I REMEMBER

I remember…..
Sitting at my mother’s feet trying to learn ….
Left foot? Right foot? Left foot? Right foot?

I remember…..
Shazam…brain to foot…I get it!

I remember…..
Sitting at my mother’s feet trying to learn…
Tying shoe laces ….. Cross the strings? Pull? Loop? Pull? Try again and again and again and again.

I remember…..
Shazam…brain to hand to lace… a bow… I get it!

I remember…..
Sitting at my mother’s feet trying to learn…
SOCKS…Left foot? Right foot? Left foot? Right foot?

I remember my mother saying…
“Socks can go on either foot. There is no left or right.”

I remember… ?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The rest of life will be easy………

“FOR GOD AND COUNTRY. GERONIMO, GERONIMO”..Words of Navy Seal Commander

“We got him”
President Obama
May 1, 2011

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Just before hobbling off to bed last night, I heard the news, “We got him”…..the death of Osama Bin Laden by our Navy Seals.

For anyone who thinks this is not a great day, I ask you: “Is killing the devil not a sign for rejoicing?”

For all of us who have lost so much, I thank God for our perseverance and I pray we hold resolve through the days ahead.

God bless America.

BUT ALL I WANTED WAS A PEDICURE!

Six Weeks, 3 Days

Six weeks and three days ago I had a total right knee replacement. Today, for the first time since then, I rode my bike outside. Freedom!

Knee replacements are a marvel of skill and technology for which I am grateful but the surgery continues to be difficult. My hardest coping was with the lack of routine I had established prior to the surgery. I missed my friends at aqua aerobics. I missed not being able to just jump up and take a long walk. I missed riding my outside bike.

What helped me was the support system which included an excellent husband encouraging me, excellent children who phoned and visited with arms full of fried chicken and mashed potatoes (calories don’t count after surgery..it is a scientific fact), excellent in-home PT (Andrea from Bayada nurses), excellent out patient PT (Laurie at Parker Adventist Hospital), excellent surgeon (Dr. Derek Johnson of Parker, CO) and some really good friends from church encouraging me and even giving me the low down on laxatives. Yes, people you will need this info. Oh, did I mention some excellent drugs?

Although each week has brought quantum leaps as far as my physical ability, I was unable to rejoice because of what seemed liked endless days of loneliness and fatigue. I still battle and climb but today was a tremendous victoryl

So, I thank God for excellence but I still say “I’d rather have a pedicure.”

See previous blog….”Not Your Mama’s Toes”

A CALL FOR PUBLISHED SURGICAL OUTCOMES or HOW TO FIND AN EXCELLENT SURGEON OR IT SHOULDN’T BE THIS HARD

In this country we are blessed with some of the most outstanding surgeons in the world.  We also have some incompetent surgeons picking up a scalpel.  This article is for those of us who want excellence and for those excellent surgeons who deserve our patronage. 

One day, maybe in Heaven or Oz, the outcomes of surgeons will be published and easily available for consumers.  Until that glorious sunshine day, I believe finding a good used car is easier than finding a good surgeon.

 What are outcomes?  Examples:

•  What is the average hospital stay for a patient having your type of surgery?
• What is the surgeon’s data, gained from patients, on how quickly the pain subsides in one month, in 3 months and in one year?
• What is the frequency of infection rate for this surgeon?
• What is the percentage of complications for this particular surgeon….not for this surgery but for this surgeon?
• How quickly can the patients of this particular surgeon and surgery return to work or to normal activities?

 CURRENTLY, HOW DO WE FIND OUT ABOUT SURGEONS?

•  Just ask your primary care physician (PCP) you say and trust he/she actually knows of the surgeon’s outcomes.
•  Or how about running around and grabbing everyone you see for the name of someone.  Of course, you may be labeled as a worrier or even as the “crazy lady”
•  How about faith?  Just leave it in the hands of God.  Well, I think God is calling all of us to demand this public information.

 But you, the reader, probably think that information does not exist. Yes, yes it does. 

Let me quote from an article I read on the web while I was researching back surgery.

“Results and Outcome Studies”

The results of Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion (MIS PLF or MIS TLF) surgery in the treatment  of symptomatic spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease are generally excellent.  Numerous research studies in medical journals demonstrate greater than 92-98% good or excellent results from MIS fusion surgery.  Most patients are noted to have a significant, rapid improvement of their back pain and return to many, if not all of their normal daily and recreational activities.”

Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion-USC Center for Spinal Surgery – Los Angeles

http://www.uscspine.com/treatment/min-invasive-spinalfusion.cfm

There are other studies on the web listing outcomes.  So, somehow this surgeon did keep data and reported it.  We just need access to this data and to the data of all surgeons.

