Health Update: The Good And The Bad, Still Finding My Gratitude and Joy

 Just giving a health update ... 

One piece of advice I've learned and would give anyone in my situation, or any bad situation is - it's okay to feel overwhelmed and even cry for a minute - THEN be grateful for what and who you have around you and forward think. 

Make future plans, even if they're unlikely and absurd 😂

Also what I have learned over time is that when bad things happen, you learn who's there for you and who isn't - and it can surprise you, going both ways.

(To be fair, there are a couple of friends I haven't told because I don't want to burden them. For example, former neighbors and friends, Angelie and Rico that I've mentioned before on here -  who I don't think read here. Not only do they have 2 young children, but his mother with advanced Parkinson's just moved here from Puerto Rico and I know they are already overwhelmed!)

Among those I have told, here's who has stepped up to the plate with rides, food, checking on me daily, and/or sending me pictures of their adventures so I can live vicariously through them and/or just funny memes or pics: 

These people are:

Mark - my amazing husband and my rock. 💓

Mark's siblings.

My mom and my little sister. 

My friend, Kayla and her family.

My neighbors, Shondelle and Vince and their son, VJ.

My neighbors, Cody (also one of our maintenance guys) and his girlfriend, Savannah. 

Mark's boss and coworkers, Kiyon, Corey, and Fidan.

My attorney, Katie, and her legal team (especially Claire) at Minner & Vines.

My Primary Care Physician at Family Practice Associates, Susan Monohan, MD, and her staff (especially Lisa).

My orthopedist at Bluegrass Orthopedics, Ched Crouse, MD and staff.

My neurosurgeon APRN at Baptist Health - Neurosurgery, Debbie Courcher, APRN (recently awarded "Advanced Practitioner of Year" for Baptist Health Lexington-Indiana.) 

My dentist, Erica Higginbotham DMD - AKA "Lady Higginbotham" (because her name makes her sound like she's a character on Bridgerton 😂) -  and the entire staff at Beaumont Family Dentistry - Leestown - ESPECIALLY hygienist and soul sista, Crystal!

(The latter was doing no dental work on me at the time, but heard about it and called me. That group has been SO supportive in general with life's ups and down, I can't tell you - the kindest and all around best dental group in town!)

Absolutely amazing people, some of whom I've only known for less than a year, living in our new apartment - THANK YOU!!! 😍

 

So, onto the health news.

The Bad News: 

So when compiling my medical records for my attorney, I caught something on the CT scan report of the abdomen that was overlooked during the shuffle to find injuries. (Hey, 27 years in medical records - go me!)

I thought it was an incidental finding - but my neurosurgery APRN pinpointed it's location at being exactly at the point of the fracture. 

So it's an aortic mural thrombus - essentially, a blood clot on my aorta.

Being that the ER staff had much to be desired the night I was seen (already written about earlier), I noticed the radiologist briefly mentioned it, but said nothing about either the size of it or the location - and then forgot to put it in his clinical impression or address it.

My PCP has referred me to Vascular Surgery (though we don't think surgical intervention will be necessary), thinking it was incidental finding.

Then when my neurosurgery nurse practitioner took a look at the images with me in the room, she showed me how it coincided exactly with the vertebral fracture at all angles.

Good News: 

The aortic thrombus is tiny and should be able to be treated with medication alone.

Thus, I'm being sent for an MRI to determine the exact size and location, as well as if the age of the mural thrombus matches the age of the fracture to prove it's injury rather than calcific buildup.

She also told me "Whadaheck is THIS (the brace)? It's overkill. No wonder it was killing your ribs."

Ha! Isn't that exactly what I said, it's too much and was killing my ribs?

The abdominal swelling and rib-cage swelling had gone down, which helped - but thank you, Debbie Croucher!

She said she could get me a new one, but I was healing so quickly, I wouldn't likely need to wear one at all unless I overdid it or while riding in the car or walking on uneven ground.

(And the reason I'm healing up quickly is because I gently stretch everyday and walk laps around my house. It's kind of instinctual with this injury to want to move.)

Bad News:

She also made frustrated faces about the the documentation that night herself, not giving her the information she needed to know. 

Not just the ribs, but the more serious injury, the mural thrombus - briefly mentioned only under the "VASCULAR"  heading in the body of the report, without giving exact location on the aorta or the size, nor mentioning at all in the impression, and with no referrals or treatment. she said is "unacceptable."

