The Irony of a Broken Humerus

So this past Saturday evening, the phone rings and Rye gets it.

It’s his mother who goes to tell him that she didn’t want me to feel so alone, so on the way to Walmart to grab coffee, she trips over her feet and falls, and yes:

Breaks her humerus bone in her arm.

We had friends over. Actually, it was a deju vu in a bad way kind of week because a friend in the group here had died tragically and suddenly..and this was the brother of the friend of Rye’s that killed himself less than three years ago. So in mourning, folks were gathering together at my house..and because as it is said “That’s how we roll”.. much drinking was ensuing.

That said, by time Rye is telling me the situation with his mom,, and of course, it’s her left arm too.. I am practically peeing in my pants. I mean, I KNOW it’s not FUNNY, but it kind of HAS to be.. just a little bit.

I mean what are the odds that this weird un funny humerus bone to break.. and for my husband.. both his wife AND mother crack it??

Granted her break is different than my humerus fracture. She broke the upper shoulder joint and then managed to fracture all through the shaft. The other major difference, she HAS insurance.

So while I broke MY arm in October of 2007 and it’s STILL BROKEN, she had hers surgically repaired today.

Now, before y’all start yelling at me about how the system sucks , which it does, and there must be something I can do, you’re right.. and I have!

I have been deemed by the great state of New York to be worth of insurance!!

At this time, I am just waiting for the process and my new insurance cards. I was told it would be about three months. After a year and a half, three months more is nothing. After all, I have proven that there is really very few things that I cannot really do with a broken arm. Yes, I hear the bones click. Yes, I have a third elbow. Yes, I can gross people out, but I can also, drive, vacuum, do laundry, cook dinner, and type.

My concern right now is that I can schedule this surgery between a social media conference in NY in June and the Adoptee Rights Protest in July. And that they don’t cut into my tattoo.

The neat part is that my MIL is going to the doctor that has already been recommended to me and she says he’s real good too. Plus, she is the Guinea pig so I know what to expect. Yeah, I am a bit jealous that she will be better before me even with breaking her arm over 18 months later, but hey.. one day, I will be able to raise my arm again.. and before 2010 it looks like!

Still, there is a glaring difference on how we medically treat people in this country based on their ability to pay.

That’s just sad fact. If I had had insurance during the time of my break, I would have had the surgery at that time too. Now, I have to hope that there is not too much permanent damage. I know I will need much more physical therapy and then, of course, they will have to chip away the over a years worth of bone growth and use bone grafts as well. I will be made of stainless steel and dead people’s doner bones.

I would have been a cheaper risk back in October of 2007.

About the Author

Claudia Corrigan DArcy
Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy has been online and involved in the adoption community since early in 2001. Blogging since 2005, her website Musings of the Lame has become a much needed road map for many mothers who relinquished, adoptees who long to be heard, and adoptive parents who seek understanding. She is also an activist and avid supporter of Adoptee Rights and fights for nationwide birth certificate access for all adoptees with the Adoptee Rights Coalition. Besides here on Musings of the Lame, her writings on adoption issue have been published in The New York Times, BlogHer, Divine Caroline, Adoption Today Magazine, Adoption Constellation Magazine, Adopt-a-tude.com, Lost Mothers, Grown in my Heart, Adoption Voice Magazine, and many others. She has been interviewed by Dan Rather, Montel Williams and appeared on Huffington Post regarding adoption as well as presented at various adoption conferences, other radio and print interviews over the years. She resides in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband, Rye, children, and various pets.

4 Comments on "The Irony of a Broken Humerus"

  1. Now what are the odds?

    And I was just re-watching Michael Moore’s film ‘Sicko’ on cable the other night too.

    I won’t yell at you that the system sucks, I’ll just yell it in general.

    Oh! And please email me the details of the social media conference if you get a chance?

    And welcome to Insuredville.

  2. I am SOOOOOO glad I live in Canada! People may complain about high taxes (frankly, they’re not that high) but at least everyone here has insurance and medical care.

    I had to have extensive surgery (3 1/2 hours worth) rebuilding half of the inside of my face a couple of yrs ago, and it didn’t cost me a bit extra. Same with giving birth to my children — no extra costs.

    Frankly, I think all of you down there should say ‘screw it! to your HMO’s and private insurance companies. There ARE alternatives!

    But of course you have to convince your politicians that “socialized medicine” is not a commie plot. An uphill battle where your Democrats are still right-wing compared to our Conservatives.

  3. Holy smokes, that is bizarre. I hope your MIL’s surgery went well and she has a good recovery. And I also hope you’re able to schedule your surgery quickly and get this break behind you!!

    Ditto ULB re the social media conference.

  4. I am so happy this will finally be fixed. I was jsut wondering the other day how your arm was. Hmmm, the same. I don’t know how you’ve dealt with this as well as you have.

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