In 2019 I had a major accident. I was on a motorcycle expedition in Ladakh (in the Himalayas) when my brakes malfunctioned. The bike skidded, went off the road and down the hillside. I landed on a bed of rocks and a 200kg motorcycle flew in the air and landed on top of me.
When I awoke from my black out, I found the entire motorcycle covering my entire body, with the front wheel spinning inches from my face. When I was lifted up, we learned that both the bones between my left knee and ankle had snapped into two pieces. We were a six hour drive away from the closest place where our mobile phones could get any reception.
I was taken to the closest village, where some cardboard was put under my leg and it was taped up. I was then driven to Leh, airlifted to Delhi the next morning and operated on the next afternoon. A metal rod was put in my left leg. Two weeks later, we learned that my right wrist, which was in cast, had also broken, and so I underwent another surgery to put a metal plate and six screws in my right hand.
The recovery of the leg was the most painful thing I have ever been through. I’d have hours of excruciating pain every night which no painkiller could fix. I had to just cover my entire leg with ice for hours on end while involuntarily screaming in agony. A feather touch on my left foot felt like acid was being poured on it. I was unable to button my shirt, unable to go to the washroom myself and unable to even hold a spoon.
I had to learn how to walk again. I went from wheelchair to two crutches, to one crutch, and then slowly started walking again. I will not regain full functionality in both wrist and leg, because as my surgeon rightfully pointed out, ‘Man cannot give you what God gave you’.
I am incredibly grateful.
I’m grateful that my bone didn’t cut through my skin during my accident in the remote Himalayas, because if it had, I would have bled to death.
I’m grateful that I was wearing safety gear from head to toe because my entire body had been sandwiched between rocks and metal. The leg broke due to a spiral fracture (when it gets twisted) and the wrist broke because of the gap between the safety jacket and the gloves.
I’m grateful that I had friends who I could call in the middle of the night to talk to, just to distract myself from the pain.
I’m grateful that I have a family and friend circle who were the most wonderful support system during my recovery.
I’m grateful that while I did not have insurance at the time, I had the resources to be able to afford my surgeries.
I’m grateful that I was able to laugh ALL the way through the entire experience, right from the time I had the accident. I found humour in all the situations I was in, and wrote an entire comedy show based on what happened to me. It’s called Unbroken and I hope you get to see it soon.
In fact while my leg was being operated on, my doctor called me a b**tard — and he was right to do so. I was given an anaesthetic that paralysed me waist downwards. Towards the end of the operation, I asked my doctor, “Will I be able to play good golf after this surgery?” He replied, “Of course you will.” I said, “That’s amazing doctor. Because I’ve never been able to play GOOD golf before.” “B**tard”, he rightfully said.
I’m grateful that work came my way after the accident and gave my mind things to focus on outside of the physical challenges I was going through. I went to corporate comedy shows in a wheelchair, hosted award ceremonies sitting behind a desk, and ran senior leadership coaching sessions while standing on one leg and propping myself up with my one functional hand.
I’m grateful for people who work in medicine — doctors, nurses, administrators and support staff — I’m walking today because of you.
This photograph is of me in the hospital after the surgery on my wrist. I knew the name of every single nurse on my floor, and every single person who came to serve me food or clean the room. And we all laughed together.
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Join me on the #GratefulHeart Challenge
Every day starting 01 Dec 2022 until at least 31 Dec 2022, I’m going to post one thing that I’m grateful for. Ideally from the day before. With a photograph. It could be a person, something I did, read, ate, saw, learned or experienced. Anything.
I’d like to invite you to join me in this endeavour and comment on my post with either what you’re grateful for that day, or a link to your own gratitude post. You don’t have to do it every day. Just whenever you like. And if you want to do it daily and miss a day, no worries on that either :)
I’ll be posting on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (abridged) so pick whichever platform you like! And please use the #GratefulHeart hashtag on your post. It would be lovely to see how much gratitude we’ve been able to spread by the start of the new year.
And if you do post and encourage others to do the same with the hashtag, that would be MAGIC!
Hope you’ll join me and have a lovely day!
With gratitude
Papa CJ
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