Terrain was rugged with many of our stops requiring a bit of walking over uneven rocks. I even participated in a glacier walk, complete with crampons and ice ax with no issues.
But last Wednesday, I along with others climbed the 500+ steps to the top of a hill to photograph the Skogafoss waterfall. I was almost to the bottom when my foot slipped on the gravel between the steps. Needless to say I dislocated/broke my ankle in two places.
This is me waiting for my rescue. You can see a bit of the waterfall on the left and the platform I came from on the top. It doesn't look dangerous but the EMT guy and the Doctor at the first hospital said that many people hurt themselves on those steps due to the loose gravel.
The bus driver and tour directer had to help me down from this point to the bus which seemed forever away. Then a longer than I wanted to deal with wait for the ambulance. Trip to the first hospital in what I believe to be Selfoss was over an hour - (thank God for morphine). They fixed the dislocation and sent the X-rays over to Reykjavik. Spent the night waiting to hear back from them. In the morning they got back to the doctors in Reykjavik that the ankle was too bad to send me home and that I needed to come to Reykjavik for surgery. Another 45 minute plus ambulance ride to the University Hospital, surgery, then 2 nights in the hospital before my revised flight home.
Am I ever glad that this trip required trip insurance. They took care of all the arrangements, from a limo to the airport, a first class ticket for me on Delta (since doctor said I needed to keep my leg up) and a limo ride home. Since Frank did not come on this trip with me, the insurance company did not want me to fly home along. So they paid for a first class ticket for the photo guru/tour guide Sandi Wheaton to fly home with me. I thought I didn't need her but I was very thankful she came with me. She also came with me to the first hospital so I didn't need to do that alone. She resides in Windsor so it worked for both of us.
So now my life as I know it is different for quite a while.
1 comment:
Hi Susan, how awful for you. But you look like you had a good attitude, and the fact that you still say you loved the trip, good for you!
On my trip to Iceland with mettina and Sandi, a few years ago, there was snow and ice on the ground. I slipped walking down the ramp from gulfloss waterfall and broke my wrist! Also went to University hospital, but they were able to"set"it adequately so I could continue the trip (this happened on the FIRST day!), So arm in sling and medicated, I continued! Couldn't really take pictures as I could not use my right hand at all. But, I loved the trip, and Sandi, mettina, and Sio are awesome! Hope you heal quickly:) Jane Cory
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