Until then, here are a few tips for those of you not willing to settle on whether a surgeon is “nice”, has “blue or brown or green eyes”, has a “good bedside manner”  Yes, you are the rare, the few who want to even odds in your favor as you prepare for this scary journey.

 A FEW TIPS UNTIL THERE IS A BETTER WAY:

 1. Please do ask your PCP and ask how the PCP knows the surgeon.  Is it just a business card with the surgeon’s name?  Does your PCP know of other patients who had this surgeon for knee, back, elbow surgery and how are those patients doing?

 2. Do ask neighbors, friends, relatives and anyone who might have inside information such as an OR nurse, Physical Therapist, surgical equipment salesmen or even physicians who have integrity to guide you away from shoddiness and into excellence.  Be prepared that the professional folks will say things like, “Oh, they’re all good”, “Our hospital just wouldn’t have anyone surgeon with consistent bad outcomes” or worse yet, “We just cannot give out that information” 

 3. Research the surgeon in all the means possible at the present time. 

• Scour the web not just for the surgeon’s web site but for any publications the surgeon may have written.  Click on those publications and try to determine if the surgeon has reported outcomes.

 

• There are some sites available on the web.  I am not recommending any of them.  This is just for your information:

 www.RateMDs.com

 www.healthgrades.com

www.vitals.com

 DORA (Department of Regulatory Agency) in your state. 

 http://www.dora.state.co.us  (in Colorado)

You may have to search diligently to find any settlements or complaints registered against the surgeon.  Also, know that some excellent surgeons have settled lawsuits and this may not be a fair indicator for you.  And, conversely, some really ghastly surgeons have no settlements.

4. Interview doctors.  I know this is difficult especially if you are in pain or in an emergency.  One of the best doctors I found encouraged patients to seek another opinion.  I think if this is an excellent surgeon, he/she knows you will compare and return to his/her office.

 REASONS WHY SOME FOLKS DO NOT SUE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN TERRIBLY HARMED BY A SURGEON:

 Many states have a cap on the amount of money that can be obtained from a law suit.  The plaintiff attorney must spend much of the attorney’s time and money in medical records and depositions and see no return on that money or even a monetary loss.  This is especially true if the patient is “elderly” or has a disability.  The surgeon’s attorneys will argue that these categories of folks, not having much gainful employment, have not lost much.  This is sad but true.  Sometimes the same offending surgeon is allowed to continue surgery on many others and may never be halted.

  So, you might think you can then bypass an attorney and go straight to the surgeon’s insurance company.  Not always so.  The insurance company also knows the above difficulties with a plaintiff/patient suing and will in effect say, “Go ahead, sue.”  The insurance company has tremendous resources to fight the plaintiff/patient and to wear them down.

WHAT ALTERNATIVE DOES SOMEONE HAVE WHEN HARM IS OBVIOUS BUT A LAWSUIT IS NOT AN OPTION:

1.  You can fill out a complaint with your state’s DORA but this requires filling out a form and you may be asked for medical records that you purchase with your own money.
2.  Write to the hospital Chief Operating Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and anyone else in power explaining the sequence of events.  Enclose medical records confirming (if they were honestly filled out) the incidences.  Send medical records of your follow up care and prognosis.
3.  If you know of others in your community who have also been victims, ask them to sign with you.  This probably will not happen since folks are frightened.
4.  Tell other folks who are preparing for surgery, not to go to Dr…..  However, this again can get you into a legal mess.  You can, though, say what your experience was with this surgeon.

 

YOU HAVE DONE YOUR RESEARCH TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY IN TODAY’S WORLD, NOW WHAT:

1.  Prior to surgery do a write up a about yourself (see my previous blog, “Spiderman AKA Denver C. Fox.” ) It may endear you to the staff & may mean they will take more precautions with you, “this real person”

http://ramblingalongwithnora.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/spiderman-aka-denver-c-fox/

2.  If possible, have an advocate with you the day of surgery.  Ministers are great.  They represent community authority and quietly tell all that you are a nurtured and nurturing part of their community.  They also spread the word about how you were treated.  This can be good or bad PR for the surgeon and hospital.

 3. Now is not the time to threaten any doctor or hospital personnel.

 4. And then, do focus on leaving all of this in the hands of your God.  Focus on that and focus on great outcomes.  You have done your job.

I truly believe, in the near future, outcomes will be easily accessed. 

THAT WILL BE A GREAT SUNSHINE DAY FOR ALL OF US!

