Last Sunday (April 23), my wife fell in the bathroom and fractured her femur. Ambulance to the Wickenburg Hospital ER, and after X-Rays she was transferred to a Valley Hospital via ambulance, where she got a steel ball and total hip replacement. The hard thing these days for the local ER is finding a hospital with both a bed, and an appropriate specialist.
 
I went to visit her the next day. It was a bit tiring getting a long ways uphill across the parking lot (almost no parking). She told me I looked like death (did not feel so well either), so I made an emergency "fit in" appt with my PCP in Wickenburg. I was there no longer than two minutes when he pointed across the hall to the ER and said GO. Before I knew it, I was in a heliocopter (a first for me), on my way to a different Valley hospital. I did not even know where I was because I arrived at the red cross landing spot on the roof. The condition I had is called a heart block, 3rd degree, and I am now the proud recipient of a pacemaker.
 
For a couple of days, we were each in a different hospital. Thankfully, we are blessed with some wonderful neighbors, who fed and looked after our dogs, brought in the mail, and ultimately brought each of us home.

Things are looking up. Alice is walking on her leg already. I got my staples out and shed my sling yesterday. Now to learn all the things I have to avoid with a pacemaker. They did give me a "get out of TSA free card", but I do not intend to ever fly again anyway. My new Medtronic pacemaker is even MRI safe (with certain precautions taken by the MRI operator).

Wow, that worked out as well as it could have! Congrats on your new equipment (and your continued improvement in health). Glad to hear you’re both on the mend, and thank god for the neighbors who were able to jump into action.

Modern medical science and care is fantastic. It’s amazing what can be done today with less trouble and far better results than in the recent past.

Best wishes to you and wife.
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Glad you're on the mend, Henry.

Time to buy a lottery ticket. Especially surviving all of that in Wickenburg. (I pick on Wickenburg only because Mrs.BurtonRW and I have a very dear friend who lives there and we've visited. I had no idea there was a hospital there. First time we drove through, Mrs.BurtonRW blinked and missed the whole town. )

Seriously, though... I would have been an absolute wreck being separated from my better half at a time like that, and her knowing what was happening to me would have been even worse for her.

Prayers inbound for both of your recoveries.

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Especially surviving all of that in Wickenburg.

The Wickenburg Hospital has been there a long time, but over the past 10 years has made remarkable improvements. It has a full suite of diagnostic equipment: hematology, MRI, CT scan, X-Ray [even portable X-Ray machines they wheel right into the ER]. The associated clinics are staffed very well, for regular PCP care. The hospital has a surgical suite for routine diagnostics, like colonoscopies, as well as 2 surgeons full time. I had my total knee replacement done there. And, a full time resident helicopter for evacs, just a few steps outside the ER doors. Once you leave the ER for a Valley hospital, they pretty much know what is wrong with you and where to take you. For some stuff, you are admitted right to the Wick Hospital.

quote:

Originally posted by Dan:
Glad you're on the mend, Henry.

As am I! Thank-you, Dan (and Bishop).

As stated- Wow. Sounds like it all worked out OK.

Prayers, Love and Hope sent for you and your wife. Wishing both of you a full and speedy recovery.

I'm drawn back to the "Any way to encourage women to be on-time" thread and Para's thoughtful comments about realizing the fact they're there to wait on so enjoy it.

Well, that was definitely an adventure.

Welcome to getting old,
Glad to hear you scraped by,
Now do what you are told and consider second opinions.

God works in mysterious ways,

The timing of those events, hard to find parking, all combined to saved your life, glad Mrs. Henryaz is on the mend and you have been fixed up with a new ignition!

BTW get a handicap parking pass from the doc, you sure qualify for one....

I’m so glad to hear that you and your wife are on the mend Henry. You were so fortunate to be in the best place possible at the onset of your heart anomaly.

That’s one hell of a week. I’m glad you and Alice are both getting better. Glad she is up and moving around. Sounds like you dodged a bullet too. I didn’t ever think about it, but I guess there are precautions you would have to take with a pacemaker. I hope those are easy waters to navigate.
I also sent you an email. I’m not sure if I made it past your firewall.

Glad excellent medical care and supportive neighbors have gotten you and your wife through a crazy week.

Here's hoping for better weeks ahead, with lots of rest and healing.

Wow, glad to hear you both are on the mend. You are right interesting week….one I can’t and don’t want to match or top.

Glad you both came out on the right side of these events. Hope you both have a long and enjoyable life together.

Wow, what fortunate misfortune. Prayers for both of you for a speedy recovery.

Best wishes for full recovery for you both!

Interesting week indeed! Congrats on both being in the mend.

You're lucky (or wise) to live in or near Wickenburg. It's a beautiful area. If I could get the wife to move.....but she says never again. We've lived in two countries and seven or eight states, and she swears this was her last move. Another winter in cold KY might get her moving, though.