two firsts

This weekend I received a phone call from a friend and former student who spent the late summer and fall fighting leukemia (he is now in remission). He was calling to check on me after my “incident”. I filled him in on all of the details, concluding with the fact that I am now the proud owner of nine screws and a plate. His reaction? “I’m so jealous.” That’s certainly the first time I’ve heard that. When I asked why he responded that whenever he goes into the hospital he is asked if he has any metal in his body from all of the falls and incidents he had prior to his leukemia diagnosis. He always responds with “not yet”. I have promised him that should any of my metal need to come out I’ll happily pass a piece along to him.

My other recent first is that I finally slept through the night. While this might not seem like a big deal to most, it is for me. Since my fall, I’ve been waking up at least once a night—usually because my leg is throbbing and I need another dose of medicine. What a wonderful and welcomed change it was to wake up on my own at 8:30 this morning. Here’s hoping it continues.