Kate's Maisonneuve Fracture

On October 29th, 2022, I unfortunately recieved a rare and complex injury, called a maisonneuve fracture. This injury was caused due to a force that errupted in my ankle and traveled up my leg. In which, left me with broken ankle bones, a shattered fibula, and my shin bones out of place in two different directions.

I got this injruy in my last game of my seventh 15's season of rugby, in the last ten minutes of the game. But that is only where the story begins.

With how our healthcare system is, my first immediate thought was to refuse the ambulance because of expenses. (However, I needed to take it in hopes to recieve proper care.) The first emergency room I went to, did not listen to me, diagnosed the injury incorrectly, and put a splint on too tight.

I was fortunate enough to listen to my body and went to a different emergency room hours later. The ER doctors at Chesire Medical listened, and told me "It's good when you came, because if you waited any longer, you would have compartment syndrome."

Fast forward, I have surgery to put my shin bones back where they need to be. The broken bones were able to heal on their own. And I was more than fortunate to be able to walk less than two months after surgery.

With the upmost gratitude to my surgeon, physical therapists, friends, and family, I made extremely quick progress and gains for the injruy I had. And while I can walk again, and I am easing back into the lifestyle I enjoy living (rugby, farming, working out, hiking) at a much quicker pace than the doctors predicted; the weeks spent learning to walk again are very much still alive.

No one talks enough about the mental toll an injury can have on a person, and I didn't understand the reality of it until I was in that positon myself. And while I am coping with still getting back to 100% physically to date, finally facing the mental aspect of it all, medical bills are pouring in; and adding to the stress of it all.

If you know me personally, you know how difficult it is to bring myself to make this GoFundMe. Asking for help has never been a trait of mine. However, after this injury and recovery, I have learned it is okay to ask for help. Everyone needs help.

Thank you to my friends who have encouraged and reassured me to create this.

Insurance did not cover any of the surgery, and did not cover all of my phsycial therapy.

Without this surgery (and phsycial therapy) I would not be able to walk, let alone continue the active lifestyle I have always lived, painlessly, if at all.

This may come as a surprise to some, as I did not make this a very public thing until I was able to walk again. However, with immense gratitude, humbleness, and apprecitation, I am utitilizing the skill to ask for help.

The purpose of this GoFundMe is to help me pay off my medical bills that are from my surgery and physical therapy.