Act I: That Fateful Night
That Night, December 1998: Pete's college buddy Vance invites him to play a game of pick-up basketball at his church.
Later That Night, December 1998: Vance can't make it. Pete decides not to go.
Moments Later, December 1998: Pete goes to play basketball anyway.
One Hour Later, December 1998: Pete notices the gym floor is not wood, but synthetic tile. Pete thinks nothing of it.
Fifteen Minutes After That, December 1998: Pete thinks something of it, after he slips on a wet spot and slides awkwardly to the ground, hurting his right knee in the process.
The Rest of That Night, December 1998: Pete writhes in pain (or at least "semi-discomfort"), waiting for 8 a.m. when the student health center will open.
8:30 a.m., The Next Day: Pete is stylin' in a full-length leg brace. He is easily mistaken as a zombie extra from the movie Night of the Living Dead as he walks around campus unable to bend his right knee.
The Rest of December 1998: Doctors on two separate occassions take x-rays - but not MRIs - of Pete's knee, telling him no surgery is required and the partial muscle tear will heal with time.
1999 - 2002: Pete doesn't know it, but the doctors were wrong.
Act II - Cause for Action...Eventually
August 2002: Pete's 3-on-3 basketball team hoops it up in the Sunflower State Games. Pete leaves early to perform two original songs in the Country Music Showdown at Coyote's Dance Hall (in both events Pete has fun and puts on a good show, but fails to advance to the next round).
The Next Morning, August 2002: Pete wakes up and cannot bend his right knee. That's weird.
Soon After That, August 2002: Pete meets with a new doctor, who recommends an MRI.
The Day Before Labor Day Weekend, August 2002: Pete goes in for an MRI - results will take a few days to process.
Labor Day Weekend, August 2002: Pete travels to Colorado with a group from the St. Lawrence Center and, while there, attempts to climb his first 14er, Longs Peak.
The Day After Labor Day Weekend, August 2002: Pete gets the MRI results. Pete has a torn ACL. Pete now realizes climbing a 14er days before might not have been the brightest idea - but in the long run he's glad he did it.
Act III - Surgery
December 2002: Pete finishes his four-month long student teaching experience and can finally have knee surgery with sufficient time to recover.
Surgery Day, December 2002: Pete's right leg is shaved. That, also, is weird.
Moments Later On Surgery Day, December 2002: Pete is handed a pen with which to "sign" his right knee, indicating that it - and not the left knee - is the one to be operated on. Pete is at once comforted and discomforted by this.
One Hour Later On Surgery Day, December 2002: Pete is off to dreamland while the doctor cuts his knee open.
Two Hours Later Than Expected Post Surgery, December 2002: Pete finally wakes up. Guess he needed the rest!
January 2003: Pete slowly recovers - not so much from surgery, but more from the shock of seeing industrial-sized staples zig-zagging up and down his extremely bloated knee after unwrapping his bandages for the first time!
Six Years Thereafter: Pete enjoys a worry-free, athletic lifestyle, to which he has become accustomed.
Epilogue: Ghosts of Christmases Past
January 2009: Pete notices a funny - not in a good way - feeling in his right knee....They're baa-aack!
May 13, 2009: Convinced it will not go away, stubborn Pete makes his way to the doctor (after some pushing from girlfriend Emily). Doctor takes x-rays - this time an MRI is not possible because of the metal screws in Pete's knee from the previous surgery. Doctor diagnoses a "torn meniscus" and recommends outpatient surgery. Pete is all over that - let's get it done, Doc!
Before He Leaves The Doctor's Office, May 13, 2009: Pete asks for a copy of his x-ray to use for his picture of the day. Doctor obliges. Pete posts the picture - and readies himself for surgery in three weeks with hopes of a quick recovery.
After Writing This Entry, May 13, 2009: Pete is tired of referring to himself in the third person. I tell myself I'll stop doing that immediately.
Sarah is very bummed for Pete. She is glad it is outpatient surgery, and that Pete went to the doctor, but she is still sad for her friend. Sarah wishes him well and tells him to stop being weird and running/excercising all the time. ;)
ReplyDelete