Life in a Turkish hospital

[nationalpickleday]

While climbing in Geyikbayiri, Turkey, i was enchanted for a week by the multitudes of amazing tufas and sharp crimpers. Sleeping in a tent at the Josito camp was never better when waking up to the smell of a wood burning fire and climbers stirring in their wake with jingling carabiners near by. This past unfortunate Friday I took a huge 6 metre whipper right before i clipped the anchor on a particularly puzzling onsight, flipped upsidedown and smashed my back into the wall. The impact fractured five of my ribs and they were so sharp that they punctured my right lung. I toughed it qith grinding teeth and with help from fellow climbers, walked oit of there to where the ambulance was witing beyond the boulders. After a rough ride to the hospital, i had to have emergency surgery to extract blood from my lung and air from my thorax- chest cavity. (watching CSI has taught me a lot!) A specialist was called to perform the surgery and it was successful. Im on heavy doses of meds and oxygen to help me breathe. The doctors are positive i'll make a full recovery and thank the Mother Earth i bought insurance for this trip!! The Turkish nurses and doctors are really helpful. Im being taken care of. I hope to still get back the same time, with my flight i already have on feb. 18th. I really am hoping that my brother comes here. So, my climbing trip is over- for a while. At least i can focus on some art and music more. Hopefully i'll be able to climb by the summer. ****! All my hard earned muscles are going to shrink! Yesterday my friend Jan*was here all day and then 3 other climbers from the camp came to visit me. They brought me books and dehydrated apples! Amazing how in only a short week a person can form a bond with another. Such is the international climbing comminity. That is real love! Sadly, actually more devestating than sad, i wont be able to climb for a year. Those of you who know me well know how hard this will be. So, im looking for new hobbies. Can anyone teach me how to knit?

[Eric]

Hi

I'm so glad to hear you are OK and that you're being so well taken care of! I've also been relegated to the bench for the last 9 months and haven't been able to climb (or do much as all). I know how tough it can be. But stay as active as your body will allow and you'll be back in the harness before you know it. Muscles will shrink, but they will come back fast, too.

Eric

[Les]

All the best to you in your recovery, Danielle. What a wise decision to have purchased insurance!! I'm relieved to hear that it wasn't a worse case scenario. I've found myself in precarious positions on climbs whilst recklessly enjoying un-insured get-aways, and have vowed to be better protected!

When you have a chance, could you please share your insurance details, company you went with, contacts, cost, etc with the community, and perhaps it could be stuck in a fairly conspicuous place on the site? This is a pretty important lesson, I'm guessing for more than just me. Heck, Eric could even capitalize on insurance advertising.... haha.

Rest and recover well, Danielle. We're thinking of you, over here.

[shanja]

Like the guys have said, best wishes for an amaazing and fast recovery Danielle, being out of climbing can be frustrating....but it can also be good. I took 2 years out once and filled the time with a get away to other things. I lost none of the friendships and none of the passion. Muscle memory and skills won't really fade, even if muscle tone does. You won't ever need be alone at all, so stay focused on what you can/ will be able to do!
Knitting I dunno, but what a chance to study something like art/ language or a new musuical instrument....no reason not to see you at the crags and entertaining us all!
The insurance company details would be awesome to share, especially if you could include whether you had a good/ bad experience with getting them to pay-out etc.
Take care matey and be strong, heal well and see you soon!

[skinsk]

Danielle. . . good to see your spirits and attitude are up-- that's half the battle. Your body will follow:-) Reading about the accident made me wince and clutch my chest a few times.

I can help you with the basics of knitting. Can you move arms/torso OK? (Knitting isn't too movement intensive). Anyway, take care of yourself and we'll see ya soon! I am confident you'll make a fast and complete recovery. And remember that scars are sexy. Especially the kind with a story!

And GOOD move with the insurance. I didn't have it in Thailand all those years ago, and I am evangelical about telling people it's the one thing everyone needs (esp if you're climbing!)! I remember my evacuation thinking "I don't have insurance" on top of everything else.

Peace and Love and warm thoughts.

[TLayne]

Im glad youre ok! Are you coming back to korea?

[coaster]

I had to take over a year off a couple years back due to injury, was tough at first but definitely got to enjoy lots of other hobbies.
best of luck with your recovery