and not one of my kids. There's always a silver lining to every story, isn't there?
Now that I've grossed you out, it's your turn! What's the worst injury you've ever had?
Publisher's Weekly calls Unending Devotion "A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end."
To celebrate the release of Unending Devotion, Jody is giving away a signed copy. Leave a comment (along with your email address) to enter the drawing. Valid only with US or Canadian addresses. Giveaway ends: 9/22/12
For more secrets about Jody and additional chances to win her newest release, visit her Events Page to see where she'll be next in her "Fun Secrets About Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour.
Also join in the Pinterest Photo Contest she's hosting. Find more information about it on her Contest Page.
Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:
Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/
Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.
Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/
*GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*
By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund
I'm really fortunate that I've been blessed with good health most of my life. I haven't been in any major accidents. And in fact, I've never broken a bone.
Of course, I've had the usual scrapes and bruises. I got my first stitches when I was playing high school softball, and the ball decided to hit my sunglasses into my eyebrow, splitting it open nicely.
Then I gave birth to five children, including one C-section as well as stitches in places I won't mention.
I've had my share of painful moments.
But I'd have to say my worst injury came during a family vacation in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan. We were staying in a large cabin overlooking Lake Huron. It was fall, the changing leaves were gorgeous, and the weather perfect.
Now, if you've ever visited the shores along the southern stretch of the U.P., you'll quickly realize that the terrain is mostly rocky with Big. Jagged. Rocks.
And you'll also realize that storms sometimes seem to spring up off the lake out of nowhere. Especially when you're hiking on Big. Jagged. Rocks. With very young children.
My husband and I decided we'd have a better chance at out-running the storm, if we each gave one of our twins a piggy-back ride. I can see where your mind is going at this point, that you're thinking we may not have made the best decision to give piggy-back rides while out-running a storm on Big. Jagged. Rocks.
Well, if you were thinking that was a stupid decision, you were right.
I tripped. And in order to keep my daughter safely on my back, I didn't use any hands to brace myself during the fall.
Yes, I fell straight onto a Big. Jagged. Rock. And I slashed open my knee. Very deeply.
So now, I was out-running the storm on Big. Jagged. Rocks. While holding my knee together. With young children who were crying and scared.
Fun vacation, huh?
I ended up getting 12 stitches and having to keep my leg up for most of the rest of our time in the U.P. But thankfully, I was the one who got hurt and not one of my kids. There's always a silver lining to every story, isn't there?
Now that I've grossed you out, it's your turn! What's the worst injury you've ever had?
Publisher's Weekly calls Unending Devotion "A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end."
To celebrate the release of Unending Devotion, Jody is giving away a signed copy. Leave a comment (along with your email address) to enter the drawing. Valid only with US or Canadian addresses. Giveaway ends: 9/22/12
For more secrets about Jody and additional chances to win her newest release, visit her Events Page to see where she'll be next in her "Fun Secrets About Author Jody Hedlund" blog tour.
Also join in the Pinterest Photo Contest she's hosting. Find more information about it on her Contest Page.
Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:
Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/
Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.
Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/
*GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*
Ouch! I'd have to say my biggest injury happened while I was riding my bike around age seven. I was just going around in the neighborhood messing around with my friends when I decided to turn a little too quickly. I wiped out and scraped my entire knee cap. Yeah, I'm a little more careful on my bike now.
ReplyDeleteWould love to win!
spyg93(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh, Rosie, I can relate to bike injuries, I have had many-- though my brother had more--I just hate how the pavement can rip off your skin! Glad you are riding safer now :)
DeleteOh my gosh, that is so awful, and heroic! My biggest injury happened when I was racing a cocky boy in elementary school. He ran in front of me, I couldn't stop, and flipped over him onto my arm. On concrete. My wrist was fractured, I was covered in scrapes, and a hunky twelveth grade boy carried me into the girls' bathroom. I just about died. :-)
ReplyDeleteUnending Devotion sounds great!
gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com
Gwendolyn, that sounds painful! But I am so glad that you are great now :)
DeleteI hope you get a chance to read Unending Devotion!
I would love to win! My biggest 2 injurys was 1 I was trying to keep my granddaughter from running into the street and my nephew was building a ramp and he said what the bottom step it isn't done yet and before he could finishing saying it I feel on it and broke my wrist
ReplyDelete2 was getting out of car to go into church and fell out of car and ending up having 2 knee replacements (well really three)
likesmusic2@consolidated.net
Ouch! Those sound horrible, thankfully you are OK now though! I can't imagine how much both of those hurt!
