The last thing I would ever wish upon a person is to
experience pain and the agony of breaking a bone. I can remember my son
experiencing a broken arm thanks to football and his interception that turned
into a touchdown that wasn’t welcomed by the opposing time. The opposing team went
after him in the next play and he ended up in the ER. This last week my Anne
slipped during the last leg of a hike. What she thought was just a twisted
ankle turned into a nightmare. She actually broke her ankle and need surgery.
I had already run down the trail with a few of the guys that
can fly like the wind. We had hiked the South Mountain Summit Trail and a few
were bothered by the heat so I decided to run down and drive up to get them.
Anne was going to hike down the trail with the dogs and we would meet her at
the end. I secretly was hoping that she would have stayed at the top of the
trail and waited for me but she didn’t. I would have done the same thing.
After dropping off a few of the teens at my house I went
back to find her. I called and actually got her to answer her cell. She didn’t
sound too great when she said she had fallen and twisted her ankle and was
limping back to the van with the dogs with a couple of helpers. I quickly got
back to the trail which is just minutes from our house. I was so hoping and
praying that she would just have a sprain. We went back to the house and she
iced her ankle as I took home the remainder of the teens who had hiked.
Fortunately for Anne there is an urgent care just minutes
away from our house. We pulled up and I helped her hobble into the lobby and
get a seat. I eventually get her a wheel car to be whizzed around while at the
urgent care. It turned out that there was actually a foot doctor who was at
this location a few times a week. She was able to seem him. After an x-ray it
was clear that she has broken her ankle and would need to have surgery. I
couldn’t believe I heard him say the word SURGERY. Anne had just had surgery
last summer. How could this be happening to my Anne? I felt so bad for her.
We went back to the consult room and listened to what type
of surgery would be required to get her back up and running. The doctor
described how he would have to put a screw and plate on her bones to aid in the
healing process. There was no way to get around the need for surgery. This was
the bad news, which no one wants to hear about their kid or especially their
spouse. The good news was that the doctor had surgery openings the following
day. So his staff quickly arranged for the procedure to happen at 3 pm. We went
home totally shocked at what was going to happen the following day.
We actually debated or I should say argued about whether we
should allow this Foot Doctor to do the surgery or pursue using an Orthopedic
Surgeon to do the surgery. Anne has worked for Ortho Doctors for over 25 years
and knew the issue between them and DPM’s. I just wanted her to have the
surgery and not have to wait a week. We talked with other family members and
between ourselves and finally when the hour approached we went with the Foot
Doctor. Anne was very apprehensive about the surgery but the procedure went
really well. I know that the doctor sensed this and most likely one of his
staff informed him of our questioning his skill level.
As we pulled into the hospital entrance we were fortunate to
have one of the staff get a wheel chair and direct us to the surgical center.
We went through signing our life away with numerous forms. I picked up this fancy
pager that texted updates of the surgery. I decided to get something to eat
while waiting. There was a sub shop across from the new hospital. After enjoying
a roast beef sandwich I went back to waiting for the text and then call.
Finally the call came that the surgery was over and she was in recovery. The
Doctor came out and assured me that everything went really well. He was ready
for the weekend with his family. Little did he know that Anne would take over 3
hours to recover from the anesthesia.
I received another call from the nurse explaining that Anne
didn’t want to wake up and was feeling horribly nauseated. Ouch, I knew that
this might happen because she doesn’t do well with drugs. So I went back and
saw her with this dazed look on her face. She didn’t want to open her eyes
because the world was spinning around her. I had to keep waking her because she
has low blood pressure so the alarms would keep going off. The next couple of
hours went very slowly as she eventually was able to awake and eat a little
without having it come back up.
I was impressed with the charge nurse who was quick to see
the problem. We were able to get a small wheelchair for Anne to maneuver back
at the house. It was quite a bit of work getting her back up and ready to depart.
She definitely didn’t want to stay at the hospital for the night. I wanted her
home and able to start resting and recuperating.
She slept on our couch for the next 4 days before she went
back to the doctor. She had a real cast on that had to be removed and then she
was placed in a normal ace bandage with her air boot. I was surprised to see
the incision, which had 15 staples but looked clean and not infected. I know
that the sentence that was passed for her slip on the trail would be 2 months
of being off her foot. This was the last thing my Anne wanted for the summer
time, which for us is very active.
I cried myself to sleep the first night we were back at home
after the surgery. The reality of what was going to happen was setting in and my
need to be there, be sensitive and caring was to be very important. I knew that
our summer program schedule would have me out and could end up making Anne feel
like she is being ignored. I actually cancelled our involvement with a VBS and
then also a joint worship service.
I know that Anne will be the perfect patient who will follow
the doctor’s orders to the full extent. I now pray that I can be an
encouragement and special friend over the next 2 months while she gets back on
her feet and is able to walk and then run. I do look forward in the fall to
hike back up the South Mountain Summit Trail!
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