I am so humbled, happy and blessed to announce that my husband, Ken Winiecki, and I celebrated our Golden Anniversary on February 28, 2019.
I was still recovering from a severe concussion I sustained on January 27, 2019. We celebrated at a neighborhood restaurant with only our daughter, Patty Jean. It was a beautiful day and a milestone I never thought I would cross.
We annually renew our vows at the Wayfarer’s Chapel the first week in June and are looking forward to it, as always. We are also considering a special reception this year, but will have to see what develops.
Ken has always had the finest taste in picking out clothes for me. He hit it out of the ball park with the 50th wedding gown he picked out and bought for me last weekend at David’s Bridal, South Coast Plaza.
I am so happy to invite you to join this challenge! We have 48,821 participants in this worldwide virtual run/walk. Please help us get to 50,000!
We are showing our love and support for women by running 24 miles in 24 days. The challenge ends on March 31, 2019. We look forward to seeing you at the virtual site today!
I have not posted to my blog since January 27, 2019. On that day, I was completing a 10-mile training run/walk on the LA River Bicycle Path in anticipation of the Senior Olympics in June. I had just exited the bicycle path and entered Hollydale Park when a bicyclist hit me head on at an enormous rate of speed. I recall seeing him for about 1 second, wondering where he came from, realizing he was going to hit me hard and trying to jump to my left to minimize the damage.
I recall everything turning upside down and I felt a thump on the back of my head. I felt no other physical or mental pain. I thought I would come away from this fine. My constant fear of being struck by a bicyclist became a reality. Most bicyclists are my friends, and very kind and courteous. But there were always a few who would not get out of the pedestrian path and actually buzzed me with their bikes.
The next thing I recall, I felt very alone and wondered why no one was there to help me. So many people, including acquaintances, were on the scene. This was a Sunday, around 12:30 p.m., in a park filled with athletes, families and a horse! Why was I alone?
I next recall finding myself upside down in a cypress tree. Someone was behind me trying to pull me out. My right leg was lodged in the tree. I saw my husband, Ken, up on the exit to the bike path looking at me. I felt as if I was viewing him from a porthole, either from the tree, or my mind. When the Good Samaritans finally pulled me from the tree, we gasped at the enormous gaping wound on my right lower leg. The gash was wide open, exposing layers of flesh and tissue. Someone snapped a photo while others said we need the paramedics right away.
I gauged the damage and my options and decided to try to stand up. My shoe filled with blood. I was only a couple of blocks from my home and started walking there. My plan was to clean the wound and get ice on the back of my head ASAP. The bump on the back of my head was already 2.5″ x 3″.
I do not recall most of the walk home. I later asked my husband what the neighbors thought. He told me there were no neighbors. I found myself at the kitchen sink, trying to locate ice packs. Then I found myself in the bathtub trying to rinse the wound with cold water. My husband immediately drove me to the hospital ER, blood all over the inside and outside of the car. I do not recall most of the drive.
We remained in the ER for most of the afternoon. The medical staff found tree debris in the wound, attempted to clean it, and closed it with 13 loose stitches.
The wound infected within 2 days. I completed 2 courses of antibiotics and applied silver sulfadiazine to the wound, keeping it dressed round-the-clock. It is still not healed to this day, 8 weeks later. I also received a sprained left wrist, chest contusions and another large abrasion on my left leg at the knee. I was in considerable pain in my skull, tail bone and right hip for 4 weeks. The abrasion healed, leaving a large scar, after 4 weeks.
These problems paled in comparison with the concussion and whiplash I sustained. I was severely fatigued, dizzy and unable to rest for more than several minutes. I was unable to focus and make decisions. I did not feel I would recover. I spent most of the first 6 weeks in bed, barely able to stay up for more than an hour.
Immediately after the injury, I received the most appreciated and welcome loving support from Kathrine Switzer and my precious #261Fearless Family from all over the world. It brought tears to my eyes and inspired me to not give up. I also received the kind support of Nick @HammerNutrition, the Western Shores Chapter of the DAR and my colleagues at LA County Library Headquarters. This made all the difference in my recovery from traumatic brain injury and feelings that it was all over for me, to running again and hope for the future.
I remained off work on disability for 6 weeks. I returned to work on March 18, 2019, unsure whether I could fulfill the requirements of my position in library administration where heavy, fast brain power is a must. I made it through my fist week and am finally able to begin to write this story.
To this day, we do not know who the man was, although there were plenty of witnesses.
I now look forward to regaining my life and competing in the Senior Olympics this June. I would like to throw in a Born to Run 4 Day Challenge #allwedoisrun in May. We will see.
