WHAT. A. DAY. Oh my gosh, it has been an eventful 24 hours! First, it's my birthday! I'm not feeling 22 anymore :(, and I'm a tad disappointed that Taylor Swift hasn't written a theme song for 23 yet. All things considered, it's been a pretty awesome birthday. I got so lucky with Drew; he's been taking great care of me and making sure I'm okay. I woke up this morning and he made me German pancakes with caramel sauce!! He scratched my back all day to help with the itchiness from Percocet. He drove downtown to buy me a birthday cake from Baskin Robbins. He laid in bed and watched Breaking Bad with me. He put up with my random emotions caused by the drugs I'm taking, He made homemade pizza for dinner. He's helped me do my hair, get dressed, and even wash my hair. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who waits on me HAND and foot!
I'm also thankful for all of the thoughts and prayers that have been sent my way last night and today. Let me rewind about 24 hours and tell you the WHOLE story of how I stabbed myself in the hand.
So Jessica and Cody came over for some hookah and soju. We were having a great time, and then our friends, Jeff, Sara, Ayron, and Liz asked us if we wanted to go to the bars. I was the only one that wanted to go, so we turned down the offer and decided to stay in. In order to spice up our night a little, I thought I would make some guacamole. I cut two avocados in half, took one pit out, and attempted to get the other one a couple times. After failing twice, I got pretty frustrated. I held the avocado tightly in my left hand, and tried to stab the pit with a knife in my right hand.
Clearly, I missed the pit.
I knew immediately that the knife had gone all the way through my hand. I also knew it was going to be really bad because my middle and ring fingers were asleep. I could feel pressure, but they were tingly and numb. I screamed louder than I've ever screamed before. Drew ran over and told me to put it under water and grabbed me paper towel. Meanwhile, I'm still screaming.
"I'll never be able to change diapers like this!"
"I can't feel my hand! Call 911!"
"I HAVE to go to the hospital!"
"It went all the way through my hand!"
No one really believed that last part, but I had seen the exit wound, so I knew. Jessica and Cody heard me screaming and ran downstairs. By this time I was laying on the floor in the hallway, screaming and kicking my feet like a child throwing a temper tantrum. Cody called security forces, Jessica grabbed my purse and went outside, and Drew tried to get me to calm down.
"I can't feel my fingers!"
"It went all the way through!"
"I need to see Rooney!"
"I'm never eating guacamole again!"
Drew carried me from our apartment, down the stairs, through the driveway. up a hill, across the street, and laid me on the ground. I continued to scream and cry until security forces arrived. They put me in the back of the car and drove me to the ER. I've always hated Korean streets because they're full of speed bumps; they're everywhere. I will always remember yelling at the driver and saying, "MAYBE if there weren't so many G** D*** sped bumps, we could be there by now!" I'm sure they were glad to get me out of the car.
I walked myself into the ER and got into the bed that was ready for me. Six doctors and nurses surrounded me and started checking me out. They immediately did a test to see what kind of feeling and movement I had in my hand Everything worked but my middle finger; I could hardly move it at all. They gave me an IV and stuffed me with pain meds. Then they numbed my hand.. :( That part SUCKED. I can only describe it as being injected with fire. But, it worked, so they started testing my movement again.
No change. I had severed the tendon in my finger and that resulted in not being able to move it. THAT is literally the worst thing I've ever felt; I cant imagine being paralyzed. My brain was trying so hard to get my stupid finger to move, but to no avail.
Next they took me to get X-rays. They saw the tendon, showed to orthopedic surgeon and told me I'd be going home soon. I went back to the room and was FINALLY able to see Drew! Well, Drew and his first shirt. How embarrassing. Basically his entire squadron knew I was there within an hour. I even got a text from the Commander's wife. It's amazing how thoughtful and kind our giant Air Force family is. At this point, the doctor told me they'd stitch my hand up loosely and I had to come back Monday morning for a consult with the orthopedic surgeon. Everyone was super nice and tried to make me feel as awesome as they could.
