Broken Ankle and the Footlong

Here are two emails I sent that describe the scene, just wanted to keep them for posterity.  First though, I will insert a couple of photos, because of course, who would ever want to read my long blurbs, except maybe me?

Bob wanted his picture taken with all the nurses. Claimed it was for someone named "Bill" but I knew otherwise.

Receiving these goodies from fun friends, well it made it almost seem worthwhile, until they had all been eaten.

February 10, 2013

Hi Gang,

This is to set the facts about Bob's fall, before rumors start flying...

Because I was babysitting for Hugh and Eli Friday night, Bob went to Subway after work for his supper.  One the way out, with a footlong in hand, he fell on their slippery stairs outside.  He hobbled his way back up and into Subway where the young (high school) girl was flustered and gave him a chair and tried to call her supervisor.  Bob called me to explain that his foot was out of alignment and he thought he broke his ankle or lower leg.  I told him to call 911, cops arrived, "rescue squad" arrived, and off he went to Mercy Hospital on 67/50 just up the road. 

The ER, x-rays showed several breaks in his ankle.  ER put him under and worked on realigning his foot to his leg.  Then he was admitted and told he would have surgery Saturday morning 8 am.  I arrived at 10:30 pm just after he got to his room, and there sat the footlong on his tray next to him.  His spirits were high at this point, everything was amusing and he wanted pictures with all of the nurses (for Bill he said?????). 

After surgery, the nice Dr. Lyon (with a Bears surgery cap on) told me they put pins and a plate in one side of his ankle and pins on the other side of the ankle.  Then he explained what Bob's future regiment would be and I ran out of paper writing my notes...whatever, this is huge.  No weight bearing for 6 weeks, going from temp plaster cast, to x-rays in 10-12 days, to stitches coming out and a permanent cast, and after 6 weeks, switching to a boot, where within 3 more weeks he should be bearing weight.  It's his left foot, so supposedly he could drive in a week or so if he can manipulate the crutches and walker. 

So after surgery, Bob was a new person.  Crabby, in pain, not nice to the nurses.  He didn't eat much yesterday nor did he get out of bed at all.  He kept falling asleep and then snore and wake himself up.  Today they will get him up and around and a therapist will work with him on stuff he must master before he can come home (today, tomorrow??? don't know yet.)  Last night when Sarah family FACETIMED with me, I was explaining what a urinal is to Henry.

Saturday afternoon, my friend helped me get Bob's car from Subway to our house and the gas tank showed Empty.  When I told Bob this, he was shocked because he had just filled the tank.  So probably in the dark of Friday night/early morning, some needy person found the lonely car and siphoned what they wanted to make them feel like they SCORED.

We will follow up with Subway on this, will take up all of the loose rugs in the house, move furniture around, and the days ahead will answer our questions on our immediate future, one step at a time.   One of Bob's first comments: Good thing we don't have a big trip planned this winter.

Thanks to all of you for your concern.  There is absolutely nothing anyone can do at this time, but we appreciate your offers to help.  Prayers and a funny card would be the best thing of all.  This will be a true test on my wifely caregiving patience for the patient..  Our kids wish they could be here to help and give advice, and I appreciate this, plus all of your suggestions, especially Greg's funny list of things Dad can do in the 6 weeks to come, Sarah's wish to be here and to talk any time I need to and suggestion to fill the fridge with salads, and Raina's wise words from a hospital/patient/caregiver standpoint.  Love that the grandchildren will Facebook Grandpa to try to cheer him up.  I had just read a book on skeletons to Eli and so explained that Grandpa's ankle skeleton bones are now broken.

So, whatever Facebook says, this is the truth for now.  Don't feel sorry for us, just smirk and realize that our life has changed for awhile and we will have to slow down.

Love, Barb

PS (of course) - I included some of you who already know all of this, but didn't want to leave anyone out.   If you have questions, just email, because it works best for our communication and there is wifi at the hospital when I am visiting (with my iPad).  Most important of all, the remote works both at home and at the hospital.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 February 19, 2013

Briefly~~~ (haha)

Temporary cast got cut off today 2-19-13.
Many stitches were removed with staple remover (with squeals of ouch here and there)
Doc checked swollen ankle and said it looked good!
Showed us the after surgery X-rays.
Bob chose royal blue for the color of his permanent cast and on it went.  I guess we'll get a white Sharpie for autographs.

