This weekend, I did something really stupid. I lost my balance. Doing what, you ask? Hiking up Little Round Top? Climbing the stairs to Gettysburg College’s cupola?
Oh no. Nothing that easy. I was walking across a room, slightly tripped, lost my balance, and unsuccessfully tried to catch myself on a wall that was not quite close enough. Landed awkwardly on my left side.
Woke up Saturday with that left side completely sprained. I cannot hold so much as a coffee cup with my left hand.
Worse, I have learned the hard way that no matter which “handed” we are, we need both our hands and both our feet and both our knees for life to function smoothly, for easy completion of even tiresome tasks, like getting up from a chair.
I will live. Extra Strength Tylenol is my friend.
This fun little escapade drove home how much we take for granted. This notion of privilege… We weren’t rich when I was growing up. I went to an inner city elementary school through fourth grade.
But I was privileged. My parents ensured that rent and utilities were paid. They kept food on the table, even if supper sometimes was just cereal. (We thought that was a treat and didn’t know it meant there was no money for groceries.)
My parents also found a good family doctor who kept us relatively well. If they couldn’t pay, he would either waive his fees or let them pay later. Healthcare was therefore a given, something we didn’t worry about.
Privilege.
Today as I’ve struggled with simple tasks, I better understand that the ADA isn’t doing people a favor. FMLA isn’t a perk. Access to medical care isn’t something to beg for. Affordable prescription drugs aren’t pie in the sky. These are rights. Denying access, making healthcare unaffordable, forcing people to return to work before they’ve healed - these are failures on our part.
The old saw, “we’re only as strong as our weakest link,” that may have become a cliche. But it’s still true. Ensuring that wheelchair-bound people can cross the street, exit buildings, navigate sidewalks, that strengthens all of us. Healthcare that heals, not bankrupts, that strengthens all of us. Allowing coworkers to recover, with no expectation of working through pain, that strengthens all of us.
I knew this is my head. This weekend, I know it in my wrist, knee, ankle, and foot.
This means there will be a slight delay in the “committee” post that was supposed to appear on Sunday.
© 2025 Denise Elaine Heap. Please message me for permission to quote.
Oh dear. So annoyingly easily done. Hope your recovery is swift.
Ouch 🤕 hope your body heals quickly.