Why you should wear a brain bucketA cautionary tale from Piglet, who in 1998 suffered a concussion after crashing over a speed bump in Sedgely Estate. |
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You're right: you just never know, do you? When you take precautions and the necessary steps, I'd like to think you at least minimise the "what if's". When you're in the car and in the driver's seat, you're supposed to wear a seat belt. When you're on a bicycle, you're supposed to wear a helmet.
When I got my accident at Putrajaya, I was wearing a helmet, thank God. And even then I suffered a concussion and memory loss. The helmet is still here, acting as a memento of what happened that day. And it had only been my second time wearing that particular helmet (it was a birthday present)!
A statement that's always in my head: you're responsible for your own actions. If you don't wear a seat belt, should anything happen to you, there's nothing to be said. My feeling is you didn't try to minimise the "what if's". You wouldn't have been thrown out of your seat and thus hit your head on the windscreen if you did use your seat belt. As for me, what if I didn't wear my helmet? I dread to think what the consequence would be. I suffered a concussion and had amnesia even with headgear (it was a good time to go, "I don't know…" or "I don't remember…" – even when I did. *smile*) Hey, anyone marketing for Giro and want me to be spokesperson??
Yeah, s*it happens, and you just never know when it's going hit (no pun intended). On the other hand, you take the necessary precautions, tapi tak kan until you become paranoid over it, lah….
I've been told and tell myself I've been very - extremely - lucky to come out of that one. Since then, my amazement and awe to the wonders of the human brain and body. My amnesia attack was just my brain's way of taking a break while it was busy fixing itself. Imagine the brain: okay, what's this? A lalang? That doesn't belong here! Toss! And this pebble – aiyoh, this girl, ah - that's foreign too. Dispose! Eh, eh, not that bit – that's part of the grey matter that's supposed to go back here, lah. Tsk, tsk…girl, lucky for you I have enough soldiers and Band-Aids to fix you up. It may take some time, though, so be patient, okay?
I have no recollection whatsoever of being in the hospital. Apparently I would ask the patient next to me to assist me in going to the toilet (couldn't do that on my own – wasn't safe to be alone. Hee!). Hey, nice to know I still had my "friendly trait" during that time. But gawd, I hope that person doesn't recognise me now! *blush*
We had moved back to my folks' place temporarily, and to this day, even when I checked out of the hospital 10 days later I cannot remember anything . It's as if my brain went, "Too traumatic - don't need to remember that – toss!" All I have is a split-second memory of being in the plantation, and it was a shortcut we were planning to make for an upcoming bike hash. There was thick undergrowth that had to be cut through. It's a micro-second image of that scene, and if I wanted to hang on to the image, I couldn't…
It was, what, a couple of days after we moved back in – I think – and one afternoon I woke up from an afternoon nap; that was when I came back. It's difficult to explain. I didn't ask why I was there and yet, it wasn't 100% right kinda thing... I just went through the motions: got up, went outside, spoke to my folks, went to take the bread from the roti man... But it was where I was back and was fully aware of things and my surroundings. The day before didn't register. H*ll, what happened that morning didn't register. It was my first day back into the conscious world. (Twilight Zone music playing in the background)
Because my right collarbone was cracked, I had to wear an arm-sling and thus couldn't drive. At times it was quite frustrating as I wanted to go out, to go to Bangsar, or just merayau-rayau, but was unable to do so. Thank goodness for being left-handed! My right side became the slower one (like "duh"…), but after being put on a training program at the gym it's back to where it was before. Only thing still apparent today is when I wear my right shoe. Just need a couple of extra seconds to slip into my kasut. Hey, after what I've been through and all the other stories I've heard, I'm not complaining!
It was a steady recovery I consider pretty fast compared to other horror stories I've heard. The neurologist's advice: give it time, that's all we can do.
Hey, it's a way to lose weight (I lost 16lbs) and get lots of TLC – flowers and gifts from all over, but I wouldn't recommend it.
It's been a little over two years now, and I'm back on the bike. Getting a little braver each time I go downhill or come to a huge rut. I used to hesitate and ended up taking the bike for a walk instead when approached with those situations. I tell myself, it's okay to go slow (but be fast enough to let the momentum carry you through). Hey, it things took a wrong turn the second time around, I may not be so lucky. But honestly? I enjoy being on the bike even more than I did.
Okay. My thoughts: Don't let the fears overtake your life. Just do your part, and open up to the wonderful opportunities and experiences of being on the bike.
-oinkoink-
16 December 2000
