dusanabotswana.com

Saturday night I was riding my bicycle (yes, 100% sober in case you were wondering) when all of the sudden my purse strap snapped and flew straight into my bike spokes, causing me to fly over the handle bars onto my head, shoulder, and back, with a few minor cuts on my hands and elbow. Fortunately for me, I was biking in a very populated spot, and there were many kind people around. A few people stayed there with me to make sure I was ok, and I used a lady’s cellphone to call Jonny and my mom (I knew my mom would freak if she heard another person calling for me, so I talked). Someone called 911 and, after being assured that the revision would be free if I didn’t go in the ambulance, I let them check my head and ask me some silly questions, like who the president was, to make sure I didn’t have a concussion (I first said Bush in my head, oops). They took my vitals and I was fine enough to let me leave with mom and Jonny. A police officer even followed us home with my bike in his car.

I was up all that night, not able to sleep from the pain, frustrated that you’re pretty screwed without health insurance in this country. Now I know that’s a huge debate that I don’t want to get into right now, but it’s especially frustrating to have just come back from a prestigious grant program in Mexico (where I had insurance through the program), and be writing cover letter after cover letter to get a job but have no luck (and no health insurance) yet in the hopes that I’ll find something soon. All I wanted that night was a basic checkup to ensure I was concussion-free, an x-ray on my arm/shoulder, and pain killer so the pain wouldn’t keep me up.

Finally around 6am that morning I called my mom to have her take me to ER. Turns out that the budget cuts had eliminated the state assistance I had hoped for, so I denied myself treatment to not see a thousand dollar bill in the mail later. They weren’t going to let me leave though if I couldn’t move my arm. Thankfully I could but I lied about the rest of my pain to go home. Neither of the two nurses opened the door for me, as I struggled to pull it open with my left arm and side.

I went home, continued icing, and finally fell asleep. I’ve had a nonstop headache since, but luckily the bump on my head, which was sticking out several inches, is now slight. (Yes, I am going to always wear a helmet in the future, unless it’s Tour de Fat or something where you’re cruising around at a snail’s pace, to be honest.) My shoulder though, hasn’t made any improvements.

I spent several hours today searching for and calling low-cost clinics/offices, only to hear two ladies tell me that the total would be at least $320, not including an x-ray. At least. At minimum wage that’s over 40 hours of work, and it’s supposed to be a low cost place. Fortunately later I was given the idea to check with urgent care and a normal doctor’s office and will be going to the doctor’s office tomorrow for around half that price.

So I know this is much more detail about a bike accident than anyone needed to know, but, it’s been a bit painful and mostly uncomfortable to type, so I wanted to give an update as to why it’s been quiet over here on the blog, and express some of my frustrations. I generally try to avoid anything politics-related, but after this experience it’s pretty tough to be happy with our healthcare system. But, that’s all the political junk over here…. I’ve been really down these past few days, not being able to do much/go anywhere (the bike was my sole form of transportation), so hopefully I can share some better news tomorrow and get up the energy to do a few light activities. Being stuck at home on the couch is certainly never good for the spirit.

-Dus