I was home alone.  My daughter was at Knott’s Berry Farm.  My son was at my sister’s house.  I had spilled a cup of ice water a few hrs ago (and thought I had cleaned it all up) and had been working at my desk.  I heard one of my cats meowing at the front door.  I got up to let him in and then walked back to my desk to continue working.  That’s when things went south.  Literally.  I slipped and fell on a melted ice cube and totally wiped out, hard, on the tile floor.  Not exactly sure how I landed but I remember seeing two kitchen chairs on the floor. I was on the ground and my leg was bent at the knee and a very odd angle.

I couldn’t get through to 9-1-1.  I was home alone with all the doors and windows locked. I was also afraid I would black out.  I tried to call my sister and my phone said ‘Call Failed.’  No thanks to At&T for poor reception.  I don’t even live anywhere rural.  I’m in a normal housing track in the middle of the city with over 12,000 people!  So I do what is a bit crazy, but I wasn’t thinking.  I straighten my leg.  YES, it hurt.  But I was afraid of being locked in my house alone and totally passing out.  After I did that my panic mode calmed down a little bit.  I tried my sister again and didn’t get through.  I tried my son and got him on the second time.  They rushed over and took me to the ER.

Thankfully I just need to rest it than a few weeks later do some physical therapy.  I was able to avoid surgery.  Not everyone can do that, especially for those getting up there in age or with other health problems that might make an injury worse.  If I was missing work or if this had happened in a store than the possibility of hiring a personal injury attorney is something someone should consider.  I’m glad I can work from home and so I did this even more while I recovered.  My friend had just lost her job so I paid her to take me to my doctor appointments until my knee was healed enough to drive.  I was very fortunate this injury wasn’t much worse.  It took about 1 1/2 years for my knee to recover enough that it doesn’t get sore as easily (still does some) and I feel like my range and motion is back to normal.  Glad I was one of the lucky ones.  No surgery needed.