DeleteI cut my knee open once as well. It wasn't too terrible but I didn't ever go get stitches so now I have what looks like a hole in my knee because of the scar.
ReplyDeleteI've also cut my scalp open twice and did have to get stitches both times.
shellclem@hotmail.com
Wow, that sounds like it probably looked worse than it felt! Glad you're all in one piece now :)
DeleteDon't enter my name....please.
ReplyDeleteI was 6 weeks pregnant with #3 and I had been having problems with my sciatica. I went to the chiro but it didn't help. We drove 2 days to visit family and I saw a different chiro who told me if I had to sneeze, to bend over.
Well, I sneezed and ruptured the tissue between L3and L4. I was instantly temporarily paralyzed, I'd lost 1/4 inch in height, I was in mind numbing pain as the disc tissue pumped into my spinal cord and I was pregnant.
That was 15 1/2 years ago.
I still have parts of both legs that I cannot feel. I have to ALWAYS be careful. I cannot run, go on a trampoline or wear heels.
Believe me, labour pain is nothing compared to have fluid shot up your spine.
BUT??? That baby is a straight A student and is now taller than me. And if I want the house clean, CLEAN, I ask him.
I cannot imagine how painful that must be. But I am thankful that your son is well and that you are not in as much pain now.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
What's the worst injury you've ever had?
ReplyDeletecut main artery vein, nine years old, while trying to retrieve a kitten ~ sand sewn within at doctor's office ~ later it managed to reopen and came close to losing me during surgery at the hospital
would love to win your book ~ Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund ~ yeah! Kathleen
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
Wow, Kathleen, you've been through alot, it must have been pretty scary!
DeleteThanks for stopping in!
I'm still trying to win this book, Jody! I'm relentless in my random commenting! My email is vikingmoma@gmail.com, should I happen to win.
ReplyDeleteAND that rock injury sounds horrible! Thank goodness you didn't puncture your stomach or something!
I had a motorcycle accident, the first time I rode a motorcycle. Instead of slowing down for the cinder-block wall, I sped up (I'm dyslexic about gear shifts of any kind). Regardless, tore a little hole in my knee and didn't even feel it till I came inside. My dad (a doctor) stitched me up. Still have a scar, and haven't ridden a motorcycle since!
Ouch! Must be handy that your dad is a doctor! So glad that healed up :)
DeleteI hope this giveaway is the charm!
Ouch! That hurt just reading about the injury on the Big. Jagged. Rocks.
ReplyDeleteMy worst injury was probably when I went snow skiing for the first (and only) time. I thought I was ready to graduate from the Bunny Slope. Not. Coming down the intermediate slope, I forgot how to stop. Somehow I tore the ligaments in my knee and ended up physical therapy for three months. It still gives me trouble. I decided right then to stick to water skiing...since I knew how to do that!
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Amy O'Quinn
oquinn1(at)windstream(dot)net
Seems like skiing is just plain dangerous! Ouch! But it is great that you can still enjoy water skiing :)
DeleteYou all are officially grossing me out today with the stories of all your injuries!!! But it's fun to compare "injury" stories, kinda like seeing who has the worst "birthing" story! :-)
ReplyDeleteKeep the stories coming! I'd like to have really bad nightmares tonight! ;-)
Thank you, Jody, for stopping by!
DeleteI just realized that I never told my story, though cautious person that I am I never really got into much trouble. But one Summer my horse bucked me off right into a barbed wired fence that cut up my back and arm, I still have the scars. But thankfully my horse is now fully trained and I ride her bareback most of the time now!
a broken arm the 6th grade while doing a dismont off my swingset...
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel.
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
That must have been painful!
DeleteAnd the best of fortune to you in the drawing :)
OUCH! That sounds so painful! I can honestly say that I've never had a serious injury. Never broken a bone, never had stitches, nothing. I hope that it stay that way! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
You are so fortunate to stay healthy and unscathed! I hope you stay that way too!
DeleteWow, that is tough to beat...I was in my bedroom when the door bell rang...over excited about what it was I jumped over the couch instead of running around it to get to the door. I misjudged (of course) and went straight into the wall...broke a finger but got to the door on time!! =)
ReplyDeleteOh my! How painful! I can totally see doing my brother doing that, I am so glad that you found out it was broken so you could have it set, when my brother broke his finger we didn't even know for a few days!
DeleteOh, and if you ever happen to stop back here this week could you please leave your email address so I can enter you to win Jody's awesome book?
