A bad fall at home, and my worst fear realized, part 1
My hip screamed in pain; I knew it was broken
First in a series.
On Sept. 6, 2025, my worst fear happened. It felt inevitable.
I am 100% dependent on mobility aids due to poor balance and coordination with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). Around the house, I use a rollator walker, but when I’m out and about, I primarily use a power wheelchair, a manual transport wheelchair, a walker 2-in-1 combination, or a power mobility scooter. I’m in the process of renovating my house to accommodate using a wheelchair full-time.
On that Saturday, my son and daughter, Brooks and Collins, my husband, Kyle, and I were preparing for a birthday party at a family friend’s house. The kids ran to their rooms to grab their swimsuits, and I popped back to my bathroom to grab one last thing I’d almost forgotten. I was using my walker, as I usually do at home.
When I turned to head back to the front door, I lost my balance and knew I was going to fall despite all of my frantic and desperate attempts to grab a hold of something to right myself, knocking my walker helplessly onto the ground and out of reach.
My hip screamed in pain as I crashed to the ground, and so did I. I began to dry heave from the intensity of the pain, and I knew something was broken.
Kyle leaped into Superman mode and, within three minutes of falling, moved me to the bed, covered my hip in cold compresses, and loaded the kids in his truck to take them to our friend’s house. About 15 minutes later, we pulled into the emergency bay of our local hospital’s trauma center.
‘God’s got my back’
The staff took my vitals and assessed my injuries, as per protocol with trauma. After determining that I didn’t hit my head or injure anything other than my hip, they took me for an X-ray. After about 30 minutes, they returned to take me for a CT scan, which a nurse told my husband was needed to get a clearer picture toward developing a treatment plan, “when the X-ray shows a clear fracture or break.”
My heart sank hearing this, but I already knew it to be true. As they wheeled me out, I smiled at Kyle and said, “It’s going to be OK. We’ve got this. This isn’t the end. I will recover from this.”
The CT scan confirmed a fracture in the femoral neck portion of my hip that would require surgical repair.
We learned that the on-call orthopedic surgeon at that hospital was an ankle specialist, so we were transferred via ambulance to a different Austin-area hospital with a hip specialist on staff who was willing to take my case.
By the time I got settled into my room, I had a few hours to gather my thoughts, courage, prayer warriors, and messages to my precious children before being whisked off to surgery at 7 a.m., a mere 15 hours after my fall.
As the team was about to administer anesthesia, they asked if I had any song requests. The song I kept singing in my head from the moment I fell is one that artist Forrest Frank wrote while recovering from a skateboarding accident that resulted in him fracturing his back. “God’s Got My Back,” I said.
The last thing I remember before surgery was the words, “God’s got my back, even when I fall or get attacked. God’s got my back, even when I’m low and full of lack. God’s got my back, even when my soul is full of sorrow, I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. Why’s that? ‘Cause God’s got my — Back, back, back, right there, never left. I could feel your presence in every single breath, sometimes we just gotta take a rest.”
In part two, the story of my recovery continues.
Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.
About the Author
Clester Oda
Hoping you have a speedy recovery. We will be praying for you.
A little over a month ago we decided to go on a hike on a nearby trail that is wheelchair accessible. The trail ran along a creek . My wife saw a trail leading down to the creek and asked me to take our dog down to play in the water. She lives the water and since it was a hot day I took her down.
While down there I heard the gut wrenching sound of the click of my wife's power wheelchair. Why she decided to move I have yet to ask her. I was too far away to do anything but yell stop...too late. Down the steep hill she went . The 250 pound wheelchair on top of her. Not a sound from her and my heart dropped . Dropped the leash and ran as fast as I could. Got the chair off her and the relief I felt when she looked up at me.
Still on her and the chairs side with her seat belted in. I have a bad back and a hernia. I can get her to a toilet on flat ground ok but on a hill of soft dirt no way . I was once again scared to death . When we came to the trail there was no one else around. As I was about to dial 911 a young man just happened by . I'm convinced he was sent by God. We got her and the chair back up the hill . Still kicking myself for not getting the young man's name. Have no idea where he came from . There were no other cars in the parking lot. I imediately took her to the er and spent half the day getting x-rays. My wife never said a word or moaned or anything until we started moving her around for the x-rays. We got extremely lucky. Nothing broken . Though over the next few days nasty bruises set in and the pain along with them. Her entire left side . Shoulder, collar bone, nose(from her glasses), ribs , hip , calf, ankle.
For the next week it took every pillow and blanket we had to get her in a position to be comfortable enough to sleep.
She is fine now and we both learned some lessons that day.
How she didn't have anything broken is beyond me. I've had that chair run over my foot many many many times ...can't imagine having it land on top of me.