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December 30, 2006 (Saturday)
Post-session
Isn't it true that most of the time you get hurt it's when it's small and junk? Well, that's usually the case with me, anyway, and today was no exception.
It was tiny and windy: pure wind-slop. Barely doable. After about three-quarters of an hour--the water was nice, and it was a beautiful day--I kicked out on a knee-high crap-burger by shooting my board into the air and falling face-downward, and as I was coming to the surface, my board speared me in the cheek.
It hit me hard, and the impact was a shock. My cheek hurt, but I didn’t think anything of it. Then after a few minutes, I decided to feel for a lump, and instead I could feel loose skin, like a flap, and my hand was covered in blood. Then I noticed blood was running down my face into the water. Lots of blood. The wound was deep.
One of the regulars was nearby paddling back out, and I called to him. He looked at me, and then he got a very somber look on his face and hurried over. He sat up on his board as I asked whether I needed stitches. Yes, he answered, I'll need a few stitches.
I was bummed. Now I had to go to the hospital; I would have stitches and wouldn't be able to surf for a few days; I'd have a big wound on my face and have to wear a bandage/dressing, etc., especially at work.
I went to Queen's. It was a 2.5 hr. wait before they treated me. That was agonizing. I wasn't in pain, or anything, but the sitting around was simply excruciating. The doc said I needed two stitches. I asked for glue. She said that would work, AND I would be able to go in the water tomorrow. I was stoked. It doesn't look too bad. It's a two-inch long, deep gash with a clear-looking glue-like covering. Actually, it's not glue-like, it is glue. It's Dermabond, which is essentially super glue that has the same pH as human skin. I'm thankful for it.
Posted at 8:38 PM