Crack and Crunch

My older brother Cameron has been injured. He called to tell me about it on Saturday while driving home, a bit loopy from the meds he was on. It seems he was backpacking with a group of kids from church and decided it was a good idea to jump down a waterfall. When his foot found the jagged rocks below he heard the crack. “Christian, it hurt so bad. I actually heard my foot snap,” he said. “In fact, I think it cracked and crunched - and I heard both.”

It was at this point in his story that I thought to myself, “Ha, it serves you right for being out of shape.” I quickly followed this thought up with another, “How does one get in shape for jumping down a waterfall and into perilously jagged rocks below?” And besides, I can’t really talk as the title holder in the ‘Broken Parts Olympics' competing in a family of 7 children. Wrists, feet, ribs and face - I’ve broken more things than anyone I know. Sure we’ve all heard of the guy who’s broken every bone in his body in a motorcycle accident, but really, has anyone ever met that guy? Seen him with their own two eyes? I sure haven’t.

Cameron had the fortune of having a doctor in his camp and after examining the injury the doctor decided he’d suffered a broken foot. “Possibly in two places,” is what my brother reported in a floating around in the clouds sort of voice which, in turn, lead me wonder about Cameron’s claim of hearing both the “crack and crunch.” As a brother of pain, quite literally, I can relate though. Drugs or no drugs, he was hurting.

“Did you throw up dude,” I asked? “Because that’s the litmus test - you break a bone, nine times out of ten you throw up.” I won’t go into the one time it wasn’t true, which happened to my wife Linda in a bicycle accident. I insisted though, stuck with my theory, you know, and to this day I’m still paying for it. How was I to know flying over the handlebars could snap a wrist? I don’t really have any experience with delicate injuries.

Following a visit to the hospital, a two-man tug-of-war to straighten things out, a cast and x-rays it turns out there was no broken bones. He did suffer multiple torn ligaments and tendons and whatnot, which in my opinion is far worse. Once again, I know, I speak from experience.

A few years ago I tore my achilles tendon, which is the worst thing I’ve ever suffered through. I did it on the basketball court and to this day like to include when I recount the incident, “I heard it tear, in fact, everyone on the court heard it. And most of the guys were on the far end of the court.”

True story.

I don’t envy my brother Cameron; he’s got a lot of hard work ahead of himself. I’ve never met a harder worker in my life though, and that’s a fact. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.

- Good Luck Cameron.