The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Healing? It must be all those positive vibrations
I feel like an idiot. But since I am human, it is not an unfamiliar feeling and I know I will get over it.
We’re all familiar with expressions like “when something is staring you straight in the eye” and “you’re always the last one to know.”
That is true in a lot of cases — and I am guilty of being shortsighted.
When I think about what I am going to write for my Sunday column, I tend to veer toward the need to draw attention to a particular social issue.
But it never dawned on me to write another column about my right hand, which my readers know sustained third-degree burns over two-thirds of it on Dec. 14.
Quite frankly, I didn’t think there was any interest in an update, despite the many well wishes I received. I wrote the column “Change? It can come in the blink of an eye,” to give readers an explanation as to why there had been no column from me for three weeks. Many readers had inquired and thought I was on vacation.
But I have received enough requests to understand that readers deserve an update, particularly after one reader wrote and told me that “I think you have many folks sending you positive vibrations.”
That must be true because I am vibrating with a lot of positivity these days. Back in the day (as they say), it was called getting your mojo back.
As many readers know, a freak accident in the kitchen with a smoking cast-iron frying pan sent hot oil and flames splashing up my right arm and across my right hand.
Being a stubborn (which is sometimes a disguise for stupidity) man, I ignored the advice of medical experts to enter the hospital and have a skin graft. Instead, I holed up in my apartment, where tears, gloom and doom locked me in a vice for two weeks.
But after accepting the fact a graft was necessary and my vanity would just have to deal with being visibly scarred the rest of my life, I learned my hand was healing on its own — which was a shock to everyone, including medical staff.
So, I guess that's when those positive vibrations started kicking in.
After the column appeared, I received numerous well wishes in the form of hand-written letters, cards, emails, texts and phone calls.
I even received a beautiful spiritual pamphlet from someone who did not identify his or herself. The note inside simply said ‘I read your column. I wish you well.’
There is something humbling about people you don’t know, who are so concerned they take the time to write a letter, or go to a store and purchase a card or small book and then head to the post office to mail it.
But whatever way readers chose to reach out to me, all messages were appreciated, heartfelt. and uplifting. And, in retrospect, at least in my case, since I come into the lives of readers every week, I should have added them to the list of people in my column who would help me through the healing process.
My hand has become somewhat of a curiosity in the newsroom as my coworkers share this journey of healing with me. Not too many days go by when one of them doesn’t exclaim ‘Look at your hand!’
To me, my hand looks at once ghastly and beautiful as it heals.
A large section of it was pink before small brown dots began to appear, which, of course, is my skin color returning. In some ways, it resembles a mass of brown polka dots.
But as the brown dots grow and meld together, it is fascinating to watch the human body in action. I am mesmerized as I watch the brown skin on the right hand filling in and mimicking the left as hair follicles appear along with ageappropriate lines in the skin.
It has been an adventure since Dec. 14 when I burned my hand and Jan. 2 when I learned that my “pink” hand was actually a new layer of skin. It’s been a bit humorous and a bit challenging. Let’s just say I am glad there were no hidden cameras in those early days of healing as I adjusted to showering, dressing and eating one-handed.
And I’ve also learned that when burn specialists told me to be very careful because my new skin was extremely sensitive — they meant it. And my hand has the bruises to prove it.
But, again, my hand is healing.
It must be all those positive vibrations coming my way.