Because said she, though a mural thrombus of that size isn't immediately dangerous, it IS dangerous and should be addressed immediately.

She may be country as the day is long, she is smart as a whip!

So she held her finger on the thrombus on imaging as she twisted the images from every angle, showing me it directly correlated with the vertebral fracture - proving it is at least suspect for being caused by injury.

It's uncommon, but it does happen.

Good News: 

Again, Vascular Surgery will need to confirm, but because of it's tiny size, we may be able to break it up and prevent more clotting just with medicine.

Also, I have ZERO SYMPTOMS from it - in fact, I feel a little hit better each and every day! 🥰

Bad News:

We had just gotten our 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander in June and are thus underwater on our loan and its our only car.

Also, the lienholder and the insurance company cannot disagree on the reimbursement value of the car, with the lienholder obtaining a third-party independent evaluation, with which the insurance company still disagrees and the insurance company is dragging their feet on a response.

In the meantime, because the car is totaled, the insurance company will not pay for a rental car, so we're renting it daily out of pocket each day we wait - PLUS we have to continue payments on the old car until they decide, come up with a down payment for a new car, plus pay new car payments as well as the old car.

Also, I have had to quit school, both due to funding cuts to financial aid for half-time programs by Trump's OBBBA bill and because I will need a bit more of healing time.

I was door-dashing for income, and of course, I can no longer do that. 

Good News:

Okay, so ... no good news on this front yet BUT ...

As I said, 2 days before the accident, I had a "ticker-tape" message  run through my head which interrupted my own thoughts with accompanied by a chill - as if abruptly as a "breaking news" commercial interrupted a show you were watching on T.V. that said "Something really bad is about to happen - but it will be okay."

I couldn't literally hear anything, mind you - just a ticker-tape thought that interrupted my thought processes so clearly and disruptively that  I knew it was not my own thoughts - as interruptive as "We interrupt this thought process for a a very important message." 😂

I told Mark immediately about it and he thought it was just anxiety on overdrive.

And yet thus far, whoever or whatever pegged it spot on, right?

I can't deny or explain that. 

My mom of course thinks it was Jesus.

I said "Well, if it is, then I don't know where he's been for the last 20 years or so, but he's welcome." 😂

But as I said, there was no voice attached, no sense of male or female or who it was, so it's hard to say. 

I like to think it was my friend/spiritual Mom, Marian, but perhaps that's just what I want to believe.

Regardless, despite my losing my faith entirely over the past year  - I can't deny this - it was very clear and very accurate - so whoever or whatever that was that simultaneously both warned and reassured me of what was about to happen, I'm going to trust that it also right about the second part - that it WILL all be okay - or try to! 😂

Regardless, whatever happens, I will be focusing on joy and gratitude - and I WILL heal from this!

Project Hail Mary

 

Well, being that I'm laid up a bit after my accident, I finally had time to watch this movie, last night ... and I LOVED it!

This is the type of movie we used to make - heartwarming and inspirational - but now with flawed, real characters, which IMO is a nice addition and makes them more relatable.

It's like if the movies E.T. and Armageddon had a baby, only with more science, the only warfare is against an interspace microbiological entity, and reluctant, unlikely heroes. 

Also, lots of people missed the spiritual subtext - and not just in the movie's title. 

First of all, for those who don't know, a "Hail Mary" isn't just a Catholic prayer - it's a football term used for a last-minute pass or play when there's virtually no hope for win - in other words, a play made on a prayer.

Also, the main character's last name is "Grace" and he is called "Grace" - duh?

This comes into play in the form of second chances after past mistakes. 

Though he has a doctorate in molecular biology, he now teaches middle school science, after refusing to play politics in academia, as well as his inability to STOP thinking outside of the box and asking questions about accepted theories - not that he's unhappy, he LOVES teaching.

And as brave as he was in standing up for his theories - and overly aggressive about it -  he realized that led him to nowhere but failure, as well as that not only were his peers wrong, but he was wrong, too. 

Thus, he doesn't speak up for anything now, doubts himself, and considers himself a failure.

After a scientist discovers a strange arc line (named the Vetrova line after the scientist who discovered it) comprised of particles called "astrophages" extending from Venus to the sun, and are essentially "eating" the sun - Grace - along with several other molecular and microbiologists - are chosen to help research these particles for the potential of being living organisms, to study what they are comprised of, specifically what they eat, how they reproduce, and what the relationship is specifically between Venus and the sun - why Venus, though Mercury is the closest planet?

