..iNsiGhTs fR0m mY bRokeN aRm..

How it happened..

It was October 14, 2007 -- A nice Sunday morning. As I usually do on Sundays, I went to AIIAS to train Parkour. Me & my friend RJ got together and trained vaults and catleaps. It was around lunch time when Edmund showed up. We were about to go on a lunch break when I decided to try an acrobatic move I've successfully done 3 times the Friday before. We were on top of a 4' or 41/2' wall between the library and the seminary. I stood at the edge of the wall looking down on the grass below preparing myself. Swung my arms back and bent my knees. Then, I was airborne. The move was an 'exploder' a gainer is the more common term -- a backflip moving forward. It was the longest time in the air I could remember. Then my back hit the ground. Both RJ and Edmund came running. My back hurt from the impact and I didn't really feel anything else. Then Ed mentioned a broken arm. I rolled to my right to get up and saw my right forearm -- it was broken. With some 'basic' first aid, we went to the clinic to get my arm cleaned. And then, my parents drove me to the Manila Adventist Medical Center were they fixed my arm.










Insights from my broken arm
I've been living almost 3 months with a broken right arm. During that time, I've gained some insights & lessons from this incident.

1. Mental preparation is very important

Before I did the move, I was kinda nervous. I know I've done the move before but this time I wasn't sure. When you're not sure about something, better don't. Your everything MUST be united to guarantee success. This could apply to all things.

2. Disability isn't a valid enough reason
Even before the incident, I've committed myself to take responsibility for myself. I've never wanted myself to be a burden. I've accepted whatever happens. I do not blame anyone specially God. Since the incident, I didn't want anyone to pity me.

I have been able to do a lot with my left hand alone & have learned new skills I never thought of before. Here are some.
- Eat with only my left hand (since in the hospital)
- Take a bath
- One hand keyboarding (right after I got out of the hospital, I went back to work)
- Tie my shoe laces
- Play sports (badminton, table tennis, basketball)
- photography (i'm still able to continue my hobby with one hand)
- I've also done some tricks (tricking - this is dangerous)
- cook

In programming, we computer science students have been taught that there are hundreds of solutions to one problem. I'm still leaving my normal life. Except that I'm leaving it differently.

My ultimate goal is to be able to write properly with my left. I've been practicing but my penmanship is still bad. I guess more practice is needed. :P


3. There's a reason God gave two
Although I could live with my left alone. I could help but think, If only I had both hands.

One interesting thing I found out:

While I was taking my first bath, I thought I had everything planned out. Until the time came to soap my left arm and hand. No matter how hard I tried, my left hand just couldn't soap itself!

This could apply to other things too. No matter what you say, there are just things that you couldn't do alone. I've learned to ask for help. People just laugh at me when they see me struggle with something and don't ask for help.

When I drive, I need my sister beside me to shift the gears for me. :)

Thanks to those who've been my 'right hands.'

4. Others do care
This incident caused my parents and that of my friends to be worried. I've been training without even taking into serious notice the 'take care' messages of people. That day I broke my arm, Edmund & RJ were more worried than I was. Ed just kept rubbing my back & RJ was running around frantically trying to find a good splint. While I was in the hospital friends were contacting me and asking how I was.

In parkour, they say that when you jump, you jump alone. No one can help you in midair.. When I get back to training, that won't be my way of thinking anymore. There are others out there who do care & who will be affected by incidents like this. This is an important lesson learned.

To those others: I'm sorry.

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Still, I'm searching for that purpose why God allowed this to happen to me. Maybe it's to learn these important lessons, maybe there is something else. And because God protected me from worse damages, I am thankful.

Hope you've also learn a little something from my incident.