It has been very quiet on my blog for a few months... I am sorry!
The reason is that I have had an accident with my motorbike on the 29th of February. Luckily I was not at fault. I had to stop for a car in front of me and as soon as I has put my foot down, a car crashed in the back of my bike. My bike was pushed against the car in front of me and I flew of my bike. The ambulance came to bring me to the hospital. Long story short: I broke my leg. I had a Tibia Plateau Fraction.
I had to wait 6 days before they could do the operation. I am now the owner of a plate and 4 screws and a big scar. I had to stay in the hospital 7 more days after the operation as I developed a deep vain thrombose (DVT) or blood clot in my broken leg. It wasn't easy in the hospital; I couldn't sleep well, painkillers made me drowsy and constipated... It was a hard time in the hospital. Luckily I had a lot of people visiting me and supporting me! Thanks Philippe, Berengere, Thibault, Zyncke, Candide, Katrin, Annabelle, Kaval, Adele, Byron, Stef, Deepak, Michelle, Ros, Beth, Denise........ And I also Skyped often with my family and friends in Belgium. Also thanks to my department at Griffith for sending this nice present:
And just now, I had two Belgian friends (Zyncke en Candide) who came to visit me (they were travelling around Australia). We had planned to go Surfing, to go to Byron Bay, to go hiking in the mountains... but they had to visit me in the hospital.
On the 13th of March I was discharged from the hospital. I had to wear a big brace around my knee and walk on crutches. I was happy to be home, but I needed a lot of assistance. I could not even lift my leg myself to put it on a chair. I had to sit on a chair when taking a shower, I needed a special chair over the toilet, I needed a wheelchair to go out... Luckily I had lots of friends around who could help me.
Two weeks ago I started physiotherapy which is helping me a lot! I could start to take of my brace at home and now I have to do lots of exercises to increase my range of motion of my knee. When I took of the brace after 6 weeks, I realised that my muscles where gone and I could only bend my knee 70 degrees... But now, after 2 weeks of physio I can start walking without the crutches! In the morning I still need my crutches because my leg is so stiff in the morning and also for longer distances, I have to use my crutches. But finally I can use my hands and start to do some things at home without crutches! I still see the physio twice a week and have lots of home work exercises. The revalidation will take a long time and is taking a lot of energy from me. I hope I can walk normally soon... And hopefully I will be able to play tennis, surf and run again.
Even though I was on my crutches, I tried to work at home for my PhD and to go out and to do some things. I was getting so bored at home! So here are some things I did the last weeks, on my crutches or in the wheelchair. Nothing spectacular...
Relaxing at home
Having a nice dinner at home with our guests Zyncke, Candide, Berengere and Thibault
Going to the Q1, Skypoint and enjoy the view of level 77
We went for a drink at Fishermens Wharf with a view on the boats on the broadwater
I went to a wedding on the beach of my German friend Annabelle! Yess... with my crutches on the beach!
We did a BBQ at Main Beach with Berengere and Thibault for their last night
I went with Katrin to a Wildlife Sanctuary (I was exhausted after walking on the crutches)
Going the the Q1 during the day
View Q1 North
View Q1 South
Because of the accident I had to take a break from my PhD. Now I started working again for my PhD. It is difficult to get back into it, but I am trying really hard.
Philippe has been taking care of me very well! I was very lucky with that. At the same time Philippe is very busy with preparing for his CFA level 1 exam in June. He is studying all the time and hardly gives himself a break. Last Sunday I took him out of his office for 2 hours. We went on a boattrip that I had bought with Groupon. We went around Chevron Island, and we went on the Broadwater. It was a very nice trip!
What a long post! But now everyone is up to date again :-)
Cheers, Jessie
