Vaulting in the Big Leagues

I was completely high off the end of the indoor season. Pumped to get at it training for outdoor.  Ready to make big things happen—and ready for Spring Break.

Wednesday before Spring Break, we had pole vault practice at Smith College.  I was feeling pretty damn awesome and one jump has put all of my training to a standstill.  I can’t really remember what happened and can’t really tell from the video, but I somehow landed on my neck & shoulders, folded completely in half and kneed myself in the face.  It’s a little fuzzy, but I remember holding my hands to my nose in unbelievable pain.

“How many fingers am I holding up?” Coach Jackson asked.  I grabbed his wrist to make him stop waving…he wasn’t.

I can’t really remember too much else besides seeing colors on the ceiling, incredible pain in my neck, and being super dizzy and tired for the rest of that night.  University Health Services had determined I had a concussion and broke my nose–which was later confirmed with x-rays.  Broken in two spots, the end and right at the bridge.

WELL, I was supposed to be on a plane to Florida that Saturday.  Although they were iffy about the trip, they said I could still go but had to take it easy.  The entire trip I felt great!  The worst pain I had was from my broken nose and it really sucked walking around Disney World with two huge black eyes.  I napped when I needed to, had no headache at all, and pretty much thought I was in the clear.  I even have a picture every day of my face being swollen and bruised just to document it!

When I came back from Spring Break my symptoms started to get worse.  My nose is healed (straight! Thank goddness), but I had terrible headaches, felt exhausted, dizzy, and in a fog.  I walked around like I was lost, couldn’t concentrate on anything, and had a hard time even remembering some of my trip.  I couldn’t even last a car ride without feeling sick or vomiting.

Doctors have kept me out of pretty much every activity you can think of.  I can’t drive, can’t go to class, can’t practice–just eating and sleeping.  I’m falling behind in all my classes, but have been working closely with the Athletic Trainers & Academic Services to get all the proper documentation and help I need.

Needless to say, it’s almost been three weeks and I’m still not symptom free.  After being sent home for a week and a half, I am feeling much better, but I still get spells of dizziness or being light headed.  I have another follow up appointment tomorrow–so we’ll see where we take it from here.

Although it’s really funny to joke about something as silly as kneeing myself in the face, it makes me worry about my season ahead of me and completing my semester.  But instead of stressing out, I’m trying my best to focus on taking care of myself and taking each day at a time.