SPIDERMAN AKA DENVER C. FOX

I believe that hospitalizations go a lot easier if the staff thinks of you as a real person and not just a patient.  I gave this “biography” to the hospital staff prior to my husband’s recent surgery.  It did seem to elevate his status and even the cleaning lady called him “Spiderman”. 

P.S. TO THIS POST…ABOUT 2.5 WEEKS AFTER THIS SURGERY, SPIDERMAN WAS BACK ON HIS BIKE AND BACK ON THE TRAILS WITH PERMISSION OF SURGEON AND P.T.

 

Let me introduce you to my husband, Denver “C” Fox who will be having back surgery at Skyridge on Tuesday, October 12, 2010.

 The name Spiderman came when he purchased his new biking jersey.  The children around town and on our biking trails love it and they are sure he is the real Spiderman.

 Denver is an outstanding man.  His accomplishments include:

• Facing the challenges and triumphs of raising two boys and adoring his daughter-in-law.
•  Being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1965.
•  Receiving his doctorate in education from the University of Denver…while “patterning”and providing a home therapy and education program for  his younger son, Andy
•  Coaching his older son, Tim, through a spinal cord injury at C4/5 and rejoicing with all of us when Tim graduated as President of his class at Stanford Law School.
•  Starting a successful work training program for Andy and several other young adults with disabilities, accepting no pay.
•  Starting the 50+ Bike Forum where people across the world discuss cycling and even back surgery.
• Starting and running PADCO (Parents of Adults with Disabilities in Colorado), a state wide activist group seeking solutions to the amazing challenges they and their children face hourly with very little help.
•  Starting and running NOEWAIT (National Organization to End The Wait List) an organization to end the horrible waiting lists for services for folks with disabilities.
•  Starting and coordinating “Zingers”, a men’s Gospel Singing Group.  They rehearse in our basement every Thursday morning.  They have sung all over Colorado.  They sing, pray and laugh a lot!

In addition to all of this, he:

 He is an avid cyclist, cycling 30 miles per day, calling it his “training ride)

 He lifts weights

 He swims at the recreation center.  Often, until back pain, he did all three of these activities in one day.

While he is under your care please treat him with respect, humor and encouragement.  He is not an old man.  He just has an old back.  He is an athlete.  He is a faithful husband.  He is the best dad anyone could pray for.  Thank you for your expertise and humanity. 

We need to get Spiderman back on the Colorado trails!

THE HOT DOG MAN

Great time at the skate park

Cycling in the windy, dry heat on our trail, I weigh my options.  Do I want to get a good work out and continue south up the hill or should I make a hard left turn into the skate board park where I will find shade, rest, water and clean bathrooms.  No brainer.  I turn left.  I dismount, take off my helmet, pull out my power bar and relax. 

But wait!.  What’s that?  A big car driving over the grass, pulling a trailer? A man jumps out and unhitches a hot dog stand…right here by my space.   He moves quickly, setting up candy, cold sodas and prepping the hot dogs.

Hard Working Hot Dog Man

Friendly and talkative, he explains, without missing a beat in assembly of his cart, that he was laid off from a big data company just before Christmas.  With this abrupt freedom from the shackles of his cubicle, he knew what he would do.  He obtained the legal documents he needed.  He rented this space at the park for the year and it, with a few other venues, has been a financial blessing.

Not three minutes into our meeting, a mob of little boys ascend with their skate boards into my shaded pavilion.   The evidence of jumping, vaulting and falling with their boards is in their flushed faces and hair dripping with perspiration,   They surround Mr. Hot Dog Man.  “Anything for free?‘ asks one.  “You know better than that. No free stuff here” replies our former IT man.  Another question, “Any Dr. Pepper?“  Continuing his well organized set up (“I’ve got this down to a science”, says he glancing my way), “No, but I’ve got Pepsi.”

This gathering hole for man and boys is a serendipity for me, a portrait of a joyous summer day.  The children laugh and chatter with Mr. Hot Dog Man.  They talk about school, their parents and their dreams.  “My dad is applying for a job,” one fellow says.  With a note of encouragement in his voice, Mr. Hot Dog Man replies, “Good for him.  You do what you gotta do”  

Getting Ready for the Kids

The camaraderie between busy no nonsense hot dog vender and skate boarder boys probably wasn’t written into the business plan.  But there it is.  Food for the soul from man to boys.   I am so glad I did not get a good work out that day.  Wouldn’t have wanted to miss this picture.

TODAY WE LEAVE IRAQ!

Watching the breaking news of the last combat troops to leave Iraq, I’m filled with joy and tears.  I am so very grateful for our military personnel and so many others who served faithfully in spite of many differing views of this “war”.  I am filled with sorrow for the lives that are broken and for the lives that were lost.  Mainly, I say, “Thank God for this day”.