When the Unexpected Happens
The Day That Changed Everything
My gentle lamb, Courage curiously nuzzles amy resting leg in a cast.
August 11, 2024, began like any other day at MeadowView Reins, our Christian guest ranch nestled in Big Lake, BC. I was out in the field, tending to the sheep—just another part of daily ranch life. But one wrong step changed everything in an instant.
After jumping off a water trailer, my cowboy boot slipped, and I knew immediately something was wrong. Not only had I broken my tibia into at least three pieces, but it had also punctured right through the side of my skin, leaving my foot dangling the wrong way. It was a compound tibia/fibula fracture—far more serious than I could have imagined. And I was alone.
The sudden severity of my injury was overwhelming. My first thought was that I needed to stay calm and avoid going into shock. I couldn’t let Joel, my husband, find me unconscious in the field after having already endured such a loss in his life. I was equally worried that my four-year-old son might come looking for me, and I didn’t want him to see me in that condition.
It was time to put my survival instincts to the test. I managed to get the reins over Boo, the horse I had ridden out, and sent him home, praying someone would notice a saddled horse without a rider in the yard. Crawling on the ground, I yelled for help every 20 feet or so, directing my voice toward my in-laws’ house. I knew they were the most likely to be outside on an early Sunday morning, but the journey to them seemed endless.
As I crawled through the field, my precious lamb Courage, whom I had bottle-fed, jumped the fence and came running to my side. Having Courage nuzzle me as I dragged myself forward was calming, and my loyal dog Teikka stayed with me the entire time. After what felt like forever—crawling 310 feet—I finally heard my father-in-law, Ray, shout, “I’m coming!”
The relief of seeing Ray and Sharon was indescribable, and Joel arrived just moments later. I was quickly transported to Williams Lake, where my foot was stabilized, before being sent to Kamloops for surgery.
Dr. Bourget-Murray, a renowned orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries, performed my surgery. I now have two plates, 12 screws, and some wire holding my leg together. But my request to him was simple: ensure that I can run, paddle, and ride horses again once this is all over.
The physical healing has just begun, and while the future of MeadowView Reins is temporarily on hold, my resolve is stronger than ever. This experience has deepened my faith, strengthened my resilience, and reminded me of the power of community—values we aim to share with everyone who comes to our ranch.
Join me as I share more of my recovery journey and how, despite this major setback, we are still pushing forward to make MeadowView Reins a place for others to reconnect with their families, themselves, and God.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
