Can These Bones Live?
The author recounts a personal experience of falling and injuring her elbow, reflecting on her history of accidents. Despite her efforts to avoid falls through exercise and caution, she finds herself in pain once again. This incident prompts her to contemplate the nature of suffering and familial patterns of misfortune.
- ▪The author fell and shattered her left elbow while walking with her husband.
- ▪She has a history of falls and injuries, including a previous elbow injury two years prior.
- ▪The narrative explores themes of self-loathing and familial patterns of accidents.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Can These Bones Live? Kari Jenson Gold June 3, 2026 Share Article The Saturday after Easter, on a cloudless morning, I fell and shattered my left elbow while taking a walk with my husband. Although the sidewalk is uneven and full of cracks, I cannot blame my fall on the town. No, I simply tripped on my husband’s left heel and came crashing down. I knew the moment it happened that the elbow was damaged, because I had broken the same elbow only two years before. On that occasion, I had been walking with my daughter, engaged in a lively conversation, while on the way to a lecture. I twisted my right ankle, and fell hard on the left elbow. Hours of surgery, a cast, a splint, and months of physical therapy had made it a memorable experience—one that I was quite desperate never to repeat.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at First Things.
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