(Answer: The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Venus.)

They also discover that other galaxies are suffering from the same phenomenon with the exception of one, and it is their job to figure out what is different about this galaxy - which is where he meets "Rocky" and they work together to find out.

I'm not going to spoil ALL the answers for you and the whys -  watch the movie - but the point is, he continually tries to tell the project leaders that he got lucky on his findings and that he's not the right person for this job, and yet they trust his ability to quickly think outside of the box to solve this problem.

In other words, "Grace" is being given a second chance to trust himself and what gifts he's already been given that he believed were his greatest flaws  - as well as trust that this is his destiny, even if he doesn't believe in himself. 

It also has you asking yourself scientific questions that will take you back to high school or college chemistry, trying to remember stuff lol.

Like when you find out the organism is comprised mostly of water - what "kills" water?

(Remember, drying/evaporation doesn't kill water, it simply recycles it.)

The  only thing I could think of was nuclear fission, which of course, is not an option.

My second thought was could nitrogen play a role?

Like freeze them into dormancy with liquid nitrogen - OR - since these organisms were creating their own ecosystem, could you somehow smother them out from the sunlight with nitrogen like algae does from too much nitrogen?

As it turns out, my second thought process on nitrogen playing a role does come into play, but first, they discover that we can actually USE astrophages by harnessing their energy as a source of power, after modification - AND - block them from "eating" the sun by keeping things in balance by infusing nitrogen.

(They don't get to exactly how that will be accomplished by the end, though.)

And if none of that stuff I just said is your thing, Ryan Gosling is in it - and you know how we ladies love us some Ryan Gosling 😂

Highly recommend!

Injury Photos, Being in "Ripley" Mode, and Finding a Laugh Where We Can (My Hilarious Airbag Story) ...

 

So most people who know me know that I have PTSD, and what that means for me is during an emergency or crisis, I go immediately into what Mark calls 'Ripley' mode, after Ellen Ripley from the movie "Aliens." 😂

This isn't as bad-ass as it sounds - it just means that my brain already has a pathway created for how to deal with trauma, so I don't feel, I think and solve problems -  much like Ripley did, despite ordinarily feeling "anxious, damaged, unuseful" in life from PTSD, after the first go-round with the aliens.

The good part is, my brain processing suddenly becomes super clear and super fast.

The not-so-great part is, though I startle easily and may even unconsciously tremble, I don't consciously feel fear, I don't feel emotion or cry, and I'm good with physical pain - until I feel safe later and that most problems are solved or being worked on. 

So ... I have folders for all documentation fully organized in PDFs on my desktop for my insurance, the other driver's insurance, my attorney, and each healthcare provider. 😂

I'm taking calls from both insurance companies, from lawyers,  from medical records, from patient advocates, and from providers' offices, catching any tricky stuff and swatting annoying flies in midair - it's like my brain is suddenly in superhuman mode. 😂

People keep saying things like how "tremendously strong/tough" I am and "amazingly positive" and "great sense of humor"  - but what that actually tells me is that I'm not feeling anything that happened and pretending everything is normal -  I'm on autopilot. 

This gets to the point where I'm so much inside my head and working so tirelessly that Mark has to mimic the line from Aliens - "Okay, Ripley, ease off the throttle, we're clear. But the axle's broken, you're just grinding metal now. Ease down." 😂

You can see that moment from the movie in this montage clip, which is kinda of a metaphor for things that happened during our relationship timeline and history as well ... 

In fact, the only hint of anything I felt emotional about this week at all, I would say, was shame.

The accident wasn't my fault - and yet you still go through the "what could we have done differently?" thing, right? 

Then there's also the shame of had I made different decisions in life - if WE had made different financial decisions in life - this wouldn't be as stressful as far as the situation we're now in financially as a result. 

But you can't get in a time machine and go back, all we can do is move forward and learn, right?

So that passes quickly because shame is a very poor motivator and I don't have time for that shit right now 😂

And I mean, I had help getting to this phase in life financially, too, but we won't go there.

It started to overwhelm me a little bit this weekend when quiet -but then I said "I don't have time to feel this sh*t and have a pity party lol."

