Bishop Melissa's visitation to the Church of the Epiphany on the First Sunday in Lent took an unexpected turn.
The first four events went to plan ... the Eucharist, buffet lunch, a Q & A, and leading a Bible Study on the gospel passage for the Sunday with the congregation, went well.
However, in a break before the meeting with lay and clergy leaders the Bishop went to take Teddy her Westie Terrier for a brief walk. Shortly afterwards she slipped outside the Church. Fortunately Amanda Lokay was close at hand and was able to help the Bishop stand up. It was clear she had hurt her wrist and so an ambulance was called. At the Surrey Memorial Hospital received the best of attention in short order, given that the emergency room was busy as usual. The Rev. Eric Stroo (the Bishop's husband) quickly travelled from Washington State and arrived just after the broken wrist had been re-set. By chance the attending physician is married to a member of St Philip's, Dunbar.
After a couple or so hours in the emergency room the Bishop was driven home by Eric. Very soon afterwards the colour of her wrist support was available on Instragram!
I cannot speak highly enough of Bishop Melissa's calmness and surrender to circumstances that were most inconvenient to her usual hectic schedule. It was also wonderful that Eric could be at her side as quickly as possible. The Ambulance Service of BC and the Emergency Room at SMH are also due high praise for their courteous and efficient care of our Bishop.
Bishop Melissa, please take it easy whilst you recover from this episode. As always you are in our thoughts and prayers.
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Thanks to the Venerable Stephen Rowe, rector of The Anglican Parish of the Church of the Epiphany, Surrey and Archdeacon of Fraser for this report. As can be seen in the photoS the bandage covering the cast is a rich purple in honour of Bishop Skelton and the Lenten season.
UPDATE
Bishop Skelton has been receiving orthopedic care for her broken wrist, and in the first few days the healing has progressed well. Although she is in discomfort she attended most of the sessions during the two day staff visit (February 16 and 17) from her former diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. Due to her injury she was unable to participate in the Wednesday, February 17 curling event but she was in attendance, got some work done and did some visiting.
On the advice of her physicians she cancelled her trip to Chicago February 18th where and when she had been scheduled to train the trainers who will be delivering Bishop Skelton's curriculum at their version of the Diocesan School for Parish Development that will take place summer of 2016. Bishop Skelton is still planning on her trip to the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines scheduled February 29-March. 7.