Too many projects, too little time

The new year indeed started with a bang for us. Our first ski trip ended up with a thumb fracture of Priti, 4 days before her India trip. In general I never try to do activities posing some risk of injury before a major trip or event. Even having a bunch of xmas holidays, I decided to not do any bike trips. What happened was actually a loud reminder to me as to what happens when I ignore my sixth sense.

A couple of friends asked us for a ski trip to bear valley. I never did that in my 2.5 year long stay in the east coast. Priti also had never been to such place. I agreed thinking we would have some fun, but deep inside I was uncomfortable about the impending journey date for her India trip – a major one for her, to finish the PhD. I jeopardized it and Murphy’s law also came true.

We started enjoying the ski lessons at bear valley, despite the frequent falls. I practised falling on the sides safely and asked her to do the same. After a while I saw her getting up from a minor fall but complaining about some pain on the left thumb. She was not grimacing so I figured maybe just a muscle sprain. Not to take any more chances we immediately visited the first aid room and they bandaged the finger with a stick and crepes. The ski day was over for the two of us and we let the others finish up while we just walked around. She kept saying it could not be a fracture else the pain would be much more. How could we know for sure ?

Drove back home around 10pm and to be 100% sure we went to the Camino hospital Emergency Room. She was still sure it was just a twisted muscle. After the x-ray my nightmare became reality. A hairline fracture showed up on the base of the second bone from top. It was a sick-to-stomach feeling at the moment. The finger got partially casted (splint) and have to see an orthopedic surgeon for a proper cast.

3 days left before she leaves for India. Managing things with 1.5 hands is gonna be hard for her. I just hope it heals in time and there are no other complications.

Update (5-Jan-09): Went to see an orthopedic doctor today at Camino Medical Center (Mountain View) and got a fiberglass cast done on her hand. An Indian American doctor treated her and assured it was just a small fracture and would heal in a few weeks, but full recovery should take 3 months.