GMom Makes a Landing....

Yesterday, Gooserock's Mom fell while crossing the street across from our house. She had gone with a girlfriend to the church down at the corner where they serve a lunch for anyone interested on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's sort of "the thing to do" for quite a large collection of locals especially seniors.

She had her lunch and the two of them were walking back to our house...GMom with her cane. This is a walk she has taken many times and knows it well.

We were in the livingroom just beginning to watch for her as it was time for her return. I glanced out the window and nearly had a heart attack. I yelled, "Mom's fallen, she's in the street!!". I saw this very tiny form flat out on her face in the pull-off across from us. Her friend was bending over her.

We both ran out...I didn't even stop to put on shoes. She was laying sort of half on her front and half on her left side and bleeding from her face. I yanked off my sweat shirt and put it under her head/face and ran back to the house to call 9-1-1.

I told the dispatcher our address, phone number, Mom's age and briefly what happened. Then the dispatcher started asking all those silly questions like you hear on TV.

"Is she bleeding from her nose or her mouth?"

Me: "I can't tell, she's laying on her face."

"Is she conscious?

Me: "Yes, she's talking."

"Are you sure she's bleeding? and from where?"

Me: "Yes, she's bleeding, I can't see from where for sure...her face somewhere"

Finally dispatcher says the EMTs have been called and are on their way. I run back into the house again to get a blanket.

We wait 10-15 minutes. No emergency squad. I call again. By now several people have stopped to help and ask if we've called anyone yet. Dispatcher says the EMTs are on their way and should be there soon. I remind her that this 81 year old woman is laying in the street on cold asphalt and WHERE IS THE EMERGENCY SQUAD? I get the same answer, they've been called and are on their way.

After what was about 20 minutes, they arrive. They use our blanket to roll her over and lift her onto the stretcher. The did a preliminary check of hips, etc to be sure nothing is broken. She is bleeding from her forehead and nose. We said we wanted her taken to the ER (45 minutes away). Since she was talking coherently and seemed to have nothing broken, I, instead of Gooserock followed in our car.

We spent 3.5 hours in the ER. They did a head CT to be sure there was no bleeding in the brain. They dug a stone out of her forehead that was about 4mm x 8mm. Finally they got around to suturing her....5 stitches in her forehead and two in the bridge of her nose where her glasses sit. Her whole nose and part of her upper lip and forehead are abraided. But, thankfully, no bones were broken, no bleeding in her brain. This could have been so much worse. We are so thankful. And best of all it will serve to make her be more cautious about where she puts her feet and how she steps over the curb bump. It's not a real curb. It's like a speed bump paralleling the road to keep rain water from flooding the sidewalk. I think she forgot it was there, couldn't see it (it's not painted and is the same asphalt as the road) and she must have fallen over it and landed full on her face. She did not get her hands or arms up to protect her face. I've called City Hall to suggest that this "curb" be painted bright white or yellow. The spot is also a favorite of tourists to pull of the road and look at the scene. Lots of people would benefit from the paint job.

All in all, she's a very lucky lady. But BOY! you should see her today. Two swollen red raccoon eyes, red swollen scabby nose, swollen upper lip, over all aches and pains. Thank goodness for vicodin. She slept well and has good appetite. I will not be taking a picture of her.

This is her second fall since she's been up here and there were two in Florida. It's really scarey!

She just came out of her "apartment" to say she was ready for her glass of wine. We talked her out of it due to the narcotic. She agreed. I'd say she's feeling a lot better.