So, today I was preparing some food for my youngest grand-daughter’s family birthday get together. I made smoked salmon and birthday meringues – my specialty – and was looking forward to taking them to her and having some family time. Things were not to turn out how I envisaged!
I had everything done and decided to go for a bike ride to get some exercise. Things were going well, till I got to a spot where there was another cyclist on the path ahead of me, going through a rather deep puddle. I decided to go around her on the grass. That’s when everything went wrong!
Perhaps my thought processes are not how they should be? I’m not sure, but my decision to go on the grass ended up badly. I got onto the grass and next thing I knew, I lost control of my bike and ended up falling hard in the mud and banging my head quite hard on the ground. Plus, I landed on my left shoulder. I was very shaken up. Luckily a number of cyclists stopped to help me up and checked I was OK. Some of them offered to ride with me, so they could make sure I was OK.
It was a scary experience and I admit I was quite shaken up by it. I got home – my husband was at work – and rang my daughter. She was concerned for me and asked me to ring my cousin, who lives near to me. My cousin came and looked after me and my daughter also came round. The health line was rung to see what we should do and my cousin took me to an after hours medical centre. My husband was rung and he eventually met us at after hours.
While all this was happening, my main concerns were that my grand-daughter got her special meringues and salmon and for my future options for bike rides. My husband is wonderful, but very protective. I was concerned he would not want me to ride my bike any more. My independence is important to me and riding my bike something – usually – I enjoy. I hated to think that independence and that activity would be taken from me.
Luckily, my husband met my cousin and myself at the after hours and sat with me while I was checked out by the doctors. He has reassured me that he won’t get in the way of my biking when I want to, but suggested – quite rightly – that I avoid any off-road or muddy patches. Also, luckily, the doctors have checked me out and I basically just have bruising and no broken bones or head injury. I was very lucky.
Today, despite my accident, I feel very lucky to have family who care for me and are there for me when I need them. I feel bad that I made them all worry, but glad that they get that my independence remains vitally important to me.
I will try my best not to do anything more to worry them. I’m not in any hurry to fall off my bike again that’s for sure!
My journey with Parkinsons 