Here’s an update on knee replacement number one in the land of the Golden Boy.
Surgery was just over a month ago, right on schedule in Winnipeg. Saskatchewan also had a shot at it, but from them I’ve heard absolutely nothing in months.
St. Boniface Hospital.
This was indeed my first hospital stay in more than sixty years, and I must take a moment to salute the folks who do all the chores that make the system work. I was struck by the fact that more than half of them were born somewhere other than Canada, places like India, the Phillipines, Trinidad and Belize.
They do a lot of fairly awful jobs, like emptying catheters and blood drains. These are jobs that most of us would never want. In some cases it’s one of three different jobs these people perform to make ends meet and feed their families and maybe send one of the children to medical school.
The immigrant story in health care is truly an inspiration.
“How goes the rehab?