By Greg Kozera, Shale Crescent USA
Five years ago, I was on the field at Shawnee Park playing in Kanawha Valley adult soccer league. Running to a moving ball, I planted my left foot, kicked the ball with my right and was down on my back. On the bench, I iced the knee I twisted. Standing up, it suddenly felt like a severe muscle cramp in each quad. I couldn’t put pressure on either leg. The injury was more complex than first thought. I ended up in the ER.
After several days the doctors struggled to put all of the pieces together. I couldn’t put pressure on either leg. Had to use a bed pan instead of the toilet. My blood tests didn’t look good. I was in pain and without a diagnosis. I was depressed.
The kidney doctor popped in reporting my kidneys were fine and I wouldn’t be seeing him again. When he showed up the next night I was surprised and worried. He said, “Don’t worry your kidneys are fine. Your case bothered me. I did some research.” Doc changed my IV fluids and ordered a CT scan. This ultimately led to a diagnosis. I had Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo), the breakdown of muscle tissue resulting in the release of myoglobin into the blood. Myoglobin can damage the kidneys. Most important, the CT scan showed the source of the problem, two torn tendons in my quads. Surgery repaired the quads followed by rehab. Why they ruptured together is still a mystery. The predominant comment was, “You are a little old to be playing that game.” One doctor said, “We can work our muscles and build strength but tendons get brittle with age.”
The healing process required almost two months in a wheelchair with no pressure on either leg. The muscles in my legs visibly shrank and weakened without use. I started rehab and then physical therapy. The therapists were incredible! On Christmas Eve using a walker to stand for the first time I did the Christmas readings at church.
Therapy continued even after COVID 19 in 2020. The goal was to run, not just walk again. After a lot more work, I “ran” a 5Kin June. December 2020, I ran a half-marathon with my daughter, Dannielle, at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, my slowest time ever but I finished. It was the first of 7 half-marathons since the injury. I’m blessed to have the support of family, friends, incredible doctors and physical therapists. Today I’m back playing golf, swimming, basketball and even soccer with the neighborhood boys. Adversity is a good teacher. Here are some things I learned looking back five years. You may find them helpful;
- We take much for granted. I am thankful every day for the ability to walk and run. Walking to the bathroom, getting my own cup of coffee, getting dressed or driving a car are all things I couldn’t do. I was surprised how many buildings and places people in wheel chairs still don’t have access to. Our rental house at the Outer Banks has 3 floors and no elevator. I have become an advocate for others with mobility issues.
- We can’t go it alone. The injury was a reminder for me. We all need help at times.
- Reach out to friends and family members especially if they are ill. If you are bothering them they will tell you. I always appreciated calls and visits from family and friends. My high school soccer team called when at my lowest point, needing encouragement most. I’m forever grateful.
- You don’t know who your true friends are until something bad happens. My wife was amazing and she was recovering from knee replacement surgery. We had prayers, visitors, drivers, meals and encouragement from family, friends, especially church family. Our children and their families came home to help. My Shale Crescent team was awesome. We had multiple meetings in our dining room with me in a wheelchair.
- We need to do our part by being friendly and grateful to our care givers, family and friends who help us. Smile!
- A positive attitude and belief in our ability to succeed is essential. If you think you can, you can. As bad as I thought I had it, I saw others who were worse and needed my encouragement.
- Attack the source or worst problem first. For example, severe bleeding must be taken care of before other conditions. My kidney doctor discovered the source of my rhabdo and started the process to fix it. The climate issue can’t be solved without working on China, not just the USA and EU. Manufacturing currently imported Chinese products in the Shale Crescent USA is one of few current solutions to reducing Chinese emissions.
Going to surgery 5 years ago, I noticed all of plastic products that wouldn’t exist without fracking (hydraulic fracturing). The raw materials needed to make them are all from gas or oil wells that are fracked. Medical equipment, IVs, syringes, gloves, masks and PPE for doctors and health care workers are frack products. Infection control is the single biggest problem hospitals have. My IVs were sealed in plastic protective wrap to keep them germ free. During COVID we learned what happens when medical equipment, gloves, masks, gowns, PPE and other medical items are not manufactured in the USA. Thousands died during the pandemic waiting on respirators. How many thousand health care workers got COVID and died because they didn’t have proper PPE? Fracking saved my life and saves the lives of others every day.
We have elections this week. It is essential for anyone elected to recall what happened during the pandemic and understand how essential the natural gas and oil industry (and hydraulic fracturing) is to modern healthcare. Many critical healthcare products are being made in the USA again, like medical gloves being manufactured in Ohio. Manufacturing requires dependable economical energy. U.S. manufacturing can keep Americans healthy and safe. It creates jobs for Americans and lowers global emissions. Thoughts to ponder.