Whale Shark!!!

Yesterday, we went scuba diving for the first time since our accident. It was a little borderline for me… but I couldn’t wait any longer. Having a background in working in adaptive recreation, I was eagerly figuring out adaptations so that we could go diving. We went diving with our friends from a local dive company, so they were very cooperative in figuring out ways to make it work for us. Our friend, Audrey, came with us. She just completed her Open Water certification, so she’d only done four dives… ever.

Our first dive was at a sunken Thai passenger ferry – King Cruiser Wreck. It was very cool to dive at a wreck – it was a first for all of us. On our second dive, our friend and dive master, Vichan, got my attention, and I was shocked to turn and see a huge WHALE SHARK swimming past us!!!!!! After the state of shock wore off, I got some pictures as it swam past, and then we followed it for a bit. It circled around and came straight back towards me… I was looking straight at its mouth thinking I was thankful that it just eats plankton! It swam right alongside me – within 12 inches. I had to watch out to not get hit by its tailfin as it moved from side to side. It was amazing!!!

A little background on whale sharks… They are the largest fish in the oceans. Fortunately for us, they eat plankton (microscopic plants and animals) and small fish. They are a very rare sight! This one was about 20-25 ft long. We have friends/acquaintances that have done thousands of dives in this region, but have never seen one. It was Audrey’s 6th dive and Tré’s 21st dive. They realize how incredibly lucky they are!!! People either don’t believe us when we tell them, or have tears in their eyes because they are so envious. It is now ranked as Tré’s new “best day of his life.” It was an incredible experience!!! It’s hard to even begin to explain. Tré is quite knowledgeable about sharks and wants to share these websites for you to learn more: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/whale-shark.html http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/whaleshark/whaleshark.html

Whale Shark!

"plaa waan" in Thai

Notice gill slits

Going out of sight on its first pass by us.
Poor visibility because of all the plankton in the water,
but that's probably why it was there since that's what it eats.
Notice how large the tail fin is.

Whale shark coming straight towards me on its second pass.

It swam right over my head!

Tré with whale shark in background.

Great variety of marine invertebrates - anenomes, urchins, soft corals

Audrey preparing to dive.

Tré and Vichan preparing to dive.

Banded Sea Snake

"ngou" in Thai

Very poisonous, but not aggressive

Pufferfish

Lionfish

"plaa seen-toe" in Thai

Nemo!

Our divemaster, Vichan

9 Weeks After Motorbike Accident - UPDATE

Alright, an update on our condition… We are continuing to slowly heal. We’ve been trying to get out to the beach, friends’ houses, festivals, etc. as much as possible. We’re getting around fairly well.

Tre: His leg (femur) still appears to be healing ok. He had x-rays last week, and it shows that the bone is healing properly. It is still not completed healed though. He does not need to use his crutches anymore – so he can walk and swim, but not run. It looks like he’ll most likely have the follow-up surgery to remove the plate and screws in late-May or early-June. Fun. Fun.

Ashley: The laceration on the top of my foot still hasn’t completely healed! There’s still about 1 stubborn centimeter (1/4 inch) to go. Unfortunately, in the tropics, that means I still have a high risk of infection. I got impatient two weeks ago, and went swimming at the beach two days. It felt wonderful! No pain, and so good to get some exercise after waiting so long! I tried waterproofing it and swam a kilometer at the beach each day. It didn’t work… A day later, I was back at the hospital with an infection. Stubborn as I am, two days later, I tried a different waterproofing technique that DID work! I went snorkeling and saw two black tip reef sharks, and I swam a kilometer at the beach. The laceration is continuing to heal, so hopefully within a week I can reveal the hideous scar that lies hidden underneath all the gauze and bandaging.

I had x-rays last week. Unfortunately, my foot is a repeat situation of my hand – very little bone deposited in 9 weeks! Frustrating. Since the metal plates are in there holding the bones together, I can walk around without my crutches though, so that is kind of exciting.

It looks like I will need another surgery to fix the bottom of my foot. There’s a tendon not working, so I can’t control my big toe, and the bottom was not put together quite right which prohibits me from ever walking properly. We’re trying to figure out the where, when, and who, of how this will take place. Keep you posted…

Anyway, we’ve been getting out to have some fun as well, and trying to enjoy life as best we can. Take a look at the new entries below to see what we’ve been up to. There was a big festival at the Buddhist temple – Wat Chalong, and we went on a weekend trip to Koh Phi Phi – islands off the coast of Phuket.

