Sunday, January 29, 2012

Be Careful How You Land

It's amazing how life can just up and turn your world upside down.

Take, for example, the case of Mrs. Chicken.  One minute she was sitting on her stool in her classroom (most of us use barstools as chairs since our computer teacher stations are so high - I usually stand most of the time). The next minute she had landed on the floor which is tile on concrete.  Apparently when she went to stand up, one of her feet got tangled in the rungs towards the bottom of the stool, and she fell.

Right onto her hip, managing to crush her pelvis and break the top of her femur.

Good thing?  The kids were NOT in the room but were at their elective classes.

Bad thing?  Well duh.  It's a pretty serious injury, especially for someone who's old enough to have been teaching for over 30 years.

This happened the first week back in January and we currently have no idea when we'll see her back at The School.  The kids aren't happy - they love her.  She's a great teacher and one of those teachers that you'll be somewhere with, a restaurant or something, and people will come up and tell her they they had her so many years ago and how she was such a great teacher, and they just loved her class.  Everyone in town knows her.

And so now she's home, spending most of her time flat on her back, trying to heal up.  We're pitching in to send meals out to her place as cooking isn't really on her list of things to do right now.  She can stand or sit for about 45 minutes and that's about all she can do.  According to her Doctor, she's in a great deal of pain and it could be over a year and a half before she's back to her old self.

However, The District, was hoping she could come back to do "light duty" this past week.

Really.

She had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday and were expecting her to come back, hence they didn't request a substitute for her class.  Because this is considered an on-the-job-injury, The District is watching her progress very closely.

But really?  A broken pelvis and leg and they though she could do light duty in less than a month?

We're all trying to figure out what light duty is, anyway.  Perhaps they'll retrofit her room so she can teach from a hospital bed?


4 comments:

ChiTown Girl said...

That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard! How terrible for her. I hope she stands up for herself, and doesn't give into the pressure. That's the last thing her body needs.

kherbert said...

Yikes - my district won't let you back on light duty. Their stance is there is no such thing. Teachers try to do to much and the chance of an additional injury is to high.

I needed PT for pulling something in my shoulder. Old injury from childhood. My doctor had to write a note that I was fit for regular teaching duties, or they were going to make me take my days off.

People wonder why I don't use my days - this is why.

Miss Angel said...

Wow, that sounds so painful! The district should be kissing her u-know-what to keep her from suing, instead of trying to get her back on the job asap. After all, who made the computer stations that tall?

Christi said...

Light duty?! No such thing. I pray for a speedy recovery.

I tagged you on my blog today as I blogger I've been admiring for a while now. Love your blog, Mrs. Bluebird!

Christi
http://msfultz.blogspot.com/