But it's also NOT a great to just expect to live your life as if it didn't happen, pretend like things are going to be the same just as they were before the accident - things have changed, and may stay changed from now on.

I mean, I can't just hop outta bed and in the shower anymore, it takes planning. For the first couple of days, Mark stood outside the shower curtain to avoid falls, but now, I can do them completely alone if I'm careful.

In fact, the hardest daily thing is getting up out of bed. It actually just pisses me off 😂

It pisses me off to the degree that it gives me the strength to do it, with an aggressive "GRRR" as I do it! 😂

So I have to grab the side of the mattress to lift my ribs carefully, throw my legs over and then slowly straighten out my back because it's so stiff. 

Once I've done that, I slowly lift my arms to slowly stretch my back and then take a brief slow stroll around my house to loosen the stiffness, with Mark watching me to ensure my stability, which usually works - and then I'm okay, I can manage the rest.

In fact, I'm already off pain meds entirely, saving them only if I move a certain way I shouldn't and/or if things get bad, because there are bad days and good days. 

(I hadn't been able to use the bathroom since it happened, both due to abdominal swelling/contusion and pain meds, so I took myself off them yesterday and had some luck!)

I can't load or unload things into the dishwasher repeatedly, just one quick dip/bend at a time, so that it takes all day if Mark doesn't help lol. 

I can't clean anything below my waist, and lifting above my shoulder level is an issue, too, and absolutely nothing more than the weight of a small plate or glass can be lifted.

I can't stand and cook yet, just sit and stir and Mark has to help me with anything needing standing or bending into the oven.

I can take short walks, it actually helps the pain - but no long walks in the park - and definitely not even short ones holding the leash with Ziggy, Mark has to do it.

Speaking of Ziggy, he had to learn what we could and couldn't do, he's SO smart. Having pugs most of my adult life, I can tell you that Pugs generally aren't the smartest dog breed, but Ziggy is  the exception. 

He doesn't understand entirely, but does realizes something happened  and I'm in pain and where, and he's very patient and gentle - he knows what areas can and cannot be touched, gives little kisses to those areas, super cute! 

He lets me know he wants to cuddle by very gently and tentatively putting one paw on my hand, or tests out an area before he puts his weight on it -  then showers my face with kisses, understanding I'm not at full capacity. 🥰

So I made an agreement with myself - I would acknowledge what I had just been through, without feeling it yet, until I feel safe enough.

Below are the photos sent to my attorney. When you see these photos, realize that I was advised to send every photo of any significant visible injury.

Also, keep in mind, I got off easy - it could've been much, much worse.

For example, there was no head or neck injury - likely due to the air bag not deploying properly. 

That may sound weird, but had my airbag deployed properly, I could've had head and neck trauma, too, but I don't thus far.

Then again, the other side of that is, would I have sustained these injuries had the airbag deployed properly? 

THAT, we don't know - but my providers and lawyers are definitely interested in that.

All I know is the way it deployed was actually kind of funny 😂

It kind of poofed out after Mark's, after the car had already stopped. It "pffted" out very slowly and to my left, never touching me ... sorta like "Oh, hey -   you were in an accident -   here's a balloon animal!" 😂😂😂

What the ??? 

Anyway, the full list of injuries are:

1.  Blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

2. An L1 vertebral compression fracture.

2. Fractured 11th rib.

3. Nondisplaced left wrist fracture - very small, just discovered 2 days ago.

4. Sprained left ankle.

5. Right knee laceration - no stiches required, and multiple cuts and scrapes I didn't even notice until like the third day 😂 

 

  

Some of these photos show the injuries, some do not because they're internal - and keep in mind, they look worse than they feel to me, so don't freak out - but yeah, it was a lot.

These were taken Wednesday, and remember, objects appear larger than they normally are, due to swelling ... 

Blunt force trauma to the abdomen (seatbelt injury) resulting in the rib and vertebral fractures  ...

Small nondisplaced left wrist fracture ... 

Left ankle sprain ... 

Right upper arm bruising 

There was also bruising to the hips from the seatbelt, but those also included some more intimate areas, so leaving them off here lol.

It's a little better every day, and as I said, it's feels better than it looks - and could've been worse!

Hospital Patient Advocate Call

 

Due to that brief polite call I made regarding the rib fracture issue. 

