With fins, crutches, and wheels

At the beginning of July, my daughter tripped while playing basketball. It seemed like a simple sprain, but it turned out to be a hairline fracture of the fifth metatarsal. Brace and rest. Two weeks later, we were supposed to leave for the seaside.

I don’t particularly like the beach, but my partner does, so I was going to work remotely for about ten days and then take a week off myself, just to all be together.

During the first few days, my daughter walked with the brace, putting weight on her foot. The pediatric hospital in Naples and a private orthopedist we consulted before leaving told us she could do that. We felt reassured.

On July 25th, we had a checkup at a public hospital in Paola, Calabria (even further south in Italy), and the diagnosis felt like a sentence: she couldn’t put any weight on it, absolute rest for another fifteen days, and goodbye beach. I hadn’t even started my vacation yet.

When we consulted the doctors in Naples again, they reiterated their opinion that she could bear weight. Given the conflicting advice, we took the more cautious route: we bought her pediatric crutches and rented a wheelchair. That’s how our vacation went.

Despite everything, honestly, we had a good time and we’re happy. And we learned a lot of things.

We learned that you shouldn’t consult multiple doctors, but rather trust one if you have faith in them. Otherwise, it’s just chaos. We also learned that you can still have fun, feel good, and do things despite the hurdles. That you should never give up, but always look for a way to work around the problem as best you can. And then there were the looks from others, the comments, the prejudices, and the pity.

We experienced firsthand the difficulties faced by those who live with them every single day, everywhere they are, making us realize just how lucky we are. Very lucky. And that we need to cherish every moment together.

My daughter is doing fine now. She still has the brace, but it comes off in a week. And even with all the limitations, she has already rated this trip as one of her best beach vacations ever. Go figure with kids.

As for me, I didn’t get any rest. I go back to work tomorrow. Back to my well-deserved stress.