DeleteNot really an injury, but I had a spinal re-construction, had an in incision that goes
ReplyDeletefrom my behind up to my shoulder blades.
I would love to win Jody's book.
godblessamerica.jan(at)gmail(dot)com
That is one long insision. But I am sure that you are healthier now for having the surgery.
DeleteThanks for stopping in!
Jody, so glad to find another giveaway opportunity for your new book! :) My worst injury was either cracking my foot and breaking off the top of my little toe-bone while jumping rope in 6th grade or nearly tearing my ear off on an Alpine Slide when I was in my early 40s. Too much daredevil in my for my own good! :)
ReplyDeleteckbarker at gmail dot com
You've certainly had your share of adventures! But now you have stories to tell!
DeleteFor the most part I always been very healthy! I did break my arm as a very small child (to small to remember in fact)! Other than that, no stitches or anything!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview and giveaway, I loved Jody's first two books.
Patty
pattymh20009at)yahoo(dot)com
What a blessing not to remember breaking your arm, an dthat nothing serious has happened since :)
DeleteI fell as I decorated for my son's birthday party while we were camping. I climbed up on a cooler(dumb!)to put streamers in the trees. The cooler flew one way and I went the other... I broke my ribs. Big ouch!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be entered for Jody's book. Thanks.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Oh, ouch! So glad that you are better now!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in :)
When I was little I was running around the house and climbing on furniture (exactly like my mom told me not to) and I fell backwards in a chair and hit my head. I ended up having to get some staples in my head but fortunately I was to young to remember it!
ReplyDeleteecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
Liz, how fortunate that you don't remember! Staples, yikes! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteMy worst injury was when I sprained my ankle the first time. (Sadly after I did it the first time, it's easier to do times after!!!) I was feeding our over sized puppy, and we had just had a bunch of snow melt a little then re-freeze. The pup came to jump on me, I jumped back, slipped on the ice, and went down...HARD!!! I heard a pop and thought I broke it, but being the person that I am I got myself to my house, limped to my room, and curled up on the bed; willing the pain to stop! My mom worried about me when I didn't come out for a little while, and she found me still on the bed...whimpering. Well I HATE going to the doctor, and I refused to go. She had a doctors appointment for her self and asked about me when she went. Then cam home and wrapped my ankle in an ace bandage. I never got an X-ray. And in church we have a friend that is in the medical field. I went (on crutches) to sing at a craft fair with my church choir, and "ran" away from her the whole time. I don't know why; my mom wanted her to look at it, but I guess maybe I feared she could she it with x-ray vision :D I don't know! LOL!
ReplyDeleteWell this is a really long answer, so thank you to who ever takes the time to read it! :)
Please enter me!
Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a) Chavez
amada_chavez[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
Acts 16:31 (Read it, Believe it, and Be Saved!!!)
Wow, your injury kinda turned into a great memory/ story! And I am so glad you took the time to leave a nice long comment and tell your story :)
DeleteYou are entered!
The worst injury happen to me on April 31 ,2011 I was taking my then 12 year to a baseball game on a Sat. morning on the way there a car that was 3-4 cars in front of me wanted to turn into a store and everyone stop and a lady came from behind me going 45mph she hit me I as I was stop into the tree trimming tree that was in front of me .I threw out my arm to protect Micah from going forward . I am not suppose to be alive .BUT GOD had a different plan I have there is severe muscle sprain in my neck and back from it . I try and think of what would have happen if I was not between that lady who hit me and the truck she would have died right then or if it was a older person or couple they could have die as well .That is what helps me get through this .God had his hand on me and my son that day that is for sure .I believe I am healed no matter what my body says God said I am so I am.Now I am doing physical therapy and if this does not work I Have to have a MRI done to see if there is nerve damage is so they want me to have shots in my back .Praying I am healed I don't want shots in my back and would like to go back to work off again Thank you for you contest would love to win .Blessings
ReplyDeleteWow, what a miracle God has worked in your life! Even though there is pain, you are so blessed. I will pray for you. God bless!
DeleteSorry I would love to go back to work have been off .Blessings
ReplyDeleteI've read this post before and I'm glad to get a chance to comment!
ReplyDeleteInjuries. Oh my gosh, I can just feel people's pain when they tell about it. And I'm very visual. Oh, Jody how horrible!
Thank you for this giveaway! And Lovely blog, Faye.
g.gclermont AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for stopping by! And all the best to you in the drawing!
DeleteOh, Judy, that's awful! You poor thing!
