Glimpses of Marie and Family: Fractured Arm

"Falls Creek Falls"

by St. Maries, ID

Summer 2012 when Dad (Johnny) fractured his arm.

Johnny, Sonja, Laura, and Jeremy went for a nice summer drive into Idaho. To spend the day at a summer festival in St Maries, ID and see a waterfall. First we headed to Falls Creek Falls, a beautiful drive, and not to far from home. The waterfall was close to the road and there was a bridge that went over the river. We were having a wonderful time. The water was icy cold, but we took off our shoes and waded across the river / stream, except for Johnny. He didn't want to get his feet wet, I can't blame him, with age my feet are getting more sensitive too, and it was very rocky. So he stayed at the bottom underneath the bridge. The rest of us, headed up the waterfall to explore. Note the picture of Johnny sitting up by the bridge, this was taken when I was at the top of the falls. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of him going back to the car, to me he looked like he was eating something, couldn't understand what he was doing. It was a long ways from us, meaning he couldn't hear us call to him. I remember making the statement that Dad was being a "fuddy - dud", not joining us, and heading back to the car. We continued to explore for about another 15 minutes, then headed back to the car. And was truly surprised at what we saw. Johnny was all bloody, major nose bleed, bumps and scratches on the face, blood all over his shirt, holding his arm. And very pale, faint. He was a mess!! "I was worried", is an understatement. Turned out that he had a fractured arm, that took months to heal. No broken nose, he was lucky, and bumps on the head. He was a trooper and still wanted to go to the festival, but I definitely said "No Way", and we headed home, being a weekend he refused to go to urgent care. How did he get injured? He decided that he would go back up to the bridge and cross it, and come down the other side so that he could join us in exploring the falls. His way up was very steep and lots of loose gravel. Reaching close to the top where there was a guardrail, he slid on the steep gravelly hill, and fell head first toward the guardrail, arm hitting the rail, and head first onto the pavement. Hitting his head hard and about to pass out. We didn't see him struggling to the car. I wonder if he'll ever go with me again to explore my waterfalls. We are grateful that he has fully recovered.