As I said, I wasn't mad, I just thought they'd want to know, because this isn't their usual AND because documentation is extremely important in motor vehicle accident insurance claims.

I was surprised with the way she started out, she kind of came at me. 

Not an attack or rude necessarily, but definitely not what I expected or I wouldn't have taken the call.

Of course, I have no experience with patient advocates - I assumed they were there to listen to concerns, just based on their title - NOT launch into a diatribe to defend the hospital as if they're a lawyer lol.

She brought up the fact that I signed myself out on AMA regardless, when it was clear he wanted me to stay for 24 hours for "internal injuries."

Um, no - so I gently pushed back ... I don't know if I can get this one verbatim, because I'm on pain meds, but it went something like ...

"Well, now, wait just a minute, here - first of all, this happened long before I signed out - so what we're NOT going to do is pretend like if I hadn't, this wouldn't have happened." 

"Speaking of his notes, he said he recommended a 24-hour observation unit to 'monitor for POTENTIALLY delayed internal bleeding ' - NOT - "known internal injuries" - there's a big difference."  

"That is because there was no question about the back fracture, we already knew it was there by then; thus, why I was referred to outpatient treatment hours before I signed out." 

"If the reason was, as you say, known internal injuries overall, then he would have admitted me immediately, rather than just a 24-hour observation unit - but he didn't, did he?" 

"Therefore, his recommendation for a 24-hour observation was ONLY to monitor for RISK of internal bleeding -  NOT internal injuries overall."

"I signed out AMA due to concerns about cost, after those referrals had already been given, and after 6-1/2 hours in the ER with stable vital signs, no signs of internal bleeding, only after the referrals were made, as well as after I asked first the nurse, then  doctor. " 

"The nurse, and even the doctor later, agreed that "if internal bleeding was going to happen, it most likely would've happened by now" and that I was 'likely out of the woods, they just wanted to be sure" on the internal bleeding" and "vital signs are still stable and good"  so they will consent to signing myself out - *IF* - I understood the explained risks and warning signs of internal bleeding to watch out for." 

She conceded this was, in fact, the case - he DID say internal bleeding - NOT - internal injuries overall.

She asked me if I'd made that outpatient appointment with Neurosurgery.

 

Me: "Oh, glad you mentioned that - did you all know that we are currently short on neurosurgeons in this town? I didn't.  In case you didn't know, there is currently a 1-2-month wait to see a neurosurgeon for any issue unless it is life-threatening." 

"Thus, they can't see me locally until October 15th - nearly one month from the accident. Thus, I am going to need to travel to Louisville, unless my attorney can find one locally through their connections."

I then reassured her that really, it's not that serious! 😂

And that I had no intention of including the healthcare system in my bodily injury claim - it's not that big of a deal!

As long as all the injuries are now documented correctly so that the insurance companies can't fight over it, then we're good!

I wanted to let them know, both to correct documentation for insurance purposes, as well as for quality improvement, reassuring them we would continue to use this hospital system and otherwise loved this hospital -  they took great care of my husband with stroke - I just thought they'd want to know what happened as a one-off in feedback.

She softened a little bit after that, and began talking to me like her colleague rather than an attorney, thank God - and then said as for the broken rib, it likely wasn't addressed because we don't wrap or treat broken ribs anymore.

Me: "I understand that now, but I didn't at the time - I only learned this after being referred to Orthopedics for the ankle and wrist, who explained it." 

"You all may know rib fractures aren't treated anymore as healthcare professionals and thus no need for discussion or instructions, but patients don't that until you tell us - we're not mind-readers, right?" 

"We also don't know what to do or not do, what activities we should avoid or not avoid, what signs to watch for worsening fracture, or expected healing time - again, until you tell us." 

"That's what I'm saying, this wasn't addressed at all in discussion OR my discharge instructions - and in fact, the doc said I didn't have a rib fracture when I asked, and everybody kept saying that when I tried to tell them the brace was hurting my ribs badly."  

"In fact, I was pretty sure I had a rib fracture, but I didn't know for sure until I read my own radiology report the next day myself, because nobody addressed it."

 

Patient Advocate: "Well, I guess that's because we were so focused on your back, but the diagnosis is mentioned in your paperwork, just not in your after-care instructions. But he did put rib fracture in his notes."

 

Me: "I get that, I totally understand and appreciate that - and yet there's a difference between what healthcare professionals assume is the most painful injury versus actual patient pain experience, right? What the patient is trying to tell you is still important." 