Koh Phi Phi Don

We went on our first out-of-town excursion seven weeks after the accident. We were both hobbling around on our crutches which drew a lot of attention. We took a ferry with our friends/neighbors (Audrey and her son, Skip) to the Phi Phi Islands (pronounced “pee pee”). They are a set of islands. Koh Phi Phi Don has a town on it. In the center of the village, there are no motorized vehicles. The walkways are narrow and used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Carts are used to transport heavier items to businesses. Outside of the main village, there are a few motorbikes and trucks, but not very many. We had fun exploring the multitude of great shops and restaurants in the village. One downside was that it is very touristy. That was the most foreigners (“farangs”) that I’ve been around since we moved here.

Ferry arriving to Koh Phi Phi Don

Ferries are run by private companies, not governmental agencies.

Ticket prices are negotiable and fresh fruit & drinks are sold onboard.

Ferry Dock at Koh Phi Phi Don

A bit pathetic. It was a long walk to our bungalow,

so he put us in the cart with our bags and crutches.

Walkways/Paths are narrow in the center of Phi Phi Don -

no motorized vehicles in this section of the island.

Bamboo Bungalows

Swimming at the Bungalow Resort

Longtail boat on Bamboo Island off

the north end of Phi Phi Don.

Longtail Boat Ride

Porpoises or Dolphins off of Phi Phi Don.

Anyone know what type they are? Sarah???

Unknown, but friendly man, getting a Thai tattoo.

Usually, five fine needles are attached to the end of a bamboo rod.

Supposedly, less painful than a machine tattoo.

I may have to have an art contest for my students to see who

can design the best tattoo for my foot to camouflage my scars! :)

Festival at Wat Chalong

There was a HUGE festival at Wat Chalong – our nearby Buddhist temple. The festival was a fundraiser. There were tons of booths selling just about everything, stages with live entertainment, and carnival type games.

The highlight was finding a pair of flip-flops to fit my swollen, injured foot for 20 Baht (about 60 cents). The woman that I bought them from asked what had happened to my foot. In Thai, I explained about the accident and our injuries. She took my hand from my crutches and gave me a hand and arm massage as we stood there. It was such a sweet, spontaneous gesture!

Also, since we weren't in our own community/neighborhood, it was a little more comfortable to act like a tourist and take tons of pictures. There are some great pictures below of the types of booths that we see at our local markets every week.

Entrance of Wat Chalong


Food on a Stick

This was a booth that we don't see at our neighborhood market. INSECTS!

Mealworms, beetles, crickets, roaches, grasshoppers, and more...

Three cooked and seasoned grasshoppers on a spoon...

... that went into Tré's mouth.

He also tried a few crickets.

How did they taste? "Crunchy."

Workers cleaning off the bamboo sections that are stuffed with sticky rice.

"Kao Laam"

Sections of bamboo filled with sticky rice.

A great snack!

Preparing quail eggs.

Entering the Temple

Dried squid is a favorite snack (not of mine though!).

Those are all little dried squid hanging on the cart.

3rd Update on Motorbike Accident

NOTE: If you haven’t read the previous entries and photos on the motorbike accident, it would probably be best to read and look at those before reading this entry. Start with the December entry, and then the January entry before reading this one.

Life has been continuing on in much the same manner since our last entry. We are at the 7-week mark since the accident. The healing process is a test of patience. Since my previous injuries (broken hand, broken rib, etc.), I’ve gotten better at being patient. However, I’m definitely reaching my threshold… :) I always imagined that the lacerations on my foot would heal several weeks before the broken bones, and assumed I would be swimming for physical therapy. That has not been the case. It looks like they’ll be healing around the same time. Looking at the ocean for 7 weeks, and not being able to touch it, is one of the worst tortures someone could devise for me.

Anyway, we are both continuing to slowly heal. Our exciting advancement in the past two days, is that we’ve both started trying to walk without our crutches. This isn’t exactly with our surgeons’ approval or advice, but it feels like the time is right, so we’re giving it a try. We’re both keeping the distance to a minimum, and not putting 100% body weight on the broken bone. Three weeks ago, Tré’s surgeon said he could put 50% body weight on it with the bone 80% healed. We calculate that it’s been three weeks, so it can handle more than that now. I put most of my weight on my heal and very little weight on the ball of my foot, but it feels productive to get my foot and toes moving in a walking motion.

So, we’ve been back at school for 2 ½ weeks now. It’s going ok. It’s a little challenging to work with the pain, and trying to keep my foot elevated most of the time, but it’s fine. With needing help to get around, the driver who hit us has offered to help. We rode in the van with the driver last week. It was odd to see the dent in the vehicle from us, and to ride with him. Strange...

