Most of our children came into town on Friday prior to when we were to speak in Sacrament Meeting. That evening, we all decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. My son-in-law, Jamie, suggested I grab a football to throw around as we walk. As we got to the Huntsman’s house, Jamie threw a pass that required me to run back and extend to make the catch. As I was reaching for it, I tripped and hit the pavement and as I hit, I not only scrapped up my hand and elbow but felt a sharp pain in my rib-cage. I suspected that I cracked a rib. The pain was bearable unless I coughed or laughed, then it was fairly severe.
That evening when I went to bed, I really felt the pain. I could not lay on the injured side and it really hurt to try to turn in bed. The next morning I got on the internet and read about fractured ribs and found out there really isn't any treatment other than pain killers and then waiting for it to heal. I also called the doctor's office, it was a Saturday and they were only open for emergencies, but I did get a return call from a nurse. She asked me a number of questions. She explained that even if a rib is fractured, it doesn't always show up in an X-ray. She also said the treatment is to wait 4 to 6 weeks for it to heal. I thought that maybe they could wrap it to protect it, but she said they do not recommend that. She suggested I schedule an appointment with the doctor, I asked what he would do, she said maybe x-ray it and if necessary, prescribe pain killers and tell me to rest. It sounded like a waste of time and money so I said I would call back on Monday if I was still experiencing a lot of pain.
With so much still to do, I prayed that I would still be able to do the work in the yard. I found that each day I was still able to do most things in the yard, several things were painful like trying to pound the pipe with the sludge hammer. The children all tried to make sure I did not overdo. During the day after the first hour the pain really wasn’t that bad, then at night when I would lay down it would be extremely painful and difficult to move or turn.
Again, I felt that Heavenly Father answered a prayer.
-Jay Anderson
