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Pop Goes the Achilles Tendon
Thursday, July 19th was a great warm Summer day. That evening, I was at Ida Lee competing in a tennis match. I went to return a serve and heard a loud 'POP'. My first thought was that I'd ruined another pair of tennis shoes, but when I looked down my shoes were fine, but my left foot had gone completely numb. I tried to take a step and the numbness went away and was replaced with sharp pangs of excruciating pain. I couldn't walk, so I sat down, right there on court two. Within seconds my tennis opponent and an Ida Lee worker were at my side. They put ice on my leg and called the Rescue Squad because I couldn't stand, let alone walk. The ambulance arrived within 5 minutes. 51 years old and this was my first ambulance ride. The EMTs took good care of me and transported me to the Hospital at Cornwall Street where I was seen within 30 seconds of arriving. The diagnosis was a ruptured Achilles Tendon. Prognosis, no more tennis this Summer. I'm recounting my ordeal because I saw the application of training and education first-hand that we provide at Monoe Technology and first aid courses provided by the Red Cross. I'm not used to being the one helped, and I want to say thank you to the Rescue Squad, Ida Lee Park, and the Medical staff at Inova Loudoun Hospital Emergency Services at Cornwall Street. The following week, reconstructive surgery was performed by Dr. G.... at Inova Loudoun Hospital, and again I can't truly express my appreciation for the professional treatment by my doctor and the hospital's staff.
I plan on making an additional donations to the hospital, Loudoun County Rescue Squad, the Loudoun Chapter of American Red Cross, and the Loudoun Education Foundation, so that others can be comforted in their time of need. I also plan on returning to the tennis courts in the Fall (if my wife doesn't know, it won't hurt me)
I have had occasion to be on the receiving end of several trips to the emergency room by ambulance. I am always amazed at how competent, calm and truly caring the rescue workers are.
What would we do without them?
Robin
Posted by rearl
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