Well, it wasn't to be quite so straight forward in the end. Once we got to the Clinic in Ermelo I was first questioned thoroughly regarding the condition of my body and where I was having aches and pains, etc. Then I was subjected to a number of x-rays of various parts of my body, including some areas where aches and pains were not reported but the medical staff obviously thought they were likely to have occurred.
During all of this and on my way to x-rays, I phoned my wife and informed her of the
accident. She took it well and I think this made it even more difficult for me to keep it all together, so I lost it and became all "soppy". I knew I had a strong wife, who would be able to take certain things, but I also know that she was going to need support, just like the rest of us, at some stage.
All the time in the Clinic, I seemed to be suffering from hypothermia, because I could not stop myself from shivering every now and then. You know, like when you've rained wet on a cold day and you get these shivers every now and then that you just can't seem to control?
The staff at the clinic then hooked me up to a heater system of some sort that blows warm air through a special blanket which covers you from shoulder to toe...Apparently called a "Bear Hugger Blanket" or something of that sort.
Anyway...after some discussions and deliberations it became clear that the Doctors in Ermelo were not going to be able to treat me, so I was told that I needed to be transferred to a Pretoria Hospital. Unfortunately, one of the issues that came up was that the ambulance company would have to be guaranteed of payment upon transfer.
Now there's a bit of a problem, because not everyone I know carries around R 6000 in his/her pocket just in case they may have to be transported from some small town to another in an ambulance. While I was wondering how I was going to get hold of sufficient funding to arange for the transfer, one of the ambulance guys came in and told me we were going to Pretoria after all.
Turns out, the local bike club (The Panthers) had heard of my "plight" and had decided amongst themselves to loan me the R 6000. Their President, Lardus Botha, had organised with all the Committee members, wrote a check for the full amount and handed it to the ambulance company! And people want me to believe that Bikers won't stand together, hey?
The most painful part of the whole episode then followed while they were preparing me for transport, because they were working on a leg that had multiple fractures above the ankle while NOT giving me the option of medication. Hmmm...really wasn't much fun, I can tell you!
The accident happened around 4pm and by 7pm all of the above had been finished and we were on our way...closer to home!
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