ReplyDeleteAnother bike injury story with me, I'm afraid. I was riding with my dad and brothers when I ran over a pine cone. I didn't have to have stitches (thank God!), but I still have a nice scar on my knee. Poor daddy had to carry me home on the handlebars, me wailing all the way (I *was* quite young). So. :)
Faye, I love the design of your blog! Such beautiful colors. My bedroom is actually decorated red and gold, too. :)
Thanks for the giveaway!
biblioprincess15 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Ouch! Thankfully you've stayed safe after that!
DeleteThanks for entering :)
Thank you ALL for sharing your stories here on Faye's blog! And thank you Faye for hosting me!! Your injury story sounds very painful too! Eeek! I'm sorry to hear about your scars!
ReplyDeleteYou are totally welcome! It has been so fun!
DeleteI was standing on an ice rink and fell down onto my wrist. I felt nauseous and thought maybe I broke something but it was just a sprain. Still had to wear a brace for quite a few weeks. Book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteshopgirl152nykiki@yahoo.com
I bet that still hurt, I am so glad it wasn't a break.
DeleteThanks for stopping in :)
I've been very fotunate & haven't had many serious injuries. Believe it or not I developed tennis elbow last winter from shovelling snow, not tennis! It was excrutiatingly painful, but maybe I'm just a big baby! lol I also lopped off the tip of my finger one time, that was pretty gross and painful too! I would love to win, the book sounds awesome!
ReplyDeletemegamarie1966@gmail.com
Sounds like you have had your share of injuries, Marie. Keep safe!
Deletetotally unique setting & storyline .. interesting and interested ! TY! for the giveaway offer and generosity :)
ReplyDeletefaithhopecherrytea at*gmail*dotcom
Ouchie! Thankfully, I have never had a terrible injury like that. I just get the normal scratches and bruises. Lol, nothing exciting to tell about.
ReplyDeletesamanthaakuiper(at)gmail(dot)com
I've never had to get stitches or broken a bone, but my most memorable injury was when I was in middle school and was bike riding at the park where a lot of stray cats hung out. So I try to scare a cat by pretending I was going to hit it --I swerve and crash, while the feline stares at me and never blinked an eye. I scraped up my hands so bad ... it was a scary prospect for an aspiring artist who would need her hands for her career (though I did have an overactive imagination). =) Needless to say, God taught me a lesson through it. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu
SAMANTHA - That's wonderful, I hope that you continue in your great health!
ReplyDeleteLADY DRAGONKEEPER - That is quite an adventure, and pretty memorable! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks you! You have a lovely blog. =)
DeleteYou are so kind, thanks :)
DeleteThe worst injury that I can remember, which wasn't very bad, was when I had a friend staying over and I fell out of the top bunk and broke a toe. It was painful at the time and my shoe didn't fit so I hobbled around for a while. I guess there isn't much that anyone does for a broken toe.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Toes are such little things but they can sure hurt!
DeleteThanks for stopping , by Sandy :)
The worse injury is when I was 10 years old. I lost my balance and tripped over the bottom of the rocking chair and hit the corner with my face on it and broke my top front tooth. I then ended up having 3 caps. I do still have three caps.
ReplyDeleteJKTerrazas09@aol.com
My worst injury was at a 9th grade school party held in the gym. I was doing a backbend and dislocated my leg at the knee. The bottom half of my leg was nearly at a right angle to the top half, and it hurt like... well, it hurt! The half-hour ambulance ride to the hospital was the worst part of it all because every bump we hit would send me through the roof, not to mention the spasms of the muscles around my knee. At the hospital one of the residents tried to lift my foot and my leg snapped back into place, but I wore a full-leg cast for several weeks.
ReplyDeletequiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
ANONYMOUS - Wow, that sounds terribly painful with painful dentists visits to boot! Thanks for entering :)
ReplyDeleteNANCEE - Ouch! I can't imagine how much that must have hurt! I'[m glad they were able to put it back :)
Okay, I'm finally signing up for this...one day away from being too late :D
ReplyDeleteadaughteroftheKing(dot)mr(at)gmail dot com
After a day playing sport in the sun and eating junk food :(, I passed out while walking away from the dinner table, landed on hard tile face first, fractured my nose. While I was healing my sports coach accidentally bumped me in the face, put my nose out of joint (ha ha literally and figuratively). The doctor said I could wait for the swelling to go down to see how badly it was out of joint and if I wanted to he could re-break it and reset it - at the time I said no thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
Jes
jswaks at gmail dot com
JES - Wow! That sounds terribly painful, and a bit frightening to pass out and then to wake up to a fractured nose.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!