Memoir stories | Guide dog life

My Foot is Broken, and They’re All Talking About the Dog

Cooper got a lot of attention on our long walk to X-Ray, I mean, it’s not every day you see dogs in the hospital…

True story! It happened on Sunday and I want to get it down while it’s still fresh in my mind.

Cooper and I were on our morning walk along the path that winds its way through a lush green park. It’s especially beautiful early on Sunday mornings with dew on the grass and no one else around.

The unfortunate incident was over and done in a split second. First, I was on the path, minding my own business, and next, my foot was in a drainage hole next to the path — and camouflaged by grass.

My thoughts were a jumble of instructions from brain to body… Don’t sprain anything, Just roll, the ground is nice and grassy, People are watching my swan dive over their morning coffees.

By the time I registered that something wasn’t right, it was too late and I was down. My foot in the drainage hole and my butt on the grass.

I sat up real quick — eye level with Cooper who was licking my face like, this is new!

I thought it was just a sprain, so I’d shake it off and we could carry on with our walk. But it was pretty painful so I hobbled to a nearby bench, sat for a bit, then we made our way home. Cooper just looked at me, this wasn’t our usual way.

At home, Mr. Dale suggested we go to the hospital and I said, “I’m not wasting a Sunday sitting around in the hospital.”

He eventually said if I broke it and didn’t get it looked at, I could wreck it for life. So, I agreed to go.

At the check-in desk, the lady asked about Cooper, and compared him with the ‘makes and models’ of her dogs; she wished her dogs were as calm. It’s true, Cooper is calm, he sits under my chair out of the way of foot traffic and he waits.

Next, we found seats in the waiting area where Cooper got lots of attention — understandable since there aren’t generally a lot of dogs in hospital waiting rooms.

When they called me, I told Cooper to follow the nurse who led us to the waiting room at X-Ray.

Here’s what I heard along the way: How sweet! A dog! he’s so beautiful What’s his name? Look guys, we have a service dog in the unit! We need more dogs in here.

Meanwhile, the pain in my foot was getting worse, and they were all talking and smiling about the dog. One nurse asked if she could take a picture for her daughter who’s never seen an actual service dog.

Ahem, my foot… It was swelling up and getting more painful as time labored on.

A nurse said, “We’ll get you to wait over here, there’s lots of room for the dog,”

Cooper didn’t need much room but okay.

Someone else said the doctor would be in shortly and each time a nurse or housekeeping person popped in, I thought at last! maybe they’re bringing me an Aspirin or something. But they were checking on the dog.

After an hour, a doctor came in and I’m thinking, thank goodness!

He says, “ok your name?”

I say, “Patr…”

And he says, “No no, the dog, what’s the dog’s name?”

I say, “Oh, of course, yes, this is Cooper.”

I started to ask about getting a shot for the pain in my foot but the doctor was smiling and asking how long it takes to train a service dog and does the dog know I’m hurting.

I’m close to crying so I say, “I feel like crying,” and he says, “Oh, of course, it’s a wonderful thing what dogs do for us!”

And I say, “Yes it really is, but, I mean I feel like crying about my foot.”

He left and someone else showed up to take me to X-Ray, they didn’t bring an Aspirin.

By now, every step was agony and I had giant tears rolling down my face. I was quiet about it though, it’s embarrassing to cry in public.

Then the nurse asked if I’d like a wheelchair. I ask how far we’d be walking, she glances at me and, sensing my distress, says, “Never mind, here’s a wheelchair.”

Ok, we were making progress, I thought. My foot was off the floor, and Cooper was following closely with Mr. Dale.

So, while waiting for news about the X-Rays, I imagined a guy in a dark room rinsing sheets of film in trays, and hanging them with clips to an overhead line. I know, it’s not like that anymore, so I had to wonder why it was taking so long.

Finally, interrupting my imaginings, the doctor came in and told me I had fractured the bone and I’d have to stay off it for 3–6 weeks. I thought, What?! That’s just nuts!! I said, “Oh, ok.”

He said to come back for another X-Ray in 3 weeks and until then just keep weight off of it.

I asked, “Do you mind if I get something for the pain?”

He agreed and a nurse appeared out of nowhere with an injection of something.

They measured me for crutches and I practiced taking a few steps.

I thought, this won’t work, I’m not an agile 17-year-old anymore, but I said, “ok thanks.”

Next stop, the pharmacy, and again, they were all so happy to see Cooper who was way ahead of me by now, with Mr. Dale.

Meanwhile, I was trying to sync the crutches with my good foot, while keeping my fractured foot off the floor. Not gracefully.

I got an air boot, which looks exactly like the superhero boots in an Anime comic strip.

They offered me a scooter but that might have been overkill for around the house. I was picturing it – getting up during the night for a glass of water and hopping on a scooter to travel to the kitchen. Maybe I’d just keep a glass of water by the bed.

So, here’s where we’re at.

I’m learning to maneuver with crutches, Dale is doing the cooking, and Cooper and I have 3 weeks to chill. They’ll go to the park in the evenings, and I’m hoping to gain some impressive biceps while trying to master getting from A to B for the next 3 weeks.

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