Questions were answered:
He doesn't have to sleep on his back.
He should still elevate his foot in bed and during the day.
He can move around as much as he wants, but still no weight bearing on it.
He can shower with new cast in 4 or so days.
Got a prescription for a wheel chair which has now been delivered.
Otherwise he should still use the walker.
He can go back to work whenever he feels like he can get himself there.

Next appointment is in 4 weeks when they hope to remove this cast and give him a black boot. Then he can slowly start bearing weight as needed.
He got a written "excuse" to give to work asking them to let him work from home.
He will not do any physical therapy until he gets to the black boot stage.

He has now started counting weeks and days and thinking ahead to fishing and worrying about that and walking this spring and summer.

Thanks to all of you for your friendly concerns and fun cards and calls.  Some made him (and me) laugh out loud.  When he didn't answer the phone, it wasn't because we were at Chuck's, no, he just was not next to the phone. 
Bob is eating, lost a little weight last week, which made him smile and is working from home with his STUFF all over the kitchen table.

To those who asked, he only ate 1/2 of the sub, the other half disappeared in the hospital.  It was a beef & black forest ham, got double meat at the last minute, on Italian bread, lettuce, pickles, peppers, a little mayo, little vinegar and oil, S & P and oregano.  He said he had his dream sandwich.

Let the insurance inquiries begin!

Barb
Secretary (Nurse) to Bob
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We also received some great questions, comments and well wishes from friends and family and I wanted to include some of them here as well.  I will leave names off to protect the innocent.

"
1. He can make your lunch.

2. Bring up a box from the basement each morning, and he can sort through it.

3. Give him cookbooks and have him plan meals. He can make grocery lists and on the days that you're not home, he can chop vegetables and prepare spices.

4. He can fold laundry.

5. He can organize all your digital photos.

6. He can facetime daily with grandkids."

" just an FYI, my brother just had major foot surgery, and I suggested he look into getting a scooter that you kneel on at times when crutches just don't seem to be working right.  He rented one, and said it was the best thing he could have done.  cost him $35 for the month, and helped him since his "good foot" wasn't that great either. 
woke up thinking of you all... hang in there Bob!  Barbara, you will be an Excellent nurse!! : ))"

"Our prayers are with you, glad to hear you have an upbeat attitude with all this.  The all important question is,is anybody doing the laundry,  is Bob in need of  underwear!!!!!    Bill is really interested in seeing the picture with the nurses!!!"

"This is the first I am hearing of this.  My initial reaction is to come up with something funny to say to lighten things up but the more I think, the more this really sucks.  Put me on the "Help List" and let me know if there is anything I can do.  Would be happy to spend time with him so you can get out of the house. Since it sounds like he may have some time on his hands I can offer a guitar and some tutorials if he has any interest.  There is a learning method that utilizes whats called tablature.  Don't need to read music and you just have fun learning chords at your pace.  Just had a weird thought.  Barb, you recently stepped into handle NFL league duties for fantasy football and now Bob is on injured reserve.  Go figure!!!!

Much love & please call when I can help in any way,"



" Hi B&B omg!! So sorry to hear about all of this !! My prayers are also with you!! Both!! Just a question IF you don't mind? Is that sandwich  gone?? Love u guys & take one day at a time!!"



" I too want to know when the pics of Bob and the nurses will be hitting the Internet. Love you two and Bob give me a call when you are ready to head out for a pizza. burger ...... anything but SUBWAY.  OH And they did put his foot with the toe forward ??? You know those Bears fans they can never get it right..."

"Too many unanswered questions:

• was it white or whole wheat seven grain bread?
• was it a meatball sub or a cold-cut combo?
• was it on sale?
• did they give him a refund?
• was the ambulance an alternative fueled vehicle?
• will Bob still be able to do a commercial with Jarred?
• will he ever be able to fish again? Or play the violin?

Inquiring minds want to know.

ps: Unless one is dressed in tights and a tutu executing a demi pli'e;  only an engineer would remark that a foot at right angle to its pair would need "realignment"."

 "Oh dear, I'm so sorry! That is yucky news from Williams Bay! The few times I went into that subway I was very leery and careful on those horrible steps. I feel his pain, please give him my best get well wishes. Those ankles are very important!! Father symthe at maryville says the secret to a happy retirement(which you haven't even started yet) is "don't fall".
This will be a test for a few weeks on your nursing skills!"