Last January, I planned to move to New Zealand as an AFS exchange student, live with a local family,
attend a new school, and find adventure. Just three weeks before my departure date, everything changed.
While ski racing, I hit a rut, flew face-first into the netting, bounced off, and tumbled backwards down
the mountain. I watched my left leg girate as if it was no longer connected to my body, a limp noodle
flying in all directions. A 20-minute wait for ski patrol seemed like hours. Unable to move and in
excruciating pain, one thought reverberated in my head: This could very easily be the way I die.
And I almost did.
attend a new school, and find adventure. Just three weeks before my departure date, everything changed.
While ski racing, I hit a rut, flew face-first into the netting, bounced off, and tumbled backwards down
the mountain. I watched my left leg girate as if it was no longer connected to my body, a limp noodle
flying in all directions. A 20-minute wait for ski patrol seemed like hours. Unable to move and in
excruciating pain, one thought reverberated in my head: This could very easily be the way I die.
And I almost did.
My femur had snapped, then rotated 180ยบ inside my leg. If my bone had rotated the other direction, it
would have knocked out my femoral artery (instead of hacking off five inches of the popliteal artery),
and I would have died in 30 seconds. The crash was the worst pain I have ever felt. I now know it takes
30 times your body weight to break your femur; it’s proven to be more painful than childbirth. Because
my artery was wiped out, I lost circulation to my lower leg and was flown to Denver on ‘Flight for Life.’
After three operations, plenty of pain meds, and a week in the ICU, I thought I understood pain. However,
the real pain hit me when doctors told me I couldn’t go to New Zealand. My heart broke, and for the first
time all week I reached 10 on the pain scale.
would have knocked out my femoral artery (instead of hacking off five inches of the popliteal artery),
and I would have died in 30 seconds. The crash was the worst pain I have ever felt. I now know it takes
30 times your body weight to break your femur; it’s proven to be more painful than childbirth. Because
my artery was wiped out, I lost circulation to my lower leg and was flown to Denver on ‘Flight for Life.’
After three operations, plenty of pain meds, and a week in the ICU, I thought I understood pain. However,
the real pain hit me when doctors told me I couldn’t go to New Zealand. My heart broke, and for the first
time all week I reached 10 on the pain scale.
I am unable to explain the devastation I experienced when I couldn't go to New Zealand last spring.
But the good news is, I can now go this spring!! Both my accident and this trip to New Zealand are costly,
which is why I created this blog. I have joined the AFS Sponsor an AFSer program, which is an online
fundraising tool through AFS to allow sponsors to help fund my trip. It is easy, secure, and non
tax-deductible. No amount is too small and anything helps!
But the good news is, I can now go this spring!! Both my accident and this trip to New Zealand are costly,
which is why I created this blog. I have joined the AFS Sponsor an AFSer program, which is an online
fundraising tool through AFS to allow sponsors to help fund my trip. It is easy, secure, and non
tax-deductible. No amount is too small and anything helps!
Thank you for your help, feel free to forward my blog to anyone else who may be interested!
Once I get to New Zealand I will post weekly updated and pictures on this blog, so keep an eye out!
Once I get to New Zealand I will post weekly updated and pictures on this blog, so keep an eye out!
To sponsor my AFS program, please click the Donate Now button:)
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