A loving couple

A loving couple

A loving couple


It was just before lunch yesterday, I was working at the computer entering medicines when I got a call. Augustine notified me that someone had fallen in the church and asked if I could please come down and check. At first I hesitated, the nurse was not here, it was Sunday. Even if she was I am not sure it would be good for her to deal with the public at large. However, when I was told it was an elderly lady I decided it best for me to go, for fails can be very serious when past a certain age.

When I arrived I saw the women lying on the floor, her husband standing watch, with a small group of people gathered around. The husband had a walker and was keeping silent sentinel over her. The first thing I did was to get him a chair to set on and then knelt down next to the elderly women, took her hand in mine and asked her how she was doing. She smiled nervously and said she seemed to be ok. When I asked about pain, she pointed to her left hip. I told her that we needed to call 911, to get to the hospital and have her checked out. For there was a good chance, she could have at least a hair line fracture, so to move her could only make things worse, if that were the case. I called 911 and let them know the situation, also that she was not in any immediate danger, and so the fire department and lots of whistles and bells where not needed.

She was a very attractive woman, whom I could see took great pride in how she looked; she was also trying to be brave for her husband. I thought that I was going to have to drive the husband into the ER, but soon a young woman came forward, who said that she was their driver and all she needed was directions to the hospital. I gave her directions, also my cell phone number in case she needed anything.

As we were waiting for the ambulance I could not help but feel deeply for her. She seemed so vulnerable, scared, both for herself and her husband. So I told her not to worry. The fall did not seem bad, so even if there is a fracture; today they fix them up quickly and will have her on her feet in no time. She had no bone disease so that was in her favor. It seemed to help a little, there is so little that can actually be done for others; which at times is a cause of frustration for me.

After the ambulance came, the EMT’s allowed the husband to drive in with them, for they were inseparable, and the love they had for one another shown through in a gentle quiet dignity. It was difficult to get the husband into the Van, but one of the EMT’s put down a case and we were able to get him in.

It turned out that she did have a hair line fracture, and she was able to go home to Florida for the operation. The driver rented a car that allowed for the front seat to go back far enough where she could travel comfortably. I was a little nervous when I heard this, but from what I last heard they had arrived safely at the hospital, and no doubt the operation will be done today or tomorrow.

All in all I am glad that they called me. For I have learned from painful experience that when someone who is elderly falls, you best get it checked, to allow them to move could cause a hair line fracture to become worse and complicate matters. I did that once, a painful lesson for all concerned.