I was unpacking my car after a holiday, and dying for a smoke so I was hurrying. While carrying the last storage basket up the stairs to the deck - I tripped, spun around and fell backwards off the 1ft high deck. Due to back pain issues, I didn't want to land on my back so I stuck a foot out and all my weight (65kg) landed on that.
Since it was such a short distance, I initially wasn't worried. But then the pain hit, and I looked at my wonky shaped foot. I tried moving it, and got pretty damn close to fainting
I got back on the deck, and inside using an old
pilates .... walk technique. I then did what any self-suffient 40+yo does when they need help - I rang my Mum. Her reaction summed it up nicely, "Oh f**k Ange". First time I've ever heard that word from her on the phone
Long story short, my parents turned up, along with my paramedic BIL. He took one look and rang for an ambulance. The ambulance turned up, and eventually rang for a rescue helicopter
In the ER, I had an xray and all I could hear was 'oh wow', 'holy moly!'. Turned out that was an orthopedic surgeon reading my xrays
My fall from a 1ft height resulted in 2 broken ankle bones, and a third resembling cornflakes (Drs words). I got told I had to have major repair surgery, and either quit smoking or face an extra month in a cast, along with some severe complications. I planned to stop for a month or so, then back to normal.
I was in hospital for 2 weeks. My parents brought me in an innokin t18 kit and juice. Along with the prescribed patches, chewing gum 24/7 and spending lots of time in the bathroom vaping - I got through those first 2 weeks smoke-free.
I spent 3 weeks at my parents (vaping my head off) until the pain had settled down, and I was able to be more self-suffient.
Back at home, I still vaped. And by then, I was loving having so much extra money each week. Smoking had cost me $80nz or $50usd a week.
After a few more weeks, I realised I preferred vaping over smoking. I loved that I could vape inside, my clothes smelt nice, I had extra money and I was giving my ankle the best chance of healing.
At one of my followup visits to my orthopedic surgeon, he was absolutely blown away with how it had all healed, even the cornflakes
3 years and 2 months later, I have a completely normal ankle. The only side-effect is a bit of arthritis, which is nothing