"My ribs hurt worse than my back, I tried to tell them that, especially after they put the brace on, but the doc said I didn't have a rib fracture." 

"Also - what he puts in his notes later isn't necessarily what he tells the patient, and being a medical transcriptionist for 27 years, I know they usually don't do their notes until after the patient is gone." 

"And again, although you all may know rib fractures receive no treatment anymore, the patients don't know that until you tell them - you have to tell us and/or put it in the discharge instructions about what to do/not do, healing time, etc.. Does that make sense?"

 

Patient Advocate: "Absolutely, it does - I'll agree with you on that. Just because we know ribs aren't treated anymore doesn't mean the patient does, and you all definitely need to know that it could take up to 6 months to heal and not to lift anything over 5 pounds if you can help it. We could probably do better about communicating that, so I've notated that." 

 

Me: "That's the only suggestion for improvement I have. The rest of this, let's chalk up to miscommunication, because I mean, I could've misheard him, I was in pain. Well, that issue, and then there's the missing toradol shot I never received." 

"So ... when I first got there, I asked them to try everything before opioids first, because narcotics make me vomit.  So in addition to the basic Tylenol I asked for, the doctor said he would order a toradol shot, but it never arrived." 

"In fact, no one entered my room at all after the shift change at 11 p.m. After another 1-1/2 hours, I hobbled out to go to the bathroom by myself and asked the nurse about the toradol shot." 

"I was afraid to even do that because though the ER wasn't busy, I know there are patients there with worse problems -  but at the same time, it was now 2 hours later - 5 hours since entry to the ER -  so the Tylenol had worn off and the pain was really ramping up." 

"That is when the nurse told me the toradol shot was not ordered and she was having trouble reaching the doctor." 

"She said he 'kept disappearing' and it was starting to piss her off. She literally said 'I don't know where he's going, watching football for all I know, but I have been unable to reach him. He's around here somewhere, just not responding to my texts and calls about you or any other patients.' 

"Then she said would find someone to just go ahead and order opioids. She was more frustrated than I was! 😂" 

"I mean, we're trying to keep people off opioids because of the risks, right? So here's myself and the nurse trying to do just that, but he forgets to order the toradol  shot entirely until hours later, and we're now at opioid level of pain." 

Then she said she notated that and would check into that with the nurse to see about that, she hadn't checked with her yet and there was no mention of a toradol shot anywhere.

I said "That's because he forgot to order it. So there's no documentation of it, but if you ask that nurse, she will confirm that she tried to contact the doctor about it later."

Then, I again reassured her that I had no intention of including the hospital on the bodily injury suit, and I'm not mad, I just thought they'd want to know - I would, if it were my hospital, for quality improvement purposes.

It's all good - whew, what a stressful week, though, right?

And yet I'm still handling it all with a smile and a joke, for the most part, providers and staff have actually commended me on my kindness and sense of humor through it all.

However, there's one exception - don't be trying to gaslight me or make your own documented medical mistakes MY fault, now, just to cover your asses, People -  I don't take well to that - AND there's no need for you do do that!

Because again, I don't plan on suing anyone in healthcare - we all make mistakes or misspeak or miscommunication. 

There was no real harm done - and as long as my injuries are now documented correctly for my auto insurance to cover now, and we learned from it all, then I'm happy. 🙂

I'm not a very litigious person (though perhaps I should have previously in life) -  and I don't plan on becoming one now 😂.

So the only planned litigation I have is a bodily-injury attorney to mediate a settlement with my insurance company for an accident that has been deemed 100% the other driver's fault- period.

MAGA-Supporting Business and Property Owners Starting To Feel the Burn - and I Chose a non-MAGA Attorney for The Car Accident

Now, before I start this post, allow me to say that I do have MAGA-supporting friends and family, whom I love dearly - we just don't discuss politics.

However, it's an entirely different matter when it comes to whom I will do business with - especially who represents me legally. 

After noticing several videos on TikTok about property owners (including ranchers) literally crying and complaining about who they voted for should have nothing to do with property sale or business, I then saw several Reddit posts about local brewery, Ethereal Brewery - how they were holding a fundraiser for Western Kentucky politician and known MAGA supporter, Jason Petrie, including some posts about how sales of products would also go to fund his campaign. (This is from the Lexington Times, a local community newspaper, which is NOT affiliated with our official city newspaper, The Lexington Herald Leader.) 

