Three weeks ago I started my hiking/fundraising program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

It was Saturday morning, February 16th, when I jumped in Maggie the Miata and headed up the hill to Colfax. With Starbuck's venti non-fat latte in hand, I was excited about the hiking, and confident that with all the fabulous friends that I have the fundraising would be easy.

I met up with the group at the Stevens Trail and was happily surprised that Gretchen Bly from Caleb Greenwood Elementary School was joining our hike for the day. I hadn't seen Gretchen in 30 years or so, but back in the day we had been Girl Scouts together. We jabbered away with lots to talk about, especially since she'd married the younger brother of one of my old friends. I thought it was a good omen that someone from my old school Caleb Greenwood was there since my hiking honoree is named Caleb.

The Stevens Trail is rated easy, but it just didn't work out that way for me.

We'd been hiking for about an hour an a half, when my right foot slipped off the trail and down I went. Many of you have known me to trip a time or two, but this was way way worse..... We were hiking in a ravine and the slope was pretty steep. About two hundred feet down was the American River when I slipped and slided. I felt like I was cartwheeling and might end up in the river. I squiggled myself onto my tummy and dug my feet into the side of the hill as hard as I could. Finally after sliding for 30 feet, my foot caught hold and I stopped. I didn't know it at the time, but my ankle was broken at both the tibia and the fibula and I'd slid down the hill on my face as well and was bleeding like crazy.

Gretchen and Ann Rockwell, my hiking mentor, scooted themselves down the hill to take care of me. Kelly, exec director of the hiking group, organized emergency services - calling the Placer County Search and Rescue etc. The hiking group had spread out a bit, so the people at the front came rushing back. I am so incredibly blessed -- in our group was Patty, a nurse who previously was an EMT. She took charge of my care. Garret, our hike group leader, is an experienced outdoorsman and had all the first aid equip. They did all the first aid they could, and we waited for the rescue people to arrive. Since the rescuers had to hike in, it took a couple hours for them to arrive. Everyone said I was the model patient, calm and still, no drama. I never lost consciousness and Gretchen was in charge of keeping me talking. I'm now up to date on all the River Park gossip ;^D

The Placer County Search and Rescue arrived. How would they get me to the hospital, Would they use a gurney and carry me out -- no - even though there was no place to land, the California Highway Patrol was going to airlift me to safety. The rescuers had their tools and had to build a dirt "bench" to use as a platform to launch me. They put me in a basket and zzzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiipppppppppppppp I go flying up in the sky to the helicopter.

The helicopter flew me to Roseville, and I had plastic surgery and then 2 days later surgery on my ankle. I was in the regular hospital for a week, then transferred to Eskaton Fair Oaks at 11300 Fair Oaks Blvd in Fair Oaks. I think I'll be here for another week or so. I'll be off my foot and out of work for 3 months or so.

Here's how you can help.

I'd love cards and calls and visits, but I'm going to turn out just fine and get 100% well within a few short months. Caleb and the others who've suffered from leukemia and lymphoma need your help a lot more than I do. I may or may not be able to join the group at the Grand Canyon, but with your help I can do my part to help defeat these diseases. If you click on the link, it will take you to my fundraising page and you can make a donation on your credit or atm card.

http://www.active.com/donate/hfdsac/hfdJGallah