Thank you :) - update!!!

[Michelle]

Thank you everybody who helped me off the beach last night.
It is all a bit of a blur, but I don't know what I would have done without you guys.
Terry - your splint worked perfectly and made the car ride to the hospital more manageable.
Denis- thank you so much for packing up my kites :)
Jeff G - thank you for coming over and checking I was OK, I am pretty sure I was just a crying bobbing head at the time.
Tighe, Katie and a couple of others who helped, sorry if I forgot you all.
The x-ray came out clean for major breaks, but they couldn't detect hairline fractures or ligament damage.
I still can't put weight on it, and its super sore, but luckily it was my left leg so I can still drive :)
Scheduling an MRI today, so hopefully they can find out whats wrong with it.

Again, thank you so much everybody - you all proved how great a community this is.

Michelle

[Rick R]

Hey Michelle
Best wishes and hopefully a fast recovery, it sucks to get hurt.
Rick R

[Lee_Uptown]

Michelle, sorry to hear about your injury...
We'll get some take out dim sum for you, and tofu faa or even char siu pau! Send me an email (leexx638@umn.edu) if you feel like having some. I'm sure it'll make you feel better as well.

We wish you a speedy recovery! Hope to see you soon!

Eu Han, John and Austin

[TomG]

Aww man .. that sucks sorry to hear that .. hope you get better.

what happened ?

[Michelle]

I was working on my jumps, and my landings. I had been careful to stay upwind and play in the deep water, and had consistently been landing in over to 4 feet of water. On this jump things felt weird, so I kicked off my board and tried to land on my back. Unfortunately I hit the water before I thought and landed straight legged on a raised sand bed. It was probably only 1 foot of water, so pretty much took the whole impact on my left leg which made my knee "pop" and that was the end of that.

Lessons learned:

1 - if you think its deep enough, go deeper!
2 - kite around other people, so when things get hairy somebody notices you (I was lucky that people saw me)
3 - learn how far you can be taken downwind when you are jumping - you might start off way up in the lake, but a big jump can make you travel way further than you ever imagined.

Saying all of that, I finally got the whole jumping thing :)

Some healing time and more instructional DVD watching and I will be back out there!

[TomG]

bummer. well hope all is ok and get well soon.

although your Rule number 2 should come with a disclaimer "but not to close to other people"

[krazykatie]

I wish you a fast recovery Michelle!!! I hope its not too major and you're back out soon!!!

I only jump in front of the peeps on the beach or in the middle of the kite crowd for that very reason. I feel safe when i know people are watching or can see me in case something goes wrong. I know most people jump in front of the crowd to show off but not me....well not yet anyway

[cautionkid]

Hey sorry to hear about the knee looks like Ill be the only one representing the Cult for a bit. It sounds like to me that you had the same type of injury I had about a 1 1/2 yrs ago. Some advice don't let the trees swaying outside the window influence you to get back out on the water too soon. Because no matter what the Doctors say, it all kind of goes out the window when you have to have that fix of kiting. When you do make your mind up that your getting back out on the kite get a knee brace with metal support, not just a cheap neopreme one with no metal they don't work I have tried many. I am to the point where I could go without one but I have wornen it for so long that my brain thinks something isn't right and my knee starts throbbing. Well hope the best for you and hope to see those Cults in the sky again.
Paul

[steveb]

Michele..so sorry to hear you injured yourself. I hope it's just a strain.

Point # 1 in your post is very wise and definately a mantra to live by.I shall do my best to take your advise.

Happy healing.

[TJ]

sorry to hear that ....get well soon!!!

[Denis]

Glad I could help, but wish I could do more.

Take care of that knee.

[RobH]

Bummer on the injury

Let us know what the MRI shows as hopefully its just strained and bruised. If it is more serious I have a recommendation for a Orthopedic surgeon out of Burnsville that repaired both of my ACL's and rotary cuff that does specialize on knee's, is sports minded and does excellent work with a immediate re-hab plan. Hoping for the best

[johnz]

Michelle,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery - that sounded like it HURT!!

- John Z

[tnautique]

It is lucky to land on the feet than landing by the back. Hope you get well soon !

[Michelle]

Well the results are in, and I wanted to let those guys who helped me off the beach know how grateful I am
My doctor said that I was really, really lucky as my ligaments and cartilage survived intact :)
I did manage to fracture my tibial plateau though, so no kiting for me for a few weeks at least.
I threw on some MRI scans for those interested.
The top image shows the fractures just below my knee - they are hi-lighted with arrows.
The lower image shows the blood surrounding my knee cap and the fracture line all along my tibia.
Anyway, thanks again to everybody - I will see you along the shore-line soon :)

[RobH]

Thats Great News!!! When you said you heard a pop I was afraid your ACL was torn. Sounds like you will be riding for sure in Padre!

[TJ]

You will be fine...just do what doctor said!!!
Advice: Do not rent Zohan..........it is really bad!!

[Jeff G]

That's great news Michelle. I'm glad to hear you'll be back on the water soon. See you out there.

Jeff