How I Injured My Ankle: The Full Story Behind My Injury

In late May 2024, I traveled to Peru with my son and my daughter, who has autism. Our goal was to visit Machu Picchu before returning home on June 3. We followed Circuit 2, which starts at the top and works its way down through narrow paths and steep steps.

There were many tourists on the trail that day, and the path was tight. My daughter has difficulty going down steps quickly, especially in crowded areas. To help her move safely to the next landing, I picked her up.

My son was walking ahead of us. As I stepped forward with my daughter in my arms, my left foot landed on soft soil at the edge of the path. The ground shifted under me, and with both my weight and hers on that ankle, I slipped and fell down the slope for about three to four steps. I held onto her the entire time, and she wasn’t injured.

I ended up on the ground, and my first reaction was to call my son and make sure my daughter was okay. I stood up, but adrenaline had kicked in, and I felt shaky, fatigued, and light‑headed. Our guide helped us sit and recover for a few minutes before continuing.

I was limping, but I finished the tour and walked the rest of the way out. At the time, I assumed it was a bad sprain. I didn’t know yet that the fall had torn two major ligaments in my left ankle.