So Jessica and Cody came over for some hookah and soju. We were having a great time, and then our friends, Jeff, Sara, Ayron, and Liz asked us if we wanted to go to the bars. I was the only one that wanted to go, so we turned down the offer and decided to stay in. In order to spice up our night a little, I thought I would make some guacamole. I cut two avocados in half, took one pit out, and attempted to get the other one a couple times. After failing twice, I got pretty frustrated. I held the avocado tightly in my left hand, and tried to stab the pit with a knife in my right hand.
Clearly, I missed the pit.
I knew immediately that the knife had gone all the way through my hand. I also knew it was going to be really bad because my middle and ring fingers were asleep. I could feel pressure, but they were tingly and numb. I screamed louder than I've ever screamed before. Drew ran over and told me to put it under water and grabbed me paper towel. Meanwhile, I'm still screaming.
"I'll never be able to change diapers like this!"
"I can't feel my hand! Call 911!"
"I HAVE to go to the hospital!"
"It went all the way through my hand!"
No one really believed that last part, but I had seen the exit wound, so I knew. Jessica and Cody heard me screaming and ran downstairs. By this time I was laying on the floor in the hallway, screaming and kicking my feet like a child throwing a temper tantrum. Cody called security forces, Jessica grabbed my purse and went outside, and Drew tried to get me to calm down.
"I can't feel my fingers!"
"It went all the way through!"
"I need to see Rooney!"
"I'm never eating guacamole again!"
Drew carried me from our apartment, down the stairs, through the driveway. up a hill, across the street, and laid me on the ground. I continued to scream and cry until security forces arrived. They put me in the back of the car and drove me to the ER. I've always hated Korean streets because they're full of speed bumps; they're everywhere. I will always remember yelling at the driver and saying, "MAYBE if there weren't so many G** D*** sped bumps, we could be there by now!" I'm sure they were glad to get me out of the car.
I walked myself into the ER and got into the bed that was ready for me. Six doctors and nurses surrounded me and started checking me out. They immediately did a test to see what kind of feeling and movement I had in my hand Everything worked but my middle finger; I could hardly move it at all. They gave me an IV and stuffed me with pain meds. Then they numbed my hand.. :( That part SUCKED. I can only describe it as being injected with fire. But, it worked, so they started testing my movement again.
No change. I had severed the tendon in my finger and that resulted in not being able to move it. THAT is literally the worst thing I've ever felt; I cant imagine being paralyzed. My brain was trying so hard to get my stupid finger to move, but to no avail.
Next they took me to get X-rays. They saw the tendon, showed to orthopedic surgeon and told me I'd be going home soon. I went back to the room and was FINALLY able to see Drew! Well, Drew and his first shirt. How embarrassing. Basically his entire squadron knew I was there within an hour. I even got a text from the Commander's wife. It's amazing how thoughtful and kind our giant Air Force family is. At this point, the doctor told me they'd stitch my hand up loosely and I had to come back Monday morning for a consult with the orthopedic surgeon. Everyone was super nice and tried to make me feel as awesome as they could.
Getting stitched up sucked. I could feel most of it, so they kept numbing me more and more. I got morphine through my IV and lots of lidocaine in my hand. Still hurt. I also got an awesome tetanus shot. My shoulder is more sore from that than my hand! After 30 minutes or so I was all stitched up and they started wrapping my hand.
Finally, at about 1:30, Msgt. Price, who works in Drew's squadron, came to pick us up and take us home. Again, amazed at the outpouring of love that has been coming from the Air Force family.
We got home, I loaded up on Percocets, filled everyone in via text, and went to bed.
This morning I looked at the culprits in my stabbing case...
We got home, I loaded up on Percocets, filled everyone in via text, and went to bed.
This morning I looked at the culprits in my stabbing case...
It is now Sunday night and I meet with the surgeon tomorrow morning. Drew has to work, so Jessica is coming with me as an extra set of ears. I plan to go to the consult, and then come home and SLEEP. Just like I'm about to do right now. Thank you everyone for your concern, thoughts, and prayers. I will keep you updated!
After all of this, I just keep thinking, we should've just gone to the bars! I'd take a hangover over this any day ;)
After all of this, I just keep thinking, we should've just gone to the bars! I'd take a hangover over this any day ;)