So, the Rescue Squad transports me to UVA hospital. My first ride in an ambulance. (Not all that exciting.) Then they schlep me into ER.
Every med type that passes thru plays out this script:
Them: “Does it hurt here?”
Me: “No”.
Them: “Does it hurt here?”
Me: “No”.
Them: “Does it hurt here?”
Me: “No”.
Them: Shakes head, disappears.
Eventually orthopedics type comes around, examines, says significant operation for both knees needed. Probably scheduled for a couple of weeks out but needs to call doctor in charge. 20 minutes later comes back and says, “How about 0730 tomorrow?” They put me in a room, drug me up, next thing I know I am being prepped. Next thing I know I am waking up and they are talking about shipping me out to a rehab facility. I can’t bend either leg until tendons heal back into place and the right ankle has plates and screws in it.
Which is how I end up at “The Laurels“.
Seems to be a nice enough place. Smells good which, according to friends, is not always true of such places. Attentive staff. Decent food.
I’m a bit of a challenge to them. I’m alert, rational (somewhat), and physically strong. But I can’t get out of bed on my own. (Did I mention that I am also heavy?). I cannot bend either leg and the right leg cannot support any weight, so it takes two people to get me from bed to wheelchair or back again. (So far, anyhow. That is changing.)
My routine has evolved into 1) awaken sometime in morning (6?); (2) wait for breakfast (8:30)?; (3) wait for Occupational Therapy; (4) transfer from bed to wheelchair; (5) therapize; (6) wheel myself around until lunch; (7) lunch; (8) wheel myself around until Physical Therapy; (9) therapize; (10) wheel myself around until my bottom is so sore I cannot stay in chair any longer; (11) Transfer to bed; (12) wait for supper; (13) Lie in bed until ready to sleep; (14) request sleeping pill. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Lots of interruptions to routine of course, People take vital signs approx every hour, Meds of various types. And a variety of visitors. Lots of church folk dropping by to wish me well and offer help.
Mary is generally here twice a day. I keep her busy bringing in things from home to keep me from going completely crazy. She has equipped my bed with saddle bags to hold my ‘stuff’ {chargers and tools and snacks and other such} and brought me a ‘grabber’ to extend my reach, Not to mention all my computer stuff.
I have a pretty decent ‘command center’ here. My main limitation has been that I could not sit up for any length of time. That is improving, which is why I am finally able to generate this stuff.