Thursday, May 17, 2012

Help, I've Fallen ... pt 2


So … I’ve been loaded in the ambulance and transported to St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno.  X-rays have been taken; no easy task for them or me (over the years I’ve discovered that morphine is a very good friend), Fr. Gordon has driven down and is with me.  My granddaughter's also here, her parents are on their way, and the doctor enters …

This is not good news.  I don’t have much bone left in this leg and a small piece gave way and essentially crumbled, taking me down.  The abrupt stop caused the stem of the hip replacement to loosen inside the femur and now everything has to come out and a complete hip replacement, as opposed to a revision, will need to be done.  That stem has been in my femur one month shy of 20 years, this is going to be a real piece of work.  My orthopedic surgeon has been contacted and he will perform the surgery, it’s familiar territory to him as he did the last revision and a couple of reductions on this leg.  I will be admitted to await surgery.  

My calendar is full, I have a lot on my plate, and really don’t have time for this right now.  But then, I also have no choice so here we go … again. 

I’ve been admitted and taken to a room in the new wing to await surgery.  It’s a private room and the staffing allows for better than adequate care.  Those who can stand tell me there’s a great view from my window.  Yeah, well!

The Physician Assistant says they’re trying to get me on the surgical schedule tomorrow or tomorrow evening.  The downside of having an excellent surgeon is that his schedule is tight.  It’s been determined that it’s okay for me to have something to eat up until midnight; it’s almost 11:30.  My daughter-in-law is off to the cafeteria to see what she can get me.

There’s nothing more going to happen tonight.  It’s 10:30 and I’ve sent Fr. Gordon back up the mountain.  I am once again so grateful to him for being with me through all my trials and tribulations.  I don’t know that I’d have accepted the prognosis as calmly had he not been here.  Marlen (my daughter-in-law) is staying the night just in case a space in Dr. Gill’s schedule comes open.  My son, Ed, and granddaughter, Lyndsey have gone home. 

Stay tuned …

No comments:

Post a Comment