Let’s see… medical update. Tré continues to appear to be healing well. He’ll get x-rays again next week at the 8-week mark. I’m on some neurological pain killers that are more effective in blocking out the pain as a result of all the nerve damage, and sleeping pills are helping me to get a good night’s sleep. More medicine than I’m used to taking, but it is helping to get through the days. Still a lot of pain, swelling, etc. The 6-inch laceration along the length of my foot, is almost completely closed. It’s taken forever! I’m really hoping that within 3-5 days, I can go for my first swim! I get x-rays next week as well. Neither of us will really be able to tell how the bones have healed until after we really start to begin walking, running, etc. again and seeing how they function and feel.

Here’s an interesting tidbit. Usually if you put rubbing alcohol on an open wound (even a really small scratch or razor knick), it stings like crazy, right? I have a two-inch open laceration remaining on the top of my foot. I can literally pour alcohol over it, and I don’t feel a thing. Odd??? So, my nurse and doctor friends, why is this??? Nerve damage?

Anyway, we have gotten out to do a few interesting things, so I’ll try to add some blogs for them as well. Our motto has been that we are thankful to be alive, and that we are trying to enjoy the simple pleasures in life rather than the grand adventures.

1. January 22nd ~ about 5 weeks after accident.
2. January 25 ~ 5 1/2 weeks since accident.

3. January 25 ~ bottom of my foot has sealed closed. Badly in need of a foot scrub!

4. What my foot bandaging looks like.

SNAKE ENCOUNTER…

On the morning of January 15th, we saw our first large snake outside our house. It was about one meter long, but thin. It slithered across our driveway and into the neighbor's bushes. The Thai woman next door told us that she didn't think it was a cobra. (FYI - there are many types of cobras, vipers, and kraits that are deadly in Thailand, so it is always best to assume that a snake is dangerous.) Tre got a couple of nice pictures, and shortly afterwards, we forgot about it. Six hours later, I was out doing a few errands on the motorbike. As I was driving along on my way home, I felt something brush against my ankle. I looked down expecting to see a leaf or something. Instead, I looked down and saw the snake slithering up my leg! Scared the shit out of me!!! I'm embarassed to say, I did the stereotypical scream, hit the brakes hard, and leaped off the bike. Of course, the opposite of what I know you “should” do. We laugh about it now since I didn't get bitten and die. Wouldn't that be terrible luck - survive a motorbike accident only to be killed by a snake a month later?!?! Anyway, the snake was apparently hiding somewhere in the bike and did some errands with me to the market, gas station, etc. I'm a bit paranoid now, and I will be checking the bike for snakes in the future!

Update on Motorbike Accident

NOTE: If you haven’t read the previous entry and photos on the motorbike accident, it would probably be best to read and look at those before reading this entry.

Well, it has been four weeks since the motorbike accident, and we are continuing to slowly recover. I have been thinking about how it is interesting how the human mind works. As Tré and I continue to discuss the accident, we realize that there are segments of the accident missing from both of our memories. For me, I remember the sound and force of the impact on the side of the bike, but I cannot remember leaving the bike, flying through the air, or the initial impact with the pavement. I cannot remember anything about that segment. What I am curious about is whether or not I had any conscious thoughts about what to do as I landed. When my memory restarts, I was rolling on my side with my forearms over my face with fists clenched. I remember my head hitting as I rolled and finally coming to a rest about 10-13 meters (30-40 feet) from the bike. On the other hand, Tré can remember being airborne, doing a front flip, and landing on his back. In retrospect, we have come to be thankful that he had on the backpack with our beach towels, etc. – it might have saved his spine and neck from serious injury. His memory is missing other segments of the accident. So anyway, I’ve been thinking about how it is interesting how our mind blocks out different things, and wondering if we will ever remember those segments.

