Post by @ricoincarnati

Yesterday was one of the scariest days of my life. It was definitely not on my bingo card for how I was going to spend my 4th of July. Let me explain.. I was jumping off a diving board at my sister in-laws pool. I jumped and went for a second jump for more momentum and on the second jump, slipped and my heels hit the board. Fell into the water and couldn’t use my legs. I thought Iwas fucking paralyzed. My adrenaline got me through swimming myself up with just my arms and when I got to the surface, started screaming for help. Pulled myself out of the water with help from my fiancé, future mother and father in-law. That’s where I lost it… After getting out of the water and trying to bend my right knee - my knee cap was up on my quad. It was dislocated. My left leg wouldn’t move and my quad and knee were on fire and in pain. Scooted myself back and laid down absolutely writhing in pain and legit it shock and panic. I had zero clue how bad it was. I was able to wiggle my toes and everything, so that was ok. Luckily my brother in-law is Deputy Commissioner for Emergency Management in Long Island and called an ambulance for me. I kept saying: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” - I felt like I just ruined 4th of July Weekend. Paramedics got there - I had a pulse in my feet. They transferred me to a bed and sent me to the hospital. My blood pressure was consistently at 180 - was going through the shock of what just happened. It was now 4:30pm when I got into the back of Ambulance. When I got to the hospital a PA came and did some checks on me, gave me Motrin for pain and the Doctor came in. She asked if I could lift my legs and I couldn’t. So, went for X-Rays on my knee, hips, femurs and pelvis. Luckily, no fractures. But, they didn’t know about ligaments and tendons. Then I had a visit from an Orthopedic PA who was working with an on-call Orthopedic Surgeon… Orthopedic PA said I would need an MRI on my right knee because of a possible Patella Tendon Tear/Fracture. My left leg (for now) is a strain. It could still be a quad tear depending on the MRI. I was able to lift my left leg with as much strength as I could cause otherwise they wouldn’t have discharged me from the hospital. My right leg, I couldn’t lift because my knee cap is still sitting higher up and is out of place - so that hurt. So, then it was time for the next step.. They put my right knee in an immobilized brace to keep the kneecap stable. Have to wear it 24/7 besides showering. I was able to (slowly and with help) get off the bed by maneuvering myself and stand up on my two feet. Walked out of the hospital at 11:00pm. Was there for 6 hours. I cried about 4 times at the hospital just remembering how scared I was not knowing how bad the situation was when I was in the pool. Sleeping last night was ok. I was given some ibuprofen for pain and swelling. Icing my left quad and icing my right knee. Currently heading home back to Connecticut. Calling the Orthopedic Doctor tomorrow to schedule an appointment and get an MRI. It could have been a lot worse. I prayed to God so hard and I keep praying. Life can change in a split fucking second. All the stress, worry, anger, resentment, fear, etc., - in a flash was gone. Nothing mattered but my health. You can have 99 problems but when it’s your health, you only have 1. Never take life for granted. I’m so grateful for everything. Grateful for sun, my home, my fiancé, family, water, etc., I know I’ll be back to 100% and just thank God that I’m alive. 🙏