Breaking a bone or tearing a tendon is extremely painful, or at least I assume it is.
I wouldn’t actually know, considering it’s never happened to me.
At the age of 28, I have been able to remain unscathed from broken bones, tendon tears, and any sort of serious surgery. In that regard, I consider myself to be quite lucky. Many of my friends have not been.
In 2002, while in the second grade, my best friend fell off her house while helping her dad put up Christmas lights. The back of her legs caught onto the fence and the momentum disconnected the top bone of the neck from the bottom bone of her head.
She was flown to the children’s hospital, where she underwent surgery. She had to wear a halo, but ultimately made a full recovery. She was able to play competitive basketball throughout middle and high school, graduate from university, and start a family of her own. With the odds stacked against her, she pulled through.
Another friend of mine, Emily, broke her ankle in high school while playing rugby. She required surgery for it to heal correctly.
Last year, Emily and I were playing squash at Mount Royal University. Taking a hard step, she tore her Achilles tendon on her right leg. She went through almost a year of physiotherapy to recover from the injury
In my first year of rugby with Mount Royal University, a teammate of mine broke his tibia and fibula while I was standing right beside him. I can still hear the snap sometimes.
At first, I thought it was two metal cleats hitting against each other. It took me a few seconds for my brain to register what actually happened.
I bring up these stories because although I’ve never experienced anything of the sort, it seems to always happen around me and to people I know. I often sit and wonder if (or when) it will happen to me.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not actively seeking out or optimistic about the opportunity of breaking a bone or tearing a ligament or tendon. In a way, I sit anxiously for that moment, waiting and wondering how and where it could happen.
My streak of unbroken bones makes me thankful for the strong and healthy body I’ve been given. I take pride in taking care of my health, but I recognize accidents can happen at any time and for any reason.
Although I hope I can retain this break- and tear-free streak, I understand life may throw a curve ball my way sometime into the future.
As for now, the best thing for me is to live my life without worry that it could happen. As of this current moment, and hopefully forever, I’m happy to remain excluded from the group.
