EPISODE 1033 i’M ON MY WAY..PART RWO : FALLING
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alan skeoch
APRIL 24, 2024
FALLING (April 3k 2024)
Such a simple thing. Falling into bed on an evening.
Not simple for me. I missed the bed and hit the floor Do not know
why my knees buckled. One knee was brand new. The other knee
was battle worn I must admit but had served me well for 85 years
with no complaint.
suddenly m y legs quit….refused to work,
“Get up Alan…please get up. Can’t lift your 217 pounds.”
[217 became 201 in next 17 days)
“Cannot lift myself…flat face to floor best I can do.”
“Call 911 now!”
“ Did…they want to know more about situationl”
“Tell them dire. slide that plastic pillow under me…I will slide to the basement stairs
and let my legs hangover…maybe get purchase on something ….swimming
cross the floor with hands….made it ..now to get legs on stairs….failed ….slid down stairs
to cellar and hauled myself back up stairs step at a time. Took ages. Medics arrived
and assessed situation then a burly man hoisted me
erect.
“Embarassing!”
“Forget it….we do this every day
MY PLAN BEFORE 911 HELP ARRIVED
Stupid plan of mine… I figured I could get on my feet
by sliding to cellar stairs. Needless to say
the plan did not work and I ENDED UP IN THE CELLAR.
Great! Then I fell again and needed rescue. An hour later with
different rescuers…..same good hands.
THEN CAME THE WORST FALL…COULD HAVE BEEN TERMINAL
I fell into our small shower cubicle, Both Legs telescoped.
Impossible result as my flesh snd bones were contorted into
the shower stall. My operated leg folded worst….like a jackknife blade
folds into the jackknife jacket. I was trapped. Dire situation.
Majorie wedged the walker into the stall. No help. Stay calm
until Andrew could drive here from his home.
“Can you help?”
“Don’t move.”
“Fat chance of that…feel like a sardine in a fish can.”
Andrew scooped me out. The stitches in my new knee did
not pop out. All seemed well. Except for one question.
“Why did I ciollapse? I was doing well in recovery. Was able
to walk to Mary Fix park and back without a difficulty Then suddenly my
strength was gone. I was on the floor….helpless. A sardine.
TRILLIUM HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
So we drove to Trillium … emergency “We will have to keep him…”
Seems the hospital was full but able to find a space in the the basemen hall
…in front of a row o lockers with my feet blocking entrance to some kind
of storage room. My toes ticked every person seeking entry;
I spent three days and nights on a gurney tightly wedged.,,in adult
diapers…on my back. A notice told nurses to keep me immobile
until a better place could be found.l
I was a lost soul. No one ventured to speculate on what had gone wrong.
People passed me in the narrow hall. Seemed forgotten Like the ancient mariner
‘who stoperth one in three’. I asked passers by to phone my wife Most ignored
me then one person, Jane, phoned Marjorie and things began to change .
Three days in a hospital locker wall…in diapers for both #1 snd #2…alone..weak…
mysteriously ill…on a gurney. Playing ‘footsie’ with staff seeking entrance ti’a mystery room.
END PART TWO
p.s. two of my helpers in happier times on floor C3 of Trillium
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