The two things I love to do the most are run and climb. I've been hitting the trails more often to satisfy my burning desires to escape the cage that is my apartment. I'm still lacking big time in the climbing department. Being in Germany, you would expect me to have climbed in the Alps already. Or at least on some mountain around here. Neither is the case. The tricky thing about climbing is finding a partner that you trust. That trust doesn't come easy. It generally requires multiple climbing sessions together and a thorough knowledge of the sport and its many risks. Since departing the U.S. I have been severed (almost) from my trusty adventure partner and have yet to find a substitute. Actually none of my friends are intrigued by the idea of climbing outside and so far only one has agreed to climb inside with me. I jumped on the opportunity last week and weaseled him into going climbing tomorrow after work. Friday afternoon, the plague returned. In search of some wood for a freestanding hangboard I'm planning to build, I went dumpster diving in the bin at work. I found a few pieces that I thought might serve a purpose in my design before a stealthy 1/8" nail found its way into the arch of my foot.
As signals of pain made their way to my brain I quickly raised my right leg and watched the 4" long nail reveal the other half inch that was previously residing in my foot. Within 3 whole seconds after stepping on the nail I was out of the dumpster sitting on the ground with my shoe and sock torn off applying pressure to the hole in my foot. Feeling embarrassed about not seeing the nail, I wanted to get somewhere that I could clean the wound and bandage it up before finding someone to take me to the hospital. That plan only last about 90 seconds before I lost my calm and the lights went out after walking 50 yards. I didn't even make it out of the parking lot. Someone making a delivery lifted me off the ground and dragged me inside the security guard booth where I was given a glass of water. I quickly came to and had to answer a bombardment of questions, in German. I explained who I was, what I was doing and what had happened, also in German. How's that for "Aware and Oriented x 5?" I had to repeat the entire rundown again plus answer a few more questions when the paramedics arrived to wheel me away to the "Krankenhaus."
About an hour later they were about to discharge me before I started firing off a few questions of my own. Not able to remember when I had my last tetanus shot, I wasn't too keen on walking out of their without one. I found it interesting that no one had confirmed whether I had had a tetanus shot recently. I remember the paramedics saying something about it and I thought they meant that they were going to give me one once I got to the hospital. False. Now I realize that they were asking me if I had one and I mistakenly said yes. So much for that German course. Anyway, I asked the nurse if she was going to give me the shot. When I explained that I had no idea when I had my last tetanus shot she consulted the doctor who informed her that it had to be within the last 5 years. Definitely did not have a tetanus shot in the last 5 years. She agreed it was best to give me the shot and let me on my way, after which I called a friend to come pick me up.
I spent the rest of the weekend with my feet up, surfing the internet and playing video games. Monday came around and as instructed I went to see my doctor. Yes I have a doctor here in Germany. Mr. Agha and his staff of nurses know me by first name. He had to re-open the wound to let it bleed out to prevent infection. With one nurse restraining each of my legs and one nurse on standby, Mr. Agha cut into my foot and recovered two hefty pieces of rubber originating from my shoe. Thanks to the nurses at the hospital that did such a great job cleaning it out! Before wrapping my foot in a whole roll of gauze the doc put some plastic apparatus in there to keep the wound open for the next two days. "Wonderful." I go back tomorrow to have it removed so the wound can finally start to heal properly. Needless to say I won't be climbing tomorrow.
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