THE END OF YEAR UPDATE

Well, another year is coming to an end, and needless to say, the time is flying. It has been already nine weeks since the surgery and I am progressing very well. My orthopedic surgeon has done a fantastic job operating on my shoulder and the physiotherapists were awesome returning it to the full functional level. After nine weeks, the clavicle has healed and the fracture lines seem to have disappeared. Thank you all very much!!! Although there is still some rehab work left, I am gaining strength, have returned to training in all three sports, and look forward to the 2013 racing season.


A big thank you to Troup for directing and editing the YouTube films

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND AN AWESOME NEW YEAR

Wishing you all the best this Christmas Season and a wonderful New Year 2013

Kasia & Tomasz

TO "BECOME ONE"

IT IS STILL A MYSTERY TO ME

Last weekend I finally picked up my bicycle from the bike shop in Boston where it was delivered from Kailua-Kona. This was also the first time I was able to thoroughly inspect it following the crash. Despite having high hopes for finding out what had happened it still remains a mystery to me. The only clue appears to have been provided by the shattered left side of the front tire (about 20 cm long), as if it were caught in a narrow pavement crevice, which would have forced me to loose balance and fall to the left side. But I can only speculate that. Other than that, the bicycle sustained a minimal “trauma” with no paint scratches or structural damages to the frame, wheels, or any other components. The only other visible and obvious blows seemed to have been absorbed by the left handlebar and the left elbow pad.

MY STORY ON IRONMANLIFE

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon-news/articles/2012/10/ironmanlife-jankowski.aspx#axzz2Az41Jlky

THE BIONICTOM

Last Thursday, I have undergone an "ORIF" surgery to reduce the displaced fracture of my left clavicle. The surgery went very well and took about 1.5 hours to complete. For the first time I was brought into the operating room and positioned on the table while being totally conscious. Shortly after that, the nurse anesthetist placed a mask over my face and asked me to take a a few deep oxygen breaths. Obviously, it was not oxygen. So, I started counting my breaths to remember how long would it take me to go to sleep. Well, my "scientific" research reviled, it took five breaths for me to be out cold. And no, the OR tables are not very comfortable.

I woke up  in less than an hour after the surgery in the PACU with a manageable pain level despite electing not to get a nerve block for pain management - it was a good decision. This has also allowed me to better assess my recovery process. So for now, I am restricted to gentle shoulder "pendulum" exercises and elbow/wrist flexion and extension motions. If all continues to heal well past November 9th, I will begin formal rehabilitation.

The "bionic" shoulder which brought my body back into symetry. This made me also realize that the total number of the hardware pieces in my body equals the number of Ironman races in my racing portfolio.

Dressing change time. The surgical site is healing well three days post surgery

This is my rehab for the next week - the "pendulum" circles feel really good.

THE BIG ISLAND THROUGH ANOTHER LENS

We are back in New England and re-living our Big Island experience. We brought back with us many great memories and stories. So, before closing the Kona chapter, I wanted to share with you our few days in Hawaii through a different lens. Without the pressure of racing, Kasia and I had an opportunity to travel the island and soak up the beauty it has to offer. So, here it is through a collage of pictures.

A rainbow that could be seen almost every day in Waimea. This picture was taken from the "dry" side of town. One can almost draw a line where the rain stops.

On our way to the Akaka Falls Park in the northeastern part of the island. Lush greenery and forests, palms and unending views of the ocean.

The palms and the cloudless sky

The palms, the constant winds, and the Kamuela Mountain

"Lost" in the rain forest

In front of the Akaka Falls

The Akaka Falls up close and personal. The water drops further than in the Niagara Falls

A breath-taking view of the open ocean from where the road ends past Hawi - It takes about 30 minutes to get to a beautiful beach down below and surf the waves. This will have to wait until the next trip.

With our Hawaiian Ohana, Alison and Kukui, at the end of the road

 Here we are driving up the Kamuela Mountain to the majestic view of the Island of Maui

It looks like a huge dark cloud from the distance

One of the beautiful art works found on display in Hawi

And the local musicians entertaining visitors

Final moments in Hawi. Kasia is letting it go in the local gallery

Back on the west side of the island. A picturesque sunset over the ocean and the lava fields

And their beauty during the day

And this is my favorite sunset picture over the Waikaloa Beach

Neither of us can bend the fingers for the Hawaiian Aloha. On that day, we had two fully functioning hands between us.

Probably the most valuable real estate off the coast of Kailua-Kona

For a moment I thought it was me climbing that little tree

Or wearing this King's Hawaiian Rules shirt

Back in Kona indulging on some "dragon fruit"

With the former world champion Mirinda Carfre the day before the race. She was one of the favorite females to win the race.

With Lisa Bentley from Canada. She is a multiple Ironman champion and a triathlon icon.

A part of the closing ceremony. An incredible display of art, history, and culture.

These guys were a little taller than us

Volunteering means working. Even the guy on the right was impressed.

Spotting athletes in need of assistance

With two future pro triathletes Rachel and Bryan in the Ironman Village

And with Viktor Zemtsev from the Ukraine. One of the best in the sport among the pro triathletes. An awesome runner.

The final meal in Kona. This place can rival the Lava Java hands down.

In the end, yes, I was supposed to be there ........

.... and bring home one of these. Well, I will have to wait a little longer ;o)

The final look at the Kailua-Kona Bay. Thank you all for your support.

"ORIF" IS THE ANSWER

Back in New England after a long trip home. Again, a huge thank you for the avalanche of get-well wishes I received from many of you over the last week. Despite the accident, Kasia and I had a great time in Hawaii  and we definitely plan to return to the Big Island next year.

So, after the first round of medical visits I am pleased to report that the healing process is well underway. Yesterday, I had a wound evaluation and dressing changes visit with my primary, and today had a long-awaited and anticipated meeting with my orthopedic surgeon. And the verdict is in............

The many shades of tan

And the soon-to-be fifty shades of purple

Next Thursday, I am scheduled to undergo an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery on my left displaced mid-shaft comminuted clavicular fracture. In this procedure, the surgeon will use a contoured plate and several screws to connect the displaced ends. This procedure will significantly increase the likelihood of the union and assure bilateral clavicular symmetry. We have also discussed a non-surgical treatment option but the risk of a potential non-union and a likely loss of strength in the left arm and shoulder tipped the decision scale to the surgical procedure. So, if all goes well, I will ad more hardware to my body next week. It will join the metal plate and seven screws already in my left ankle from an injury about 20 years ago.

A picture-in-picture. The prognosis for a full recovery and the maximum functional outcome seems to be very good

A SHOCK FACTOR

Aloha and thank you all so much for the numerous emails, calls with best wishes and words of encouragement. I will write back to each every one of you as I regain my faculties in the left arm. I have never been a fast typist using both hands, but now, I am even slower typing with only my right hand.

We have been having a great time here with our friends and I will write soon more about our experience on the Big Island. However, in this abbreviated blog I wanted to share with you the state of my condition, as well as the condition of my equipment following the accident.

  Helmet crack number one. Right in the center of the helmet. HELMETS SAVE LIVES.

Helmet crack number two. Split the face protector shield and took a big bite out of "POLAND"

And a little dent. I can't get enough of looking at it. Thank you GIRO HELMET

The trisuit I wore qualifying for Ironman Hawaii. Yes, I also wore it on this faithful day on Wednesday. Needless to say, I will not be wearing it any longer. Together with the helmet, it will go to my Ironman Shrine

Before the first dressing change I realized the extend of the injury. Yes I left some skin on the road from Hawi. It joins the skin from my right side which I left in Nice, France