Friday, June 10, 2016

Where Has Annabelle Been???

The Blades of Brendoken and Queen Serena


Since November of 2014 I have been out of Heavy Fighting. In November 2014 I tore my ACL in my right leg while trying to ride one of my friends horses. It didn't end so well. I ended up having it replaced in Feb 2015 and then began a long road to recovery.

Now I wasn't completely gone from the SCA but i was out of fighting for a while. So while I was out of fighting I worked on some other aspects of the SCA including becoming a Rapier marshal and even doing some scribe work.



Then in June of 2015 I was cleared to fight rapier from a seated position. Not much fun but at least I was able to get some fighting in. I was so rusty it was all bad LOL. But I kept working on it. I started getting better with time and was getting really confident.


All this time I was still going through Physical Therapy and getting better with movement. In August I was cleared for normal fighting and released from physical therapy. Finally I had my freedom back! I was still super rusty and slow getting back in to movement. My first comeback full blown fight was Melee at the Knave. I was still weary about fighting and my brothers and Sisters in the Blades of Brendoken helped make sure i was safe. I was so happy to be back fighting!

From that day I have busted my butt to get better and better to get ready for the coming Melee season. Then January of 2016 came Maidens and SLAMDOWNFEST. I was so honored to be fighting in SLAMDOWNFEST. This was (in my mind) going to let the rapier community know that I was back and taking names. I did well in my fights and won my SLAMDOWNFEST fight. Annabelle was back! I was on top of the world! I couldn't wait for melee season to come!


I kept training and working on rapier things trying to better myself. I took some concerns to heart and at Unicorn worked on several things with some of the members of the Order Of Defense and was able to correct a couple of things here and there.
Unfortunately My work schedule didn't allow me to go to practices but I worked on point control drills and footwork. I started to plan my return to Heavy fighting and was talking to the Knight who first got me in armor on what I could do to make sure I was as ready as I could be for my return.
Then it was time for Northern Oaken War Manuvers! The event I had been waiting for to fight in some melees and prove once and for all i was back! We got camp set up in the daylight (That in and of it's self is an accomplishment) and then i gathered my stuff and went to go fight in the Torchlight Tourney that I have been waiting for years to participate in. I didn:t do so well in the first bear pit and Then came the Grue tourney. I was determined to do better in this one and thought about what weapon I would take. I decided to go with dagger because I am halfway decent with it and figured it put an interesting twist in the tourney.... Well Interesting it did get.  When it became my opponents and I's turn I walked in confidently. Yes i was questioned about taking a dagger but I was confident in my decision. When lay on was said we fought and I won the first bout, then in the second bout there was some questions so we refought. My opponent won. So now we were at the 3rd bout. I needed to win this one to continue. Layon was called, I lunged for my opponent Then Disaster! I heard/felt a pop in my foot and a pop in my knee..... In my good leg. I went down screaming and rolled around for a minute or 2 in agony trying not to cuss. I was vaguely aware people were talking around me saying stuff to get my gear off. After a couple minutes i was able to sit up and take my mask off and was asked what happened. A few of the brendoken blades were there to help and everyone was concerned. We removed my gorget and was asked if i could walk over to a bench. A brendoken Heavy fighter helped me up and when i went to put weight on my good leg my knee popped again and i nearly collapsed. he helped me hop over to the bench where I was questioned again and assisted and given ice. Eventually a squad was called and i was taken to an ER where they said i was fine and there was nothing to be concerned about.
The next Tuesday the pain became unbearable (it had been going from 5 to 7 since that friday) and the bruising was awful to where many many SCAdians say I go to the ER. I went to work and got some paperwork then went straight to the ER where I spent most of the day. I had xrays of knee/ankle and foot done. Then had a CT of the foot done because they found an abnormality for the foot where they found I have a Lisfranc injury that will need surgery.


We still dont know what is going on with the knee(s) as the foot is the more pressing issue of everything. Recovery is estimated at 6 to 8 weeks for the foot. Once the foot is figured out we will then figure out what needs to be done about my knees.
So I am out of fighting once more for an undisclosed amount of time. I am still going to help marshal and support my barony however I can and will be working on scrolls and some other projects once again. Hopefully this will be the last injury I receive for a while as I am quite done with everything.
In the meantime I wish all my SCA friends, Fighters and Non fighters alike, Fun at 50 yr and at Pennsic.