Since that time, there has been a tremendous backlash on social media including HERE on Reddit. (There was a previous post on this that showed Ethereal Brewing's original post that the moderator has since deleted.)

Also, Ethereal Brewing is deleting posts to avoid possible illegal election fundraising activity and have also since lamented loss of business. 

(As IF MAGA cares at all about illegal fundraising and as IF anyone reporting it would get anywhere with the DOJ).

And as one commenter put it (paraphrasing) - "If a business is outed as MAGA supporting, I already know they're up to some shady shenanigans in business, so no thank you, I'll go to the other 4 local breweries in town - sorry, Ethereal Brewing. You made a choice and this is our choice."

Additionally, my legal team is being coordinated as we speak for the accident, and this morning, I made it very clear that my one condition is - no one who is MAGA-supporting will be representing me or on my legal team.

*** Not the firm as a whole, just my particular legal team representing me can be a current MAGA supporter.***

That's my one big ask, keeping in mind, the other driver's insurance has already claimed total responsibility, so this is essentially almost a shoo-in win already.

I'm sorry, MAGA businesses  - the fact that you trivialize this being about who you voted for means you still don't get it - this isn't like a basketball team you're cheering on or even prior  political elections - it's proof of how much you don't realize (or care?) how much your vote has resulted in wrecking lives and and livelihoods for so many, particularly poor people.

Allow me to break down for you how this is not just about who you voted for.

Essentially, MAGA - whether your realize it or not -  you voted to hurt other people's lives and livelihoods in favor of your own agendas -  based on no proof but political rhetoric -  particularly the poorest and most powerless among us. 

You justified it by demonizing and scapegoating these impoverished groups, particularly along racial or religious lines,  again without proof - and if they protested or defended themselves, you flipped it back on them as proof of bad character from the get-go.

But at the same time, you turn a blind eye to domestic terrorism and violent crime performed by non-immigrant, white, straight Christians, corporate greed/power abuse and corporate pollution, and clear criminal mischief or corruption within your own party.

Such corruption includes, but is not limited to, Trump's pardoning of convicted criminals, ranging from bitcoin fraudsters defrauding millions to violent criminals and rapists,  to worse - pardoning convicted child sex predators -  in what has become clearly a pay-to-play donation scheme - and some of these offenders were actually rewarded by making them ICE agents?

And all of it was done by my so-called fellow Christians, as if God himself sanctioned your actions - and in some cases, inmy father's house, in my father's name. 

No, fellow Christians - these are thieves in my father's temple you're supporting (or perhaps have even become yourselves).

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but that is the reality of how you voted. 

I still love you, I'm not vilifying you directly for your vote, only who you voted for, who keeps vilifying US as your enemy. 

I'm sorry Trump considers us your enemy - just know that I don't consider you my enemy - but who you voted for is - because he keeps calling US your enemy and we have to defend ourselves. 

Thus, if you follow suit and see us as your enemy, we have no choice but to defend ourselves - and we are starting by refusing to engage in business with, buy property from, or retain legal representation from anyone MAGA-supporting.

I'm truly sorry your businesses and livelihoods are suffering as a result of your choice; however, but you did have a choice - and these are the consequences of that choice.

Quite honestly, at least you can afford to have a business - and it's nothing compared to the suffering others have suffered at the hands of who you voted for - and you DID have a choice.

Lexington? Grrr ... I'm 'Bout to Move to Louisville

Edit:  My husband was concerned about what I said about the physician at the ER, being the only named entity in this post and one prior - not the doctor, but I did name the entity itself. 

So ... I have no intention of getting legal, it's not that serious!

I just politely reported the mistake so they can correct it because it's very important that everything be documented in my medical records correctly for motor-vehicle-accident claims.

But if someone wants to legally draw attention to their mistake and liability based on what I've said, be my guest -  lol. 

Otherwise, at present, I have no intention to include the hospital's mistake in my bodily injury claim from the MVA.

__________ ORIGINAL POST ____________________

So we have a known doctor shortage here in Lexington, in recent years, but listen to this ...

So the neurosurgeon's office calls me Monday and tells me they will put my case in "clinical review" and that it will be a couple of days to have an appointment scheduled.

I'm thinking "Oh, okay, I can wait a few days."

