Warrior Down

What a week.  What happens when the Warrior goes down?  It’s more than what you can imagine.  In our case, if the Warrior is down the whole house is changed.  Moms run the roost.  At least this is my scenario.  We keep things going, organized, stocked, filed, cleaned, updated, filled, piled, cooked, ready, uploaded, decorated, etc.  In the case of the Warrior Down things change drastically.  

This Warrior was down, literally Monday, February 3, 2025, at 6:32 am.  Yes, I went outside with my two dogs to see if the snowy conditions were alright to walk, and maybe run.  I was not even hardly turned out of my own driveway and that was it. Bam.  Right down on the sidewalk.  I didn’t even know what hit me.  My ski hat and my lighted headband lay beside me in the snow covered grass. There was no time to react, just boom, gone, on the ground.  

Most moms probably think at first, “Am I okay?”  My first thought was oh crap I hope I can still lift Anna, I hope nothing is broken, I hope I can still work and care for Anna.  Those are always my first thoughts.  Have been for 22 years. Once, while watching my dog get attacked on a run I was hesitant to use my hands.  I thought if the attacking dog bit me how could I care for Anna?  This is just the reality of my life its like the first thing I protect, or try to, my hands.  The desire to care for Anna and not get injured is instilled in all my actions.   

So I stood up.  I immediately checked to see if my arm was broken, because that happened to 17 years.  I moved it up and down, side to side.  Ok, good it’s not broken.  It was too much to pull the dogs back and my arm was sore, not busted, but sore.  I kept the walk going, knowing I could turn back or call for help if needed.  I always have my phone on me when walking or running.  

I was LUCKY.  I mean LUCKY.  There was an inch of ice under that darn snow that has never been there, never froze there and was hidden to me.  It was treacherous.  I am so thankful.  

I sprained my upper right arm (from elbow to shoulder).  This was confirmed via video visit with my doctor.  It bruised all up four days later.  I could still lift Anna! It’s sort of a lift/slide.  When Paul or I are injured we let the other one lift more often.  For the first week I only did the morning lifting (which is only one lift).  We always take precautions so we heal faster.  

All week I’ve been grateful nothing worse happened.  Now I’m not going to be outside in any icy conditions in the future.  You know the thing that comes with parenting a child with special needs is you learn to find ways to prevent so many things from happening.  You take better precautions.  You carry extra clothes and diapers, you have extra things in each car in case you get somewhere and you forgot something.  You modify your house to take care of any thing that might prevent you from living a full life.  We stop taking unnecessary risks.  

Paul is great to help when things go wrong.  He is also hilarious about needing me to get things in order.  When I go away or fall or have limitations he cracks me up saying “The mom has to be well or everyone suffers, even the pets, even the furniture, everything!”  It’s nice to see that when you are down the show doesn’t run the same without you; you can see your efforts like never before.  It’s hard to be down but it’s astounding to see all the little things we do that matter.  Moms have a special touch, a special toughness and a good grip on running the house.  I’m glad my grip was only slightly stopped on Monday and that my efforts for all I do are very appreciated.  I Know Paul would get her up in the morning and do it all.  I’m lucky for this.  Some of our Warriors are solo caretakers.  We must always appreciate what we have and boy am I grateful this week.  Until the ice melts I’ve been inside running or at the metro park where the trails are always clear.  Be safe out there Warriors we need our arms and our legs. 

‘That’s the good part of an injury, it strengthens you in many ways. -Bojan Krkic