❤
You might be called a common weed
Yet, in my not so perfect garden
You are a blessed breed
Without much effort on my part
You thrive and smile
Each morning when I start
My rounds of greetings
With gifts of healthy drinks
Water crystal clear for our meetings
You might be called a common weed
But, in my multicoloured garden
You are a welcome breed
~
I composed this poem the day before my fall on Friday, 4 May 2018. I was gardening in my nightie and my dressing gown at 8:30 am, admiring my work and this lovely bloom, not paying enough attention to my feet as I was gently descending the stairs. On the last step I tripped on the dressing gown and went flying in the air, hitting hard concrete with my left hip. I tried to get up. OUCH! I couldn’t move at all. The pain was excruciating. I called my husband, but he was still asleep. Then I just called HELP, HELP, hoping passers-by might hear me. I looked at the sky, wondering whether the clouds would protect me from too much sun. The pain was getting worse and I was afraid I might pass out. I remembered then my mother’s agony when she had a fall and broke her femur in 1996. Then my thoughts wandered to the ANZACs, how they must have suffered just like this.
An angel came to my rescue. She lives in our house and was on her way to work, coming up the stairs about 9 am. She immediately called the ambulance, woke up my husband, and came all the way with me to the Royal North Shore Hospital. Sasha followed in his car.
The paramedics drugged me appropriately. In the emergency I was given more local anaesthetic before the X-ray. I think I was half asleep when I heard someone say: “Sorry to tell you, the bone is broken, you’ll need an operation. Dr Ruff will operate.”
“Dr Ruff! How wonderful! He operated on my mother some 20 years ago. Same thing.”
I was truly relieved when I heard the familiar name. Besides, Dr Ruff has a very good reputation.
The op was on Saturday at 11 am. Dr Ruff remembered me and my mother.
“I remember your face “, he said. “You make me feel so old… I’ll fix your leg, you’ll be able to stand on it again.”
After rehab at Greenwich Hospital I came home on Friday, 1 June, grateful for all the care by the doctors and nurses and physios and my loved ones. Grateful also I only broke my femur and not my neck.
At Royal North Shore Hospital in the evening after my operation, enjoying chicken soup made by a dear friend.
The view from my Greenwich Hospital bed
The view from my Greenwich Hospital window. The window was always shut. The air-conditioning was always on.
I just loved hospital food. Served three times a day and I didn’t lift a finger to put it on the table!
Sasha’s gift for Mother’s Day. He came to see me every day. Dear friends came, too, and brought me flowers and fruit and snacks.
It may sound strange but when I came home, I was just a tad homesick for the hustle and bustle of the hospital. I met so many lovely people from all over the world.
❤
©Copyright 2018 Irina Dimitric
Oh dear Irina, sad to see you had a bad break, but happy to know you’re on the mend. hmmm, I think early morning gardening in your nightie should be avoided from now on…. Oh , I enjoyed your poem, the common weed, is not so unknown now..
Thanks for your kind comment, Ivor. You are right, never again will I do the gardening in my nightie and long dressing gown.
Ouch! but it is kind of nice to be spoiled by the hospital staff as well as friends and family… for a while. Glad to see you are good spirits. 🙂
The hospital staff were very kind indeed. Except for one rude nurse who didn’t want to lift my legs onto the bed when I couldn’t do it, sending my heart into overdrive. The ECG ruled out a heart attack, but registered arrhythmia and a pulse rate of 174. She later apologised as did the doctors.
I love you attitude! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Thank you so much, Bill.
This is a wonderful account of your experience and uplifting attitude, Irina. Blessings to you and thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, John. I’m glad you appreciated my story and my attitude.
Get well soon dear Irina!
Thank you so much.
Bonjour ou bonsoir IRINAS bon rétablissement
Proverbe

L’amour doit se répandre en amitié sincère
Pour parer aux écueils jonchés par l’adversaire
Qui déverse, souvent, son poison dans nos cœurs
Nous sommes voyageurs dans un monde éphémère
Pour pouvoir l’enjamber sans beaucoup de douleurs
Faisons de l’amitié notre constant critère
Bonne journée mon Ami ou Amie
gros bisous.Bernard
Coucou Bernard! Je vais mieux de jour en jour. J’apprecie beaucoup ton message d’amitie.
Bon dimanche et bonne semaine!
Gros bisous !
Irina
I love the spirit
And the 20-year-lasting ‘hospitality’ (if you excuse my expression)
All in all
A good read 🙂
Thank you very much for reading and appreciating my story and my attitude..
Gratitude, like wild flowers, can thrive in the most surprising places!
Glad you’re healing well & am sure your attitude attracts the sustenance you needed, to come out of your tumble smiling!
Thanks, Liz, for your kind words. I’m getting stronger day by day.
All’s well that ends well,dear Irina.Glad you’re at home now recuperating.It was a good chance to see Sasha’s and all your friends’ loving care.Take good care of you,dear friend.Much love & hugs 🙂 ❤ xxx
Thank you very much for your kind words, dear Doda. Hugs ❤ ❤ xxx
❤ ❤ ❤ xxx
Yes, as we get older we have to be more careful. It is good they took a good care of you. It looks they really serve nice meals at your hospital, however, it is better not to be there. I hope you are enjoying a complete recovery!
You are right Inese, but you are not aware of getting older until something like this happens. I had a little mishap last Friday and now I’m even more careful.
Bonjour ou Bonsoir IRINAS BON RETABLISSEMENT
Épice de vie
Il y a dans ma vie, une épice rare

Cette une poudre magique qui transforme mon quotidien
en rayon de soleil dès qu’elle se répand sur un problème à résoudre
J’ai cette chance inouïe de posséder cette substance
Quand je traverse des temps difficiles
Quand j’ai besoin de courage et d’énergie
pour faire face au nouveau jour qui naît
C’est alors que mon épice magique
vient poivrer ma journée de compréhension, d’écoute active
Son parfum me soutient, sa force me guide, son arôme de discrétion me protège
Le plus beau souhait que je puisse vous faire
C’est de trouver cette poudre magique
de la répandre avec amour
Cette épice de vie a pour nom
” Amitié ” Bisous Bernard
Merci pour ton epice magique, cher Bernard.
Passe une belle journee! Bisous ❤
I hope you have fully recovered from your fall, Irina. Take care.
Unfortunately, not yet. On 22 June I suffered a partial dislocation of the hip, which, fortunately, corrected itself without medical intervention. I heard and felt 2 POPS as it popped back into place. The subsequent X-rays showed no damage , and the surgeon told me I was very lucky. But now I have to take strict precautions for a few more weeks. I guess I should count my blessings. 🙂
Omg! I surely missed this post! Hope you are better! ❦❦❦
Thank you, Resa. I’m getting better.