The neurosurgeon's office finally calls me back today and say they can see me for a first visit on October 15th - nearly one month since the accident.

Are you kidding me with that???

I have not seen anyone for my fractured vertebrae since the ER, I have no idea what to do or not do, the brace doesn't fit properly, I'm not sure what to do to manage pain going forward, I have no idea the treatment or healing time - nothing. 

BTW, I have since learned that the ER physician that missed several things - whom the ER nurse told me that night "disappears" frequently on shift - has a horrible reputation at the hospital. I learned this from other employees there, either at other doctor's offices or through Mark's work at FCPS who have family members who work there - including a day shift ER nurse, an OR nurse, and a surgical tech. 

They asked his name and immediately reacted that he had horrible reputation and said he'd been reported multiple times and hoped I had as well. I was wondering because Baptist is the best in town and I'd had positive experiences with them, especially with my husband's care.

So neurosurgeon's office advised to let my PCP manage it until then.

My PCP was shocked and was scrambling to find someone else, but not in THIS town, anyway. 

Because trying to help her out to find someone, I called the other major health group in town - they don't see motor-vehicle accident cases.

Then I called UK as a last resort because even though they win lots of awards nationally, locally, they have a horrible reputation.

They are actually 2 months out.

My PCP was scrambling trying to find another option.

I decided that I will just go to Louisville, like I started having to do for my mammograms. 

I called to see what they have and UofL can see me next Wednesday. 

Also, I went to the orthopedics doctor today -  I discovered I also have a broken wrist - so make that blunt-force trauma injury to the abdomen resulting in a fractured 11th rib, an L1 compression fracture, a fractured left wrist, and a sprained left ankle. 

However, I keep reminding myself it could've been way worse. 

Anyway, as we were leaving, someone ran a red light and Mark slammed on the brakes - us the car to the right of us both nearly plowiedinto them - so we were nearly in another accident! 

WTF, Lexington?

Get off your freaking phones and pay attention!

Actually, when speaking with my insurance company, the agent said she moved here about a year ago, but worked for this company for years, and has never seen the like of accidents in Lexington, KY - particularly near Nicholasville Road, it's scary!

Isn't that insane about the neurosurgeon wait!?!

So they were just going to leave me sitting there with a fractured vertebrae seeing no one since the ER for a month??? Who does that?

Otherwise, in other news: 

Good news: 

As I said, the other driver's insurance has taken full responsibility.

Bad News: 

We had just bought this car in June and will be underwater for a few thousand that will not be covered in valuation of the car that we will be responsible.

Bad News: 

In addition to that, we have to come up with a down payment for a new car.

Bad News: 

We will need a second loan for the replacement car.

So that's 2 payments, one for a car we don't even own anymore.

Had we GAP coverage on the loan, it would've covered it - which I'd never heard of and no one offered us - but I will get it now!

Bad News: 

If your car just needs repair, you get 30 days rental.

If it's totaled, you get 3 days - and it's non-negotiable.

All of this money out of pocket is making my head spin! 

Good news:

Mark settled his portion because his injuries weren't as severe, so we  at least have some cash flow to cover the rental, etc.

Good news: 

I have contracted an attorney for bodily injury. A good one.  

They are the most reputable in town -  and no, not one of those with commercials that dress up as Superman and act all crazy on TV -  I don't need Superman, I need a good lawyer because insurance companies are trying to save themselves money, which I get, as any business would - so it's always a good idea to have an attorney to help negotiate settlements. 

This firm comes highly recommended by several reputable people. 

Since the other insurance has already taken responsibility, it shouldn't be too long - just have to be seen by all physicians and have an expected time of healing and treatment. 

If you're praying people, keep praying or send good vibes our way - thank you, love to all who've reached out!

One thing about this town - news travels fast!

Someone from Mark's work actually saw the accident and people we had no idea even knew have reached out. 

If there's one good thing about Lexington is that when people hear of things like this, they don't avoid, they reach out and when they say "What can I do to help?" they mean it (though I usually don't take it, don't want to burden anybody).

My dentist even called to check on me, isn't that nice? LOVE her, as I've said before.

All of this to say, as my grandma used to jokingly say when things were bad, but not life-threatening "Well, I reckon I'll live, anyway" 😂- but I want to move to Louisville for nothing more than healthcare, like, yesterday!