Our surgeons advised that we not return to school, so we have had an additional two weeks off. It has been nice to regain the week spent in the hospital during our 3-week holiday. We are now in our fifth week off from school though (that includes the school holiday). I feel that it’s going to be hard to return at this point. Being thankful to be alive, we’ve been trying to enjoy life as best as possible. Simple pleasures rather than grand adventures. I have to keep my foot elevated most of the day due to pain and swelling, and I cannot get it wet or dirty, so that limits my activities. I can either sit at home, sit at the beach, sit at a restaurant, etc. I don’t enjoy sitting around the house, so we’ve mostly been sitting at the beach. We drive to the beach on our rented motorbike with sidecar that allows me to drive without using my left foot/leg at all, and hobble on our crutches down to the beach. On the beach, there are booths that rent beach chairs and umbrellas, and sell refreshments. We are now regulars at one of the booths, and they are taking good care of us. I refer to them as our “beach nursing staff.” They bring us drinks, fresh tropical fruit, practice speaking Thai, and help keep my chair free of sand for my foot. They’ve been wonderful! Oddly enough, the woman who runs the booth witnessed our accident and called the police to report that a van had just hit a motorbike. Strange… Anyway, with my good balance, skill using crutches, and the help of the beach chair, I am able to keep my foot clean and dry. :) I sit and read, practice Thai, eat tropical fruit, nap, sunbathe, talk with friends, and listen to and watch the waves. Life could definitely be worse. I have to admit that I am envious of Tré though. His incision from surgery was completely healed after two weeks, so he’s been able to get wet and sandy at the beach for the past two weeks. He sits and plays in the sand with his friends and floats around in the water. He enjoys being in the water (pool or ocean), and has remarked, “I feel almost normal when I’m in the water!” It is good therapy for him. I am anxious for the day that I can get wet!

MEDICAL UPDATES as of January 13th
Ashley: The deep lacerations on my left foot are continuing to slowly heal. The large laceration on the top of my foot that was not stitched up is gradually filling in and continues to show no signs of infection (but still looks gross). The small incision on the top of my foot from the surgery has healed fine. They removed the stitches from the deep laceration across the bottom of my foot, and it is closed up, but still very tender. I had x-rays today, and my surgeon says the bones are about 70% healed. I continue to be in constant pain (ranging from dull throbbing, to painful throbbing, to someone sticking a knife in the bottom of my foot), apparently, due to nerve damage. Anyone know anything about this??? Currently, I can move all of my toes except my big toe. It does not respond to my efforts to move it, but my surgeon is hopeful that I will regain the ability to control it. There appears to be nerve damage to the ball of my foot as well. Only time will tell if I will be able to walk, balance, and run normally once again. Keep your fingers crossed. If you have any tips on reducing scarring, please send them my way!

Tré: Watching him, you cannot tell that he has a broken femur. He has to pull up his board shorts to reveal the 10-12 inch incision to prove it to many people. I had run into acquaintances and was explaining our accident/injuries. The couple looked out at Tré goofing around on the motorbike, and asked, “You have another son?” I replied, “No, just the one.” Amazed, they did a double take, and said, “He has a broken femur?” He is moving around very well with his crutches, and does not have any pain unless something were to hit his leg. With the plate and 8 screws in his leg, a cast is not necessary. This has allowed him to go in the water and to get sandy which has made his condition much more tolerable. He had x-rays today, and the surgeon said the bone is about 80% healed. It looks as though the bone is healing properly (alignment, etc.), so hopefully he will have a speedy and uncomplicated recovery. He is starting to worry and ask questions about the surgery in 6-8 months to remove the plate and screws though.

We continue to be fortunate to have many wonderful people caring for us. Our retired neighbor has been wonderful about driving me to the hospital for daily and/or weekly inspections of the wounds. There are pictures below of others from our community who have been very helpful and supportive. Especially, our Thai friends and acquaintances in our community have gone out of their way to offer support (help with transportation, delivering things to our home, etc.). We appreciate all of the emails from friends outside of Thailand – we apologize for the lack of time we’ve spent in responding. My father has continued with his daily phone calls to check on our progress – his support and concern is much appreciated.

Photos:
1. X-ray of Tré's left femur with plate and 8 screws taken 4 weeks after accident.
2. X-ray of Ashley's left foot with plates and screws in the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones in the foot (not toes) 4 weeks after accident.

3. Ashley's feet 4 weeks after accident.

4. Bottom of Ashley's foot four weeks after accident.

5. Rented motorbike with sidecar that allows us to get around town to get food, to the beach, errands, etc.

6. Hobbling around on our crutches at our local beach (Nai Harn).

7. Our "Beach Nursing Staff" - Deng, Golf, Nina, and Bowl. They have been taking great care of us at the beach, and we have become friends. Last week, Nina had us to her new home for a Thai celebration - I will add pics of that soon.

8. Tré's favorite ice cream vendor, Deng. Tré's been rationalizing that he needs the ice cream for the calcium!

9. Golf (pronounced more like "Gaup") with his electronic Thai-English dictionary. We've been having fun talking in English and Thai and learning new words at the beach.

10. My favorite massage therapist, Aud. He's been taking good care of my body and trying to resolve all the aches and pains! Also, he's been a great help in learning to speak Thai.

11. "Linda's Restaurant" - Pang and Linda, at our favorite restaurant in Phuket. They've been feeding us wonderfully healthy and delicious food to aid our recovery.