My summer of 2024 was starting off to be a beautiful summer. It was the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and I was taking my weekly walk with a good friend of mine. We were just finishing up the walk by the river on the bike trail close to Glenwood and State. You know the one if you're a local Boise resident, the trail that goes behind the Garden City Public library, crosses a bridge, and then you have a choice of turning left or turning right. We had chosen to turn right to walk behind the beautiful homes that are in that section of town, and almost to the pond.
My friend is the only female that I have met in Boise that knows how to fish and fishing is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. I grew up learning how to fish in the rivers and streams every Wednesday evening and on the weekends as it was my father's favorite thing to do. I have not yet achieved becoming the fisher person that he was, but I do enjoy the sport and I look forward to it every year.
I saw a little trail going down to the river, and said "that looks like a good little place to fish". She responded, "Where?" I told her it was back a few feet and she asked me if we wanted to go check it out, so we turned around and walked back to the little trail. I have a rescue dog whose name is Jorgi Porgi, and I had his leash attached to my belt so that I could have my hands-free - something I would not suggest to anyone.
We started down this very slight decline, and Jorgi started going a little faster. I've only had them since November and he came to me with very high anxiety and trust issues, and hasn't had a lot of training. I pulled back on the leash with my left hand, called out to him to stop (forgetting he is deaf) and felt myself start to go forward. I immediately looked to the right and reached out with my right hand for a branch or a limb to grab onto, and my right foot hit some unseen roots above ground, and I fell straight forward on my right arm flexing my arm all the way over and somehow ending up flat on my back with my head toward the river and my feet toward the trail.
I don't think I've screamed that loud since I gave birth 33 years ago!
My friend calmed me down and told me to just breathe. After she helped me get up from that very awkward position, we walked down to get some ice for my arm and then to a doc-in-the box where I got some x-rays and found out that I had fractured my wrist in two places.
So I've been a little quiet on LinkedIn lately!
It took me until July 1 to get surgery. I had dislocated my wrist from the ulna bone, and that bone ended up behind my wrist. It was a jagged break, and the nerves in that area were basically strung across that break. I ended up with a metal plate on the bottom of my wrist and an 8" - 10" metal rod on top to keep my wrist from moving. I am now in a wrist guard healing and awaiting another surgery in two more months.
Of course, this put a stop to my summer plans, going to see Jon Batiste at the Idaho Botanical Gardens, coordinating any more Senior Resource fairs for LEARNIdaho, and kept me off of the event committee for the First Annual Veterans & First Responders Celebration with the Orville Jackson Post 127.
Not to mention I haven't gone fishing yet!
But the story really isn't about what happened to me on that first Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend. It's about the Crash course I went through learning why it is important as a Solo Ager to have a patient advocate by your side who can help you navigate through medical situations.
It was mid May when I learned about what it means to be a Solo Ager in "theory." I had read a post a colleague shared about #SAVvy Day, May 15th - Solo Aging Visibility day. I have family, including a grown son, so I don't really think of myself as a Solo Ager, but right now it is my reality.
I've have advocated for my own health most of my life. What I didn't understand is why it is important for not just Solo Agers but ANYONE to have a patient advocate when they are experiencing medical situations.
By the time I had an appointment with a local surgeon, it was close to two weeks that I had experienced the break. When that surgery was cancelled, and I had to start the process all over again, I requested to have the surgery done at St. Luke's. That surgery was not scheduled as they did not have someone available soon enough, and the third orotho doc I saw told me I needed a hand/arm specialist.
All this time during trying to find a surgeon and navigate the medical system, I was doing my best to train myself in voice command on my laptop, voice command on my text messages, etc. so I could communicate. Believe me, it wasn't a pretty picture! I can laugh at it all now, but I am most certain some thought I had no concept of how to use the English language properly!
I finally reached out to the Director of Physical Therapy at the Wright Physical Therapy office I had just recently completed some time with, and he gave me the name of a surgeon he knew. I saw that doctor on the last Thursday in June and had my operation scheduled for July 1. I was so focused on finding a specialist who was availiable that I didn't even think about what I would need for after care.
Luckily, two Treasure Valley angels appeared to help me; Karen Midlo and Dee Childers with Life Changes Elder Care. They magically appeared on wings of compassionate experience. Between the two of them, I received the greatest aftercare one could ask for.
Dee acted as my patient advocate and asked the doctor questions I hadn't even thought of, as well as taking Jorgi Porgi for the first week. Karen not only took me to the surgery and brought me back home, she changed her schedule to came over for the first four days to make certain I ate, took my medications on time, iced my arm, and helped me undress for that first after-surgery shower.
I was able to just focus on healing.
I learned so much more about caretaking, staying on top of the pain once that nerve block wears off, keeping my arm elevated, and the importance of having someone present during the conversation with the doctor so that my voice was heard and not dismissed. I thought to myself, "How do folks who don't have a concept of self-advocacy get the help that they need?" Now, I know.
Talk to a Patient Advocate before surgery.
Take a Patient Advocate with you to your appointment.
Find out what your after care may look like and prepare before hand.
Most importantly, keep the dog leash in your hand, not attached to your belt!
For now, I've GONE FISHIN'!
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