Maybe it's asking the gods to pronounce this in advance, but we'll do it anyway. Lotte has been thinking about winter sports for weeks. Would this finally be her first accident-free winter sport? A winter sport where nothing happens to ruin our winter sport?
Table of contents
Our youngest has been skiing with us for years in a row, and I must say she can really do something about it. Only in the years that she now goes on a skiing holiday, she has never had a winter sport without accidents or other unpleasant situations. It's bizarre, but we have been able to claim our travel insurance every year in recent years. Yet we have also booked a ski holiday this spring. Fortunately, it's not all situations that concern her, but she does have it in her stomach. That is why she only asked if it would be possible this year… a winter sport without accidents.
Anyway, our winter sports jackets, ski pants and ski jackets for the children are ready, we are going to try our luck one more time. Although I would just as much like to experience a sun holiday in March instead of a winter sport. Below you can read why.
It's been a few years now, but the first time she really went skiing was not a winter sport without accidents. In fact, it was a drama. Not because of the skiing because she hardly had that chance. On the day we arrived she stood on a baby hill on the skis and then the slopes already closed. All parents went for a drink and the kids went sledding.
After two descents on the sled with her big brother, my girl went on the sled alone. We were inside, but 'something' inside me told me to go and have a look. I had already taken off my ski jacket, and with a drink in my hands I stood in the doorway of the après ski tent, looking at the hill where people were sledding.
I saw the collision, heard the thump and then a lot of screams. Luc was running all over the mountain and I was already running towards him. On my ski boots, without a ski jacket and up the hill…. but man you can have a lot.
Even before I got to Lotte's, a resident ran out of her house at all the screaming and whining. She picked up Lotte just before I got there and I quickly took her over. She was shocked. Her whole face was askew and she had a huge wound on her forehead, just above her eye. A gaping hole. But the whining was because of a sore leg. It turned out to be broken later in the hospital.
I'll spare you all the details… but that was her first winter sport where she ended up in hospital for 4 days from the first day and she was eventually taken by ambulance from Austria to the Netherlands.
The second year was a winter sport without accidents, but we went home earlier. This time it was Frank who got sick. So sick that he took a bath in the middle of the night from misery to drive away the cold and the pain. Which of course didn't work. A very sudden severe flu I think. So intense that I decided that we had to close the holiday. Off to home to get some more rest.
Fortunately, we still had a few ski days this winter sport, but it was still a holiday in the snow with a taste.
Last year our family vacation also fell apart because I couldn't ski at all. During a previous holiday with friends - a few weeks before winter sports with the family, I tore my cruciate ligaments skiing. You get the idea… I spent months with my leg in a brace and skiing with the family was not an option for winter sports. I did attend, but I spent my time in the hotel behind my laptop while they were on the slopes.
The question now is whether we will experience a winter sport without accidents this year. If I'm very honest, I actually find it very exciting and I simply dread it.
My knee has largely 'recovered'. That is… I can do a lot of things again. Except sitting on my knees, that's not possible anymore. My anterior cruciate ligament is gone, the inner cruciate ligament has been repaired, but there is still a tear in my meniscus. That means very easy skiing. And I haven't even mentioned my fears yet. I used to go down the black slope… this year you will probably only find me on the blue one. Brrrr.
