I Don't Want To Be Sick In The Hospital For Christmas

The Better Half with great grand daughter Winona, at 4:42, Adams, NY.
About a half hour later she would be sprawled on the ground with a broken femur.

 "I Don't Want To Be In The Hospital For Christmas". 

That was the mantra I heard from the Better Half, beginning probably some time around Halloween and leading up to Christmas. Her side of the family was to be here Christmas Day for dinner. 

The mantra came because a few years ago she spent 10 days in hospital over Thanksgiving. This year she was 4 days in the hospital a week or so before Thanksgiving. Her problem has to do with diverticulosis. An attack occurred and sidelined her for a couple weeks. She was able eat dinner without too much difficulty.

After that she was concerned with rise in cover and flu cases. Between that and the diverticulosis she couldn't help herself but to keep reminding me, "I Don't Want To Be Sick In The Hospital For Christmas". 

What could go wrong? Well, on Thursday, December 22 as we were leaving grandson J's apartment in Adams, NY she slipped on some hard packed snow & ice. She broke her right femur. Snapped in two pieces. It was scary and horrific. 

A misty rain began to fall. There was an approaching blizzard set to begin overnight. A once in a generation HUGE storm they said. 

Adams ambulance service was only a few blocks away, BUT, they were out of service. Had to send ambulance from Guilfoyle in Watertown. She was in pain, we both were scared, praying it wasn't a broken hip. J brought out 3 blankets. We wrapped them about her as she sat on the snow. She had me lean into her for support. 

This began at about 5:00pm. 13 minutes later she asked me to call 911 again. We were told the ambulance was on it's way. A few minutes later some firemen showed up to offer what they could in way of reassurance and comfort. Soon we heard sirens in the distance. The sound grew louder and louder and then they were there. It took about 25 minutes. 

The crew was excellent. The Better Half was scared but alert and listened intently to everything the EMT's had to say. She is a good soldier and follows orders, trusting in those she should. 

At 6:31 she arrived at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY. 

The emergency department nurses, doctors, technicians and support staff did all of the things they do and at 5:00am she was settled into a room to await surgery. That would take place later that morning at 10:30. The head doctor of the team that patched her up was Dr. Dave Leu a trauma surgeon. 

The Better Half arrives at Samaritan Medical Center at 6:31pm
with a broken femur, December 22nd.