Week 3 - Entry 1

Optional Entry: In a few detailed paragraphs write about a memorable health-related experience or a health-related decision you have experienced either as the concerned individual, a loved one, or a caregiver. Consider the following:

Why was the issue a concern?

Was communication involved? If so, how? detailed or brief?

Was the experience mostly positive or negative? Why?

What might have made the experience better?

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    The most memorable health-related experience that I have is when I broke my ankle in 6th grade. This accident happened during a basketball game that I was playing in. I remember jumping into the air trying to recover the ball from the opposing team after they missed a shot, and then falling to the ground. During the fall, a player on the opposing team had also fallen directly onto my ankle. After the fall I got up and did not feel any pain, but the first step I took on the injured foot resulted in excruciating pain and I fell down again. 

    Communication was a huge factor in the events that followed this accident. Since everyone had watched me get up from the first fall, no one believed me when I said that I thought that I had seriously hurt my ankle. My teammates and the coaching staff insisted that I had probably only sprained it. It made me doubt my own thoughts about the injury, and because of those doubts I did not go to the hospital. It was not until nearly three days later that I decided that I needed to go to the doctor's office. That morning when I woke up I noticed that nearly my entire food was black and purple from the bruising. At that point I knew that I was not crazy and that it had to be a serious injury. 

    Had my teammates and coaches listened to how I felt right after the accident I more than likely would have went directly to the hospital, but I was led to believe that my own feelings were not accurate. Because of this lack of communication this was a very negative experience. Because I waited so long to go to the hospital, I had worsened the injury by attempting to walk on it, and I had also caused major internal bleeding and swelling in the area. All of this could have been avoided if communication was better. 

    This experience could have been much better if my statements regarding the injury were taken seriously. It also could have been better if I had the courage to advocate for myself better, but unfortunately I did not at the time.