St. Patrick鈥檚 Day is usually associated with feeling lucky.
For Heather Miller, last year鈥檚 St. Patrick鈥檚 Day said, 鈥淣ot today, Heather.鈥
On a Saturday night before the St. Patrick鈥檚 Day celebration, Heather was taking part in a neighborhood Ditch and Dash. Heather placed candy on her neighbor's porch, rang their doorbell, and then dashed. The sidewalk had other ideas, tripping Heather and causing her to fall. Heather broke the radius and ulna bones in her arm, along with dislocating her wrist.
鈥淚 picked myself up, put my tooth back into place, and slowly walked back home,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 removed my jacket and knew immediately my arm was broken. I showed my husband, and he said, 鈥楾hat's not good.鈥欌
Heather's husband drove her to a local clinic. After taking a look at her arm, a physician advised Heather to go to the emergency room at University of Utah Hospital鈥攅ven calling ahead for her.
At University Hospital, Heather's arm was numbed, and a splint made of Ortho-Glass was put on her arm.
Heather and her broken arm returned home at 2am Sunday morning.
On Monday, Heather felt like the splint was crushing her arm near her elbow.
Her mother drove her to South Jordan Health Center, where they re-splinted her arm and gave her pain medication so she could sleep.
On Thursday, Heather's surgery was scheduled at South Jordan Health Center with Robert M. Teixeira, MD, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in the hand and upper extremity.
鈥淪he fortunately had a common fracture pattern of her wrist,鈥 Teixeira said. 鈥淒uring surgery, I was able to put her bones in much better alignment and place a plate and screws on her radius to keep all the bones in place. Heather was a great patient. She did everything the hand therapists instructed and she had an excellent result.鈥
Heather then followed up with physical therapy at South Jordan Health Center. 鈥淢y physical therapist was great, helping me to regain the mobility in my hand from the dislocated wrist,鈥 she said.
Today, Heather is happily back to her normal self, with just a little stiffness because of the dislocation.
Are Heather鈥檚 Ditch and Dash days behind her?
We鈥檒l check back next March 17.