First Responders

Am I Now The Bionic Man?

Today, I was putzing around with my “Wee Internet Empire” as I figured it had been dormant for a while. It was not until I checked my last newsletter that I realized that it was posted April 25, two days before my surgery. Seeing as how it’s now more than a month and a half later, I see how delinquent I have been.

Now I have done a few video updates after my surgery, however they were not shared with my entire readership, just those on YouTube, Tik Tok, and Facebook. These videos, this blog post, and other material will go out in my next newsletter, scheduled for the next day or so.

Having said all that, I thought I would do this blog post and talk a bit about my surgery as a number of you have expressed interest.

In early 2020, after several years of increasing arthritic pain, I requested to be placed on the waiting list for total hip replacement surgery. I had been told by a number of folks that I should have done it sooner, however I can be a stubborn type and kept putting it off. Now I say, yes people, you were right, I was wrong. I’m sure I’m not the first who has done that, nor am I likely to be the last. So readers, should you get into this situation, listen to the folks when they offer advice, at least some of the time.

So, back to the story. I was put on the list and then the wait began. Not without hiccups though.

First came Covid. I don’t need to talk about that, we all know that it threw the health system into a real kerfuffle. I have nothing but good to say about the healthcare workers who all worked their asses off trying to do their best for us all. I thank them all for their service. I’m not going to get into any discussion about the actual healthcare system however.

Anyway, in November 2021 I received a call that I’d been scheduled for surgery in mid December.

Alas, just before that call a new issue had raised its head. I had developed some venous skin ulcers on my legs as a result of poor blood circulation. Due to the risk of infection, the surgery was cancelled.

Seening as how we were still dealing with Covid, treatment of my legs started very slowly, continuing on to the fall of 2022. Once again I have appreciation and thanks to the healthcare workers who dealt with my legs, both with clinic care and home care. All was completed and I am now wearing compression stockings to help ensure good leg blood circulation. These will be worn daily for the foreseeable future, on in the morning, off in the evening. Kim is doing it currently, with other arrangements needing to be made when she is no longer able to continue.

Great stuff… legs in order, now back to waiting. Towards the end of the year I was told that they were looking for around April 2023. Early this year came the word for April 27. Kim and I decided to tell “nobody nothing” until I had successfully completed all the pre-surgery tests. All went well and April 27 it was.

The time had come. Was I nervous? Not really, however I was somewhat apprehensive as I really didn’t have a clear picture of what the procedure was. Oh, I had received many handouts, brouchures, watched video, been poked, prodded, x-rayed, lungs and breathing tested, heart tested (multiple times), dental examined (lots of work done there), lab tested, told what to do (prior to and after surgery), the whole nine yards. My documentation prep for surgery probably became a large file all told.

But… I did not really know what I would experience when I entered the doors of the Orthopaedic Surgery Centre by the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Kim and sister-in-law Sarah took me there, in the waiting room with me until I got called in. In pre-surgery I underwent a number of tests, was asked a number of questions and chatted a bit with the nurse until he moved on to the next person. Then I waited until it was my turn to be wheeled down to the operating room. There I was moved over to a table, introduced to a number of physicians (none of whom I can remember other than my surgeon). I was told to bend forward, touch my head to my knees and that I would feel a wee poke in the back. They asked how it was, I said fine, and two hours later I started to wake up.

Slowly waking up in the recovery room I could see somebody’s feet. I knew they weren’t mine because they didn’t move with I wiggled my toes. Ah, it seems there was a reason for that. I had no feeling from just below my ribs down.

While in the recovery room, hooked up to all the obligatory machines, there was some poking and prodding, checking things out, and some chit chat. Seems I was doing what I should so they transferred me to my place of residence for the next day or so.

Once in my room I was able to relax, and was constantly monitored. Slowly I had feeling come back to my legs, being able to start wiggling my toes after a few hours. Kim came to visit, taking a few photos, one of which I share here.

Once again, I have nothing but compliments for the medical folks who looked after me. They ensured I was comfortable, managed my pain very well, asked the right questions and answered any that I had. Before the end of the day they had me out of the bed walking out to the hallway and back (with my crutches), making sure that all movements were good.

They tried to help me sleep, however I have a history of not sleeping well the first night in a new bed and it was no different here.

The next morning, they had me up, walking (again with crutches) to the stretcher in the hall to be taken to x-ray then from the stretcher to the x-ray table. Same procedure going back to the room. Then the surgeon came in, said he was happy and all was looking fine. A bit later had a visit from the physio lady. She came in and said, okay, grab your crutches and let’s go for a walk. Off down the hall we went for training on how to do stairs, get into a tub and so on. She was pleased on how I did, so I only had to do it three or four times.

Having satisfied all the criteria, Kim came to pick me up and home we went, complete with serveral medical prescriptions, including a heavy duty painkiller should it be necessary. Fortunately for me, it was not needed all that much and consequently was utilized quite sparingly over the following weeks.

Basically the next six weeks were spent mainly on one level of our condo, using my handy dandy walker. At night it was up to the bedroom with the crutches. Kim was patiently my chauffeur for doctor appointments and after the first couple of weeks we were able to go for dim sum and a couple of special events related to Kiwanis or our veterans group, crutching away.

As I mentioned earlier, I did some video update after the surgery, so feel free to hop over to my YouTube channel and have a boo.

Kim loves to take photos of things and events like this so here are four that she took.

The first one was during a dressing change on April 02.

The second was staple removal day, April 10.

Next one is April 16, healing well.

Final is April 28, all is looking great. Doctors, and patient, happy.

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Thought I’d wrap up with an xray of my new hip. I thought it was pretty cool. The main part is titanium. Does that make me the Bionic Man?

From the very beginning I recorded, for myself, the names of all who worked to take care of me. Those in the wound clinic, those making home care visits, those in the surgeons office, and those in the surgery centre. I do maintain contact with a few of them but will not share their names. They know who they are and how much I appreciate each and every one of them. I made sure that I told them at every opportunity.

Thanks for reading and letting me share with you.

Until next time, be well, take care of yourself and look after those around you.

Is Your Space Clear?

Yesterday evening we had an incident in our area when emergency services responded to the residence for one of our neighbours. Although it required a person to be taken to hospital, I understand that they will be okay.

The reason for this wee blog post is something I observed during the incident, and what I had not considered before. I imagine that many of you may not have either.

As is the norm, fire arrived first, followed shortly by an EMS supervisor vehicle. Once they entered the residence, to assist the individual, I assume they determined that the utilization of a stretcher would be necessary after the ambulance arrived.

Fire Clearing Snow

Now comes the part which I hadn’t really thought about previously. We had recently gotten our first snowfall and I saw one of the fire crew go over and shovel the sidewalk so it would be clear for the stretcher. Then he went and got some salt and/or sand and put it down so the paramedics and others would not slip while transporting the casualty. When the ambulance arrived, the sidewalk was done, and they were immediately able to stage the stretcher at the residence door. A while later the casualty was brought out, placed on the stretcher and then into the ambulance, with all parties having good footing.

Now, all of this highlighted to me, and I hope to you as well, how important it can be to keep your sidewalks and driveways clear of snow in the winter, as much as possible.

As well, it displayed to me that emergency workers have many more boxes to tick while performing their duties than we may think. For myself, I have great respect for all emergency workers, and I do my best to thank them for all that they do.

We all more or less take for granted our work or living spaces, both inside and outside, and tend not to think of emergency workers trying to maneuver themselves and their gear in those spaces.

I suggest that this be a reminder to check your spaces just in case you, or others, need emergency assistance, to make your space more accessible.

I know I will.

And thanks to all those who make it their profession to help us when we need it.

Rest In Peace – Dallas Boyko

This past weekend another senseless death was in the local news. Unfortunately a great many deaths are senseless, however this one affected me a bit more than usual, even though I have no personal contact or knowledge of the person who died.

Dallas Boyko was a 51 year old paramedic, driving in an on-duty ambulance with her partner at 4am on a Saturday morning, when a suspected impaired driver crossed the centre line and struck the ambulance head on. She and the driver of the other vehicle died, her partner was injured. Here is the CTV Edmonton news story. (Photo from Facebook – Emergency Services Memorial Page)

This story really struck me for a couple of reasons. A very good, long time friend of mine, on duty as a paramedic, was seriously injured when a vehicle struck the car in which she was tending to a casualty. As well Darren, a good friend and fellow veteran, also a paramedic, came close to not one, but two, head-on collisions while on duty just under a year ago within a one week span.

In Darren’s case, I was prompted to do a podcast after his first incident (link here), and then another after the second (link here).

As veterans most of us have a close affinity, not only to serving military, but also to first responders, such as police, fire and ambulance. Indeed, quite a number, when leaving the military, themselves become first responders.

A person’s death can be quite upsetting under any circumstances. If it occurs while the person is performing their duty it has a greater impact on me, and even more so should it be due to someone else’s careless or negligent actions.

Dallas Boyko, while serving as a paramedic, had most certainly positively affected countless number of lives. She died needlessly while performing her duty. That is a tragedy. May she rest in peace.