Update After my Biking Accident and Our Exodus from Pennsylvania, USA to Start Our Life in Italy

On the day of my accident, I'd planned to launch this video from our departure back to Europe, on February 23, 1989

But on the 21st of February when I got T–boned by that woman, there was no chance for managing that...

Planned to bake my Amaretti cookies and had already zested 2 large Costco lemons, they're the best for zesting as well as for taste and juice.

I needed eggs, so Pieter said, I ride my bike to Walmart...

NO, I said WE ride our bike to Walmart, the sun is shining it was warm and I felt so happy for having caught up entirely with laundry and my housekeeper Nasha had just cleaned the house—perfect!

Feeling so grateful, for her starting on February 1st.

My life was getting more routine and relaxed with time for biking available.

But it didn't work that way...

I ended up in the ambulance after being thrown off my bike onto the highway—this happened all in front of Pieter's eyes!

My Roam Road Bike Helmet (from Amazon.com) bounced so nicely when I hit the asphalt—felt so grateful for always wearing it and in a soft neon green color for safety, just as my jacket.

Did not wear the magnetic goggles... only the adjustable visor...

Wearing my black biker shorts and Asos shoes.

X–rays showed two leg fractures, right knee cap and top of left Proxima fibula and cuts and bruises...

Landed on my right shoulder and right thigh where I got a huge hematoma.

Shoulder hurt like hell... Had an MRI done on Wednesday at Ortho Georgia in Macon and my Big Sis drove us.

Her lawyer husband graciously insisted she take his brand new Cadillac as it would be more convenient for me. Forever grateful for his gracious offer to give me this royal ride in the utmost comfort!

After my MRI and some check up due to my extremely swollen left leg, painfully red and almost ready to burst...

The NP at Ortho Georgia sent me to our local ER for having ultrasounds done, in order to rule out any deep vein thrombosis.

So they checked my left leg's vein and artery and no problem!

Our own car that we used yesterday, for a follow up with my primary care doctor after those ultrasounds, was rather hard to get into. 

Long legs and having to wear that stupid knee immobilizer does not allow you much flexibility.

Getting into our Infinity QX50 I sat sideways on the passenger seat, left leg in and right leg straight up to get it past the door, then down in the open pivoting area...

My primary care doctor noticed my rather shallow breathing and some sore spots that he found when touching my ribs. I told him that by breathing normal—it hurt like hell.

So, he sent us to the Imaging Center for having lots of x–rays taken of my chest to rule out any problems or risks for pneumonia.

I was on my walker and got so exhausted for being on my wounded legs for the entire session! 

Collapsed in bed with legs up by 5:30 PM but slept sound.

This morning my doctor called, no fractures and nowhere any trapped air!

So it must be just painful superficial bruises...

Oh, he prescribed me some over the counter meds for getting rid of that nasty, itchy rash I got as a side affect of the Medrol Dosepak to reduce the swelling in my body.

That are by now, 11 days in excruciating pain and otherwise. Due to my CKD stage with only 25% kidney function (at least that was December!) I cannot take painkillers.

On March 22nd I will hear the results from my MRI for the right shoulder, on which I landed...

Just have been praying for strength!

Got another sweet lady from our Church helping me out with ordening things and doing laundry.

ANGELS and I must accept this as I'm really floored—literally!

And now this video and our Exodus from Pennsylvania, USA to Italy

Don't forget to click on closed caption...

One of Pieter's Campbell colleagues was so gracious for taking us into his home for a couple of weeks while our furniture and cars were on the Ocean, headed for the Port of Genua, Italy.See post below about: Dog Shit and POLICEWe also flew to Miami, using our Delta Airlines miles and visiting sweet friend Natacha. You can read about that adventure below from a previous post.We also returned our rental car and flew via Chicago to San Diego on United Airlines frequent flyer miles. Visiting another sweet friend who is born in Vietnam.Pieter was flying most of the time for Campbell and he then took the shuttle to the airport, no rental car needed.On February 17, we had a farewell dinner from Campbell's with the staff.On the 22nd we went together to the Italian Consulate.

On February 23, 1989 Aron took this photo as we were about to depart for the airport...

Pieter took this from our host couple with me...

~

And on the 23rd our Exodus from the USA.Sadly the REASON that we HAD to move—or else—to be closer to the Division Office was a farce.In all of four months, Pieter went 26 times to the Division Office either from our home in Shillington, Pennsylvania or from Wilmington Delaware—didn't make ANY sense.But here comes the most INCREDIBLE PART:

Boscov's Business Travel arranged our tickets—round trip! As that is far cheaper than one–way.

With TWA from Philadelphia to New York City

But see MY INCREDIBLE ROUNDTRIP TICKET FROM NYC/KENNEDY TO BRUSSELS FOR $ 17.85

From New York City with Sabena Airlines to Brussels in Belgium which was only a good hour away from my Parents'

So there we left, checking in 5 pieces of luggage.

Mom & Dad would have their 40th Wedding Anniversary on the 25th and that was our reason—nobody knew we'd already shipped everything across the ocean for starting a job in Italy...

Little did we know that the containers would be stuck in the Port of Genua, Italy—due to strike!

Read that story here below—our life never has been boring...

Looking so forward for having this Bed–Backrest for use on the bed, delivered tomorrow...

It is HARD to work on my MacBook without!

Related links:{Our EVERGLADES ADVENTURE with friend NATACHA} | previous post by meDog Shit and POLICE | previous about our cars being loaded into a containerLiving out of our Suitcases - BUT we LIVED near Venice, Italy! | previous post by me

GONE With the Wind—So Did Pieter's Wedding Band

 On September 26, after having managed to get Pieter's wedding band with diamonds and other diamond ring off—by using a trick with dental floss, Pieter brought his rings to a local jewelry repair man.

For Pieter's open heart surgery on September 3, 2010 they tried to cut it off—damaging the ring.

But it was impossible due to swelling of his fingers because of arthritis.

So now we tried and I did not manage but Pieter did lie down and tried it himself—holding his hand up and he managed it—however painful!

This is my hand on January 26, wearing my diamond ring + wedding band and Pieter's ring...

But his got messed up awfully by our local jewelry repair man!

His wife had written down the wrong size and thus it would not fit Pieter—not even on his little finger, as that was his choice due to less swelling there.

Then he called it was ready for pick up but once getting there he said, right after he'd called us, one of the diamonds had popped out...(?).

On January 26, we finally got to pick them up but to us that wedding band did not resemble the same as mine!

We had both of our rings blessed again by our Pastor (as we presumed this was NOT Pieter's original ring).

Clark Gable from GONE With the Wind seems to have been wearing his ring on the little finger...

BUT after our biking next Sunday, Pieter discovered that he lost his ring!

GONE With the Wind.... but we still maintain a double blessed and Blissful Relationship!

💗 💗

Related link:

{Miracle in Chile - the country where we both got married!} | previous post by me

{25-Year Anniversary of our Church Wedding in Chile quietly passed by} | previous post by me

Mom & Dad's Trio of Crucifix with Corpus and Plaques with Red Copper Relief Statues

 When I did fly solo to The Netherlands—one last time in June of 2022, it was for a very special reason.

Bringing home some treasures from their estate in Limburg...

Mom & Dad's Trio of Crucifix with Corpus and Plaques with red Copper Relief Statues on oak, now hangs above our bed...

Dad's Maternal Uncle — Heeroom blessed the marriage of Mom & Dad but also this special trio.

It hung above their bed till the very end—now it resides in our home in the USA.

My photo seen hanging to the right here below—also came home...

This photo I took on February 21, 2014 when we flew to The Netherlands for Mom's 90th Birthday and Mom & Dad's 65th Wedding Anniversary.

That was the LAST time I got to see Mom alive... see post below about Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display.

Related links:

{Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display} | previous post by me

Limburg — The Emotional Part | previous post by me

{March 14, Written Life Message for me by my Favorite Great-Uncle} | previous post by me

In Memory of my BEST Role Model EVER | later post about Heeroom