Flashback: when I was 12 and in the 6th grade, it was raining and dark on a school day. At the time, it had those “portable” classrooms as an expansion to the main school. The classroom had these steel-like stairs. I suppose I thought I was rather invincible and so as we were leaving to go to the cafeteria for lunch, I jumped one by one on the stairs. On the final step down, I slipped and fell. I got up and proceeded to follow my class for lunch. At first, I didn't feel any pain- perhaps I was in shock and denial. During lunch, I felt my left foot starting to throb in pain. I wasn't too worried, after all, I expected pain from that kind of fall so I ignored it. Not long after we returned to class, the pain grew worst enough to go to the office to call my mom to pick me up. I had to go in the dark rain to and back, mind you. I called my mom and she left work to pick me up. She always been puzzled on why didn't I call my grandmother? She was living down the street (across from where we lived) so yes, it did make sense for me to call the closest relative for help. Except, I didn't want my grandmother. I wanted my mommy. Well, my mom worked pretty far, maybe 40 minutes away and had to go through the dark rain to get to me… it was at that moment that my mom decided we needed to move so she could be reasonable closer in case of another emergency. I went back to class to wait for the intercom announcement (that was always cool to hear your name over the speaker telling you to go home… not so much to report to the office). Anyway, Mom took me to the hospital. She wasn't happy either. Not just because of the long distance from work to school, but on how I wasn't wailing in pain. I guess she thought my foot was broken and heard, “When I broke my leg, I cried!” However, I didn't think my left foot was broken and was okay when I didn't move it. But something was wrong! At the hospital, I did X-rays and my foot was sprained. It got wrapped and I was given crutches. I took a good week off from school and was watched over by my grandmother.
Recent: on Thursday night (Jan. 24th) a slight deja Vu happened… this time, it was in a home, on carpet covered stairs, and I wasn't jumping. I was concentrating on my chores, which was to take out the garbage for the next day’s pickup. I was about midway down when I lost my balance, slipped, and slid down the stairs, landing on my right foot. It hurt so bad right away! No delayed pain or shock, it was instant. I got comfy on the couch, got my foot elevated with an ice pack. It was very clear that I wasn't going to work the next day… On Saturday, I couldn't take the pain anymore as it felt much worst, I was getting to the point of believing my foot was broken, so to Urgent Care I went with my mom meeting me there. I even drove there myself, using my painful foot although my left helped pushing down the brake pedal. As it turns out, my foot wasn't broken. It was a bad sprain. I was given bandage, a splint with icy gels in, and prescription medication, as well as orders to rest. No work for me until Friday.
To this day, I've never broke any bones, but both my feet have been through sprains (25 years apart). Thanks to my enemy: the stairs.
