09/13/2017
Dear knitters,
It has been too long since you have received an email from me. The summer did not go according to plans for me, and as a result, I was unable to connect with you.
In case you had not heard the news, I was in a horse riding accident at the end of June. The accident occurred at the very end of my lesson when my feet come out of the stirrups and I let go of the reins. A noise somewhere in the barn spooked my horse and I fell of the horse crashing into the arena wall. I was taken by ambulance to Brandon and later in the day was taken to Winnipeg. My femur was lodged into the top of my tibia (called the tibial plateau), shattering it into at least six pieces and the tibia broke again further down the bone. Part of the cartilage, called the tibial meniscus, which acts like a ring around the top of the tibia was found down inside the bottom of my tibia. I had 2 surgeries in Winnipeg, one week apart. After two weeks in Winnipeg I was transferred to Rivers Rehab where I stayed for 3 weeks. I would be home for 5 weeks before I would be allowed to put any weight at all on my left leg, and was using a wheelchair to get around.
Just a few days ago I took my first steps with the help of a walker. The journey ahead is a still a long one. The surgeon told me that the recovery would take 1 – 1.5 years and that at that point I would know what my “new normal” would be – what my leg would allow me to do.
Coming home had never felt so good, but it was far from easy. I had a lot to adjust to after five weeks in hospital, and I still had pain to manage, exercises to do and a leg to stay off of. The first day home showed me that I was not the only one who experienced trauma from the accident and the lengthy hospital stay. Every member of my family was hurting, some far more than others, and going through their own trauma. Now not only was I working through my own issues but I was also needed to help my family heal. I do not believe there are words to describe how hard this has been. With intense work I can see healing taking place within our family. Laughter has once again started to find its way back into our home, and it feels good.
In trying to manage my healing and the healing of my family I have not been able to give any attention to the store. I am so grateful to those who have given of their time to keep the store open - Kirsten, Kathleen, Melanie, Karen, Audrey, Doreen and Allison. I also have to say a very special thank you to my husband Graham for all of his help.
This week, as I experienced how hard it is to walk again, I had to come to terms with how long this recovery will be. Right now I have several hours of exercises I do at home every day and then physio up to three times per week. My physiotherapist told me last week that I will need physio for another 6-12 months.
As I look at what is required to walk again, plus the needs of my family, I know that I cannot give the store the attention it demands. I have had to do some very hard thinking this week. Healing and my family will always come first, and therefore I have decided to sell the store, or close it.
I know that everyone will have a lot of questions regarding outstanding orders, classes and the retreat, and more, and I will try to answer all of the questions you might have. Some of the answers to your questions may depend on if someone purchases the store. If this does happen then I will work with and inform the new owner of yarns still to come in, orders placed and classes paid for. The retreat will still take place regardless of what happens to the store.
If the store is not purchased, it will close. Should this happen I will continue to be your support. You will be contacted about your classes you have paid for and in most circumstances we will create a new date for the class. We can also look at refunds as required. Items you have ordered, such as the National Park Yarns, will come to my door and I will get them to you.
If the store does close I will continue to be your support through projects and to you and as individuals. I will to try to continue to teach classes (both individual and group classes) as health and family permit, and if there is interest we can still do a weekly knit night with a location to be determined. We can also do our annual staycation and retreat. With each major holiday at the store I would host events so that no one felt alone, and I will still do that, though the location will just be different. I am still here for all of you, I can just no longer operate the store.
If you are interested in purchasing the store, or you have a business in need of a home, please let me know before Thursday the 14th as I need to report back to my landlord on the 15th as to the plans for the space.
If you are interested in possibly purchasing the knitting store but are not sure if you want to go it alone, we may also know someone who might be interested in partnering with you in the venture. This individual would be a tremendous asset to anyone considering operating a knitting store.
Thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful memories you have given me over the past three years. It is my hope that we can continue to create wonderful memories.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me.
Very sincerely,
Connie
