I can never forget the day when my elbow got fractured. The intense pain I experienced, on the point of injury, will forever be engraved in my memory, together with the feelings of anxiety, fear and desperation. It happened only 25 days before the Army's Fitness Test. I was about to take the model test of the 400-meter obstacle course, which was organized by our company to help us be better-prepared.
In the army, there's a popular saying:" It's better to run 5 kilometers than to face the 400-meter obstacle." The 400-meter obstacle course consists of a free-sprint of two hundred meters and a two-hundred-meter obstacles course, including deep pits, low walls, wooden bridges, and high walls. Cadets are required to complete the obstacles within 2 minutes and 35 seconds. Failing this can have a negative impact on our collective honor and graduation record. After long-term training, most comrades in our company can get the passing grade, but only a few can achieve an excellent level.
The model test began with a sharp whistle. Confident and proud as I felt, I secretly assessed the situation and said to myself with a trace of smile on my face: to reach the excellent level, all I need is to shave off 5 seconds. It's a sure thing!
Initially, I ran fast through the first two hundred meters, jumped over the deep pit, and then had to leap over the low wall. I planned to kick off with my right foot and then step on the wall with my left foot. Unfortunately, my left foot got stuck on the edge and I lost balance. While trying to support myself with my right hand, I fell heavily to the ground. Painful and unable to speak, I was immediately rushed to the hospital. A medical check-up showed that I suffered from a rupture of the right elbow ulnar collateral ligament and nerve damage. With my arms immobilized with a plaster cast, I was advised to stay in the dormitory for conservative treatment.
After my injury, our company leaders and comrades offered me great care and tremendous help. They brought me meals to my room each day, found time to chat with me when I was lonely, and helped me with the lessons that I missed. A wonderful guy from my unit, who is also a straight A student in the physical tests, even volunteered to give me one-on-one rehabilitation training sessions. He sacrificed much of his spare time collecting relevant information that might be beneficial for my recovery. In order to create a tailored training plan for me, he made phone calls with our P.E. teachers repeatedly, trying to ensure the plan was reasonable and feasible. During those private sessions, he patiently guided me through the exercises, helping me speed up my recovery process.
My courage to face the challenge also came from my family. After my injury, I was in two minds about whether or not to tell them the truth through video calls. Just the week before, I had proudly declared to them that the Army's Fitness Test was a piece of cake. Then one week later, everything had changed. The thought of disappointing them and being blamed in their eyes made me hesitant.
Nevertheless, I decided to take the plunge and make the call. To my surprise, my parents responded my sad news with understanding and concern instead of blame. They offered support, advised me to rest well, and reminded me to take care of myself. Their unwavering support overwhelmed me with emotion. They are ordinary yet extraordinary, always standing by my side and never blaming me for any mistakes. My father even texted me a short message, the most inspirational one I could remember, which said, "Son, you've got your elbow injured. This is a hurdle, just jump it over." Yes, I needed to remain determined to push forward in the coming 400-meter obstacle.
Believe it or not, my final record a month later in the fitness test for the obstacle course, turned out to be 2 minutes and 31 seconds, an excellent level that is beyond my wildest dream. My secret to get over each of the hurdle, in retrospect, is undoubtedly my own courage and perseverance, and the help and support from my family and friends.
