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Original Post By:
Guest_kurtk
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| A few months ago I was riding my
Buell XB9S motorcycle when a car
performed an erratic and sudden
left turn from the right lane and
hit me. I was lucky enough to only
suffer two broken wrists, a
concussion and short term memory
loss. Surgery was performed on
each wrist to add internal hardware
(plates, screws, etc).
Recovery has been long and boring.
About 3 weeks ago, I noticed that
I had regained enough mobility
(mainly the ability to turn my left
hand palm up) so that I could play
the ukulele. My orthopedic doctor
okayed playing. My guitars were
all still too heavy for me to lift.
I started playing for several hours
a day on the uke as a means to pass
the time. I already had nearly
every book sold by Flea Market
Music, so I had plenty of material
to keep me busy.
The uke has really made a huge
difference for me. In fact, my
physical therapist has commented on
several occasions that my hand and
finger flexibility is astonishing
considering what I have been
through. My orthopedist seems to
think that the uke is a great form
of therapy. I honestly believe it
has contributed to reducing my
recovery time.
I just want to say thanks to the
folks at Flea Market for their
great song books and to all of you.
Between practicing uke and reading
this message bored every day, the
time has passed a lot more enjoyably.
Of course, the down side is that
with all this time reading uke
related web pages, I keep ordering
ukes online ;~)
Kurt |
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Posted By:
Guest_Brian (Canada)
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| Kurt, Thanks for sharing your
story with us!
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Posted By:
Guest_Warren Blazes
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| A year and a half ago I spent nine
days in a hospital, no food, just
an I. V. tube in my wrist (back
then, Uncle Rufus, you knew me as
Mr. Bill, thanks for the get well
message). I told my wife to bring
in my uke, not the expensive one.
It was a great comfort to me while
I was there and also helped me
evaluate my condition coming out
of all the morphine they were
pumping in me. Come to think of
it, the nurses enjoyed the
concerts too. As I have said
before, ukes are a great stress
management tool. In the past
three years, I have lost three
musician friends (we're all
geezers)from the group that that I
perform with. They all kept on
playing to the end, because this
is what we do. Where would we be
without our music.
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Posted By:
Guest_Dominator
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
Kurt, Thanks for sharing your
story. I wish you the best with
your remaining recovery period.
It bound to only get better,
especially with the ukes at your
side.
Warren thanks for sharing your
experience as well.
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Posted By:
Guest_Craig
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| Thanks Kurt for sharing this story. I wish
you a speedy recovery.
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Posted By:
Guest_UkeForever
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| Not to sound like a sqaure or
anything, but I hope you haven't
picked up that bike again. I don't
know many riders, but it seems like
most have had an experience like
yours. For me, layin that bike down
would be a wake-up call. Motorists
just don't see the two wheels. Use
the insurance money from the bike
to buy more ukes!
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Posted By:
Guest_Bambi
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| Thanks for a truly inspiring story. The uke is
a great little uplifting instrument. Seems like
no matter how crappy the day went, playing
the ukulele just makes it all more better!!
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Posted By:
Guest_Pauline Leland
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| Kurtk, whoof! I'm glad you *only*
had all those problems.
Recuperating with an ukulele seems
to have saved your sanity. Yours,
too, WB. They are wondrous little
instruments.
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Posted By:
Guest_kurtk
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| Pauline,
I use the word 'only' because my
brother-in-law is a police officer
and he told me that every
motorcycle vs car accident he has
been called to has been a fatality.
I am counting my blessings.
;~)
Kurt
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Posted By:
Guest_Pauline Leland
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Date: 1/9/2005 |
| kurtk, that had entered my mind, I
admit. On a classical guitar
forum, another player is recovering
from a broken arm & broken wrist,
can't perform or teach, and is
feeling low. Your post sent me
back to that forum to tell about
you and your solution.
http://www.e-borneo.com/ab/posts/51034.html
if you want to trade commiserations.
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Posted By:
Guest_PhonoFred
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Date: 1/10/2005 |
Kurt
I wish you the best
speedy recovery
Fred
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Posted By:
Guest_Raymondo.
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Date: 1/10/2005 |
| Best wishes for a speedy recovery
Kurt. I did not learn to drive a
car until I was 35 having always
had bikes before but from the
evidence I see around me I am
glad I made the switch. There is
so much more traffic on the roads
these days. Get well soon. Ray
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Posted By:
Guest_Chris
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Date: 1/10/2005 |
| Glad to hear you're on the mend,
Kurt.... Hope to meet you at the
CUKES gathering this weekend!
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Posted By:
Guest_soybean
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Date: 1/10/2005 |
| Kurt, I'm glad you're getting better. The
ukulele has amazing healing powers.
By the way, you're much too nice in
saying, "a car performed an erratic and
sudden left turn…". Why let the driver
off the hook?
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Posted By:
Guest_Lou
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Date: 1/11/2005 |
| Kurt: I spent almost a week in
hospital having a baby in
September and without some
music, it would have been a real
tax. Whatever gets you through
the day! Hope you're feeling
better and play on!
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