It’s true what they say: you’re never too old or too young to have a fall. One evening, what started as a perfectly normal night quickly took an unexpected turn. The kids were home from swim practice, dinner was done, and my youngest was in the bath, washing the chlorine out of her hair. It was around 7 PM, with about an hour of daylight left. Tomorrow was trash day, and I had a brilliant idea to get ahead of the yard work. Our beautiful, giant pine trees had shed a good amount of needles, and with the trash can only half full, it seemed like the perfect time to rake them up.
I grabbed a light long-sleeve shirt—there was a cool breeze—and told my husband, James, I was heading out to the front yard. He was planning to join me. I’d barely started, pulling together a small pile of needles and emptying them into the bin. My plan was to push the trash can to another area of the yard to continue cleaning.
And that’s when it happened.
I’d been outside for less than five minutes. It’s incredible how quickly things can change. I was pushing the trash can forward with the large lid open. It was a bit stubborn, and when I put more pressure on it, the can became unbalanced and tipped backward, sending me tumbling forward. It all happened so fast.
I felt an immediate, blunt impact to my face. As I knelt down, I muttered, “Oh shit, oh shit,” gently touching my face to check for blood. There was a bit on my fingers. I knew that head and face cuts tend to bleed a lot. I didn’t know how bad it was, but ideas raced through my head as pain and numbness spread across my face. I knew it was serious, probably one of the worst accidents I’d ever had involving a direct blow to the face.
I walked into the house, which was only about 24 feet away. It took me maybe 20 to 30 seconds to reach the mirror, but in my heightened state, it felt like two hours. My anxiety surged as I observed my face. Areas were already beginning to swell, and I saw lacerations beneath my eye, above my eyebrow, and across the bridge of my nose. Unfortunately, my face bore the brunt of the fall; not my legs, arms, or any other part of my body. It was just a crazy accident that led to me falling face-first, my legs somehow caught under the trash can lid. And of all places to fall—a trash can! Seriously?
I immediately grabbed a cold washcloth and pressed it to my face, my mind racing through the next steps. Lacerations are painful to the touch, so I gently cleaned my face with water, then applied an antibiotic ointment. About two hours later, in the shower, I’d gently wash the cuts with mild soap. But for now, with the ointment on, I put an ice pack across the left side of my face and nose bridge.
I called my oldest daughter to help me with something and told her I’d had an accident and looked like a monster. She asked to see, so I uncovered the ice pack. She said, “Mom, it’s not that bad, I’ve seen a lot worse at my school.” Apparently, middle schoolers are quite prone to falls and sports-related facial injuries! Hearing her words made me feel a bit better. My eldest is brutally honest; she never sugarcoats anything. She’s like her dad in that way—if you want the truth, you ask them because they’ll tell it to you, regardless of how it makes you feel. It’s like a moral code for them to be honest. My youngest is the opposite; she wouldn’t want to hurt a fly’s feelings and is much more delicate in her delivery.
Later, my husband, in his typically humorous way, started making jokes—some inappropriate, but so funny. While it lightened the mood, I had to tell him to stop making me laugh because it hurt my eye, especially with the small laceration so close to it. In fact, that cut was so close to my eye that I truly feel fortunate. Less than a millimeter higher, and I would have had an eye injury. The black eye will recover.The skin will heal, and while I may end up with a few light scars, I think the laceration beneath my eye will blend in with my smile lines.
Healing and Prevention Tips
From what I’ve learned in dermatology, avoid using peroxide on a wound as it destroys healthy cells crucial for healing. Instead, gently wash the area with a mild soap. You can use an antibiotic ointment. Keep the wound moist with a product like Aquaphor and keep it covered while it heals. This approach aids in the best healing process. Also, remember to stay up-to-date on your tetanus shots and boosters when you get a laceration. A diet rich in nutrients from fruits, vegetables, and quality protein can also significantly aid your body’s healing process. Someone once told me that experiencing a fall is a shock to the body. The night and day after my fall, I experienced chills, even without a fever. It was an interesting side effect.
Watch your steps carefully. Try to slow down and avoid rushing, which can be incredibly difficult sometimes. I believe my face will heal. Experiences like this really put things into perspective. I’m so glad I wasn’t injured worse. But I also realize how important the face is; it’s the first thing people see when they meet you. So, for now, I’ll do my best to heal, perhaps with a hat and sunglasses on.