27 SEP 2023, 19:00. The last lights of dusk in Mexico City. While walking home, I passed by a Latin American outdoor gym + calisthenic park.
You know how teenage boys slap the top of door frames as they walk past?
Well the young adult old version is seeing a monkey bar and having to try a pull-up.
BOOOONNNNNG!
I must’ve landed funny / slipped, because the next thing I knew — my head collided with a metal bar.
Then all went black.
Fredy found me unconscious for 3 minutes. After splashing water on my face, he asked me: “What’s your name?” “Where are you staying?” “Do you know where you are?” My responses must’ve been slurred, incoherent, or mute — because he declared: “Oh my god - this guy has lost his memories.”
You know how people complain about how “phones distract us from reality"? Well this time, a well-timed Instagram story saved my life.
Scrolling through my phone, we located a nearby friend, who had posted a photo of us having coffee earlier in the day.
The same friend picked me up and took me to the hospital.
At the hospital, they took a CT scan of my head. Fortunately, no brain damage, concussion, or trauma. Just a bit of bleeding outside the skull at the contact point.
My first night was the toughest. I felt like Phil from Groundhog Day — replaying the same events over and over again — I’d send the exact same message to my family WhatsApp every few hours. My mind was a tabula rasa, yet I was simultaneously hyper-conscious of my disability. I can’t remember what happened; I knew 9x5=45; I lost my sense of time; I was uber-worried that I had lost my memories. Those first few hours felt like 40 years.
28 SEP 2023, 15:00. The next day, I called my Mom, who was at the airport. Her motherly instincts must’ve kicked in, because she told me she was coming to see me the next morning in Mexico City.
Her presence was welcome. In total, she stayed with me for 8 days. As a devout Christian, she read me Bible verses and shared a song with me that made me feel whole again.
Lessons Learned
Tragedy can strike anytime.
Having solo-traveled the world for over a year now, I’m used to being alone, but this time I needed the generosity of others, especially at a time when I was unable to take care of myself. I am reminded of the goodness of humanity.
“In times of war/fear/hatred/cruelty/plague/ — love is an act of rebellion.”
“In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that… In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back." - Albert Camus
Timeline of Events
09/27
~7pm: Slipped and fell and was unconscious.
9:06pm: Arrived in the hospital, waiting
10:52pm: In the hospital bed
11:03pm - Out of the hospital
11:21pm - Taxi to friend’s home
09/28
1:03am - Took a selfie, confused
2:43am - Took another selfie, confused
3:34am - Tried to piece together what happened
3:58am - Took screenshot of WhatsApp message
4:50am - Messaged family, saying I don’t remember what happened
5:24am - Took screenshot of the photo I took at 3:58am
~3:00pm - Woke up
~5:00pm - Friend dropped me off at my Airbnb
5:59pm - Took screenshot of WhatsApp message
09/29
~11am - Mom arrives in the morning to help me checkout
12:41pm - Lunch with Mom at Ojo de Agua
09/30
5:36pm - Met up with Fredy at Parque España
10/07
8:30pm - Mom leaves for the airport (Stayed for 8 days)
So many lessons for us in this. But first, utmost gratitude that you are safe, well, and still remember us all and the joys of your past 12 months of travel.
Wow, Leo. My heavens, I am so sorry. I hope you are feeling all better now. And your Mom -- what a wonderful woman!