A fall on October 24, 2008

I have asthma. It hasn’t been much of a problem until last winter. We were told when we moved into this old home that there was no heat in the bedrooms. Since we liked a cool room we thought it would be absolutely fine. We put a heater in Kathy’s room and the rest of us put another quilt on the bed.

Last winter was very cold. I found out to my great surprise the cold could trigger asthma. Although my body was snug under the covers, I had to walk through extreme cold to go downstairs. I became quite ill. It ended up being was 5 months of fighting to breathe. I didn’t have the energy to climb the stairs, which was really a good thing for me, no more cold rooms. I still didn’t know that though about the trigger. I slept in the chair in the living room. Paul did everything. He took care of Kathy, washed the clothes, cooked dinner, washed the dishes.

There is a point to this story, I promise. We thought we would be moved before winter this year. Another plan that was derailed. Anyway today I sat and watched the temperature drop quickly. I checked the weather report and it will be less than 40 degrees for the next 5 days. I decided that Kathy and I would sleep downstairs and stay warm.

I gathered up my pillows and headed downstairs. Between the second and third landing I fell. It was a surprise to me, I don’t fall downstairs. I go too slowly to do that. As I sat on the landing on my bottom I just had to laugh at how silly that most have looked. I called Paul. He is only 2,000 miles away, he can’t do anything, and he is the one I called. He felt sorry for me, and made me take time to see if anything was broken. Then He had me go down the last 4 stairs. I went into the living and sat down. My right arm was scrapped and hurt. My right leg was swollen. My back hurt, and of course, my ego was damaged a little.

I am moving pretty well tonight. Kathy and I are on the hide-a-bed for the next few nights. If it is upstairs, I don’t need it. I think my glasses are upstairs, and that is where they are staying. So no email, the rest of the day, I do need them to read when I am on the computer.

I was really lucky not to have broken any bones. It was a pretty hard fall, and I am after all, older. The next few days I will just heal.