Need some Opinions... Its OK to say I'm crazy

[resiii]

Hello

About 3 weeks ago I was in a very serious car accident and ended up with two broken legs, a cracked pelvius and a scattered heel. I am in a rehab center doing what I can until I go home. Currently I am non weight bearing on both legs with a rod in my left leg with a cast over it. In my right I have rod and then an external fixation device on my foot to hold my heel in place. I will have the cast for 6 weeks (ends about June 8th) and the fixator for several months.

Now here is my dilema. I have a trip to WDW planned with my boys on June 22-29th. We are also going to Disneys Pin Event the weekend we are there. Everything for the event is paid for. So looking at the calendar and my recovering timeline it looks like I'll have the cast off but probably not be completely well on my left leg and I will definately still have the fixator on my right.

My main goal for the trip is to let the boys have fun and get a reward for a hard year at school and to attend the pin event so we can get our new pins and have fun.

What does everyone think? Am I just being crazy going with the fixator on? I know Disney is wonderful about making accomidations but is this just too much? I hate to cancel but I also don't want to do something that could interfere with me walking again.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments

Rob

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would suggest you start by clicking on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information.

Post #2 discusses mobility problems and gives suggested off-site locations for rental of an ECV. We strongly recommend rental from off-site; the locations listed are ones that have been used by many people here with reasonable rates and satisfactory service.

Also, Post #4 discusses use of ECVs with buses.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

And I will be at the pin event also, look for a Figment Purple and Orange ECV with Cheshire Cat decals on the sides.

And when you talk to the offsite rental places, if you will need a crutch holder they will be able to put one on the ECV.

(And remember that the Pin Event RSPs are due by Midnight of May 25.)

 

[hopefor4]

I don't really have any advice that wasn't given, but I did want to stop by and say that I hope your recovery goes well, and you are able to feel stronger everyday!

All the best!

Michelle

 

[DisneyFairytale]

I went last year after fracturing my pelvis and upper arm. I in fact went 4 days after my discharge from hospital (15 screws and plates). I rented an electric chair and only did the gentle kid rides. Because you have external fixation, I wouldn't recommend doing it.

I work in healthcare (paramedic) and tho I know human limitations, you would really be taking a risk.

Disneyland isn't going anywhere. Save yourself the money and go when you can enjoy ALL the rides, safely with your kids

 

[yasuern]

I would have to say postpone your trip - It's better if you let yourself heal first - you don't want to risk further and or permanent injury.

The biggest reward your boys get this year is you



WDW will be there when you are ready


wishing you an uneventful recovery


Sue

 

[mechurchlady]

I normally would say postpone the trip but you have prepaid and love the pins. IF you are very carefully with you planning you should be able to do the pin event and not much more. Rent an ECV and have it delivered to your hotel.

Contact the airline and have a wheelchair waiting at both ends of your journey. They will wheel you to the gate. If you cannot walk then they have aisle chairs that take you to your seat. Medical equipment like special diets, medicine, and mobility aids are exempt from baggage counts and weights.

Just set in the ECV and let the kids pin trade. Get your pins and then after the event stay in your room while you spouse takes the kids to the parks. You can tell the kids that you are not well yet but are going to get the pins then probably have to rest the whole day.

I know that the pin people will not make an exception and it would be sad to not get your pins. If you can do the air travel, transportation to and from the hotel to the event and airport, and the event then go. Just do not do permanent damage over a few pins. Collecting stuff is great, seeing a one of a kind event is great but permanent damage is not worth a one of a kind item or getting to meet 100 famous people.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Just popping in to wish you a speedy recovery and BEST of luck with your upcoming trip! Goodness, you are BRAVE in my book, I hope you have a VERY good trip!

Be well!

 

[teachallday]

My main goal for the trip is to let the boys have fun and get a reward for a hard year at school and to attend the pin event so we can get our new pins and have fun.

Rob,

Recovery is more than just getting a cast off. Personally I think you are crazy to consider going on this trip. What did your doctor say when you asked if you could / should go on this trip. To put it bluntly, a vacation to a place like Disney will drain your energy, at a time that your body needs all of its energy for recovery. Could you go with your family and just stay at the resort pool, as the rest of the family goes off to this Pin Event and off to the parks? Most parents would not be able to.

As for the trip being a reward to your boys for a hard year at school, well a trip to the local pool or to a movie can be a reward. Even cooking their favorite meal or dessert is a reward. A vacation to Disney is not a reward for doing good in school. It sounds to me like you are looking for justification not to cancel a trip when you know you probably should. Sorry.

True recovery from an accident like that can take years. I am not saying that you need to wait years before going to Disney, but you do need to know what your limitations are and what your abilities are. At the moment you are still in a Rehab center. You will only get the cast off two weeks before the trip. You will have other things like the fixator for months. It is too soon to go on a trip to Disney. When you are ready, it will still be there. There will be other Pin Events. Your kids will learn a valuable lesson that sometimes events in our lives have to postpone highly desirable "wants". It doesn't mean that they have to NEVER get a trip to Disney and a Pin Trading Event, it just means it will not happen this year. They will get over it, but if you go before you are ready, you might never recovery properly.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I broke my foot a few weeks ago and had surgery on it. I am in a cast until June 15th ( I hope no later than that). We also have a trip planned for June 23-July 2. I ended up cancelling my WDW package and am making reservations at places we can cancel a few days before the trip. I just don't know if we will go or not and we may end up deciding what to do later and my kids understand this.
I know how hard it is to give up a trip. Your injuries sound extensive, so talk to your dr. about what you should do. I hate to be negative, but what if you aren't progressing as you should? My fear is that I will have to have this cast on longer than anticipated and I will not wear it in the FL heat. My Dr. told me that it would take time for me to walk and that I could plan a relaxing vacation, but not one where I would be on the go.
Could you plan more down time if you do go? Could you postpone the trip to free dining in Aug.? I think you would only lose $100 on your package if you are staying at WDW. We also thought about renting a pool home, but I cannot commit to that now since we would lose it all if we couldn't go. That could be another option.
I hope you make a speedy recovery.

 

[resiii]

I just wanted to thank everyone who answered and gave their opinions. I'm still unsure about what to do mostyl because when I went to the surgeon on Monday alot changed.
First he took off the cast and all the staples and stitches. He then put a "boot" on the leg to help me keep the foot and leg and a 90 degree angle. I'm now allowed to put weight on it for transfers and pivots upto tolerance. The big news I got was that he is planning to remove the fixator on June 10th!!!
This would mean I wouldn't have it on for Disney would probably have a boot or cast on that leg and the other leg would have been taking weight for 5 weeks.
This, of course, has me rethinking my cancellation. What do you all think now? I don't have any expection besides being there and going to the Pin event on the weekend.

Thanks for your opinions

Rob

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Glad things are going better for you. I don't know what you should do, I still don't know my trip, but as I recover more and get used to being in a cast, things don't seem as impossible to do.
Would you have to still keep that leg elevated during your trip or would it be OK to have down?

I'm getting my stitches out Friday, but sadly I am probably going back into a hard cast for 3 more weeks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you are going to the Pin Event you really need to rent an ECV from off-site. The three-wheelers that are rented are much easier to maneuver than Disney's four-wheelers. To try and maneuver in World ShowPlace with a Disney ECV is almost impossible, but using a three-wheeler it is easy. (I will be there with my ECV.)

 

[SandrA9810]

I say go and enjoy... being at home is probably more stressfull since you can't do things you normally can. Like getting up to get something out of the fridge would seem to be a pain because normally you would do it but it would hurt to do it, and it's inconvient for some one else to always be at your beckon call.

And when you're on vacation, it's ok to feel a bit needy and ready for some one to do things for you.

And who says you can't have fun at disney without going to the parks. There's plenty to do every where. Go discover new things at the hotels, like AKL, or Boardwalk, Old Key West. Do your dining in the resorts.

I recently discovered that Flounder is in the carpeting at Beach Club. (Flounder is Kari's favorite character) So now every time we go to the beach club she has to walk down the hallways to see flounder.

 

[Bete]

Hopefully, you can rearrange another time for it.

Also, if this was a car accident that was not your fault and there's insurance companies involved, etc. I would not want the stigma of having gone on vacation after such a short time period from the actual accident.

You sound younger and injuries will haunt you for a lifetime if you are not careful about it.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

My biggest question is have you asked your surgeon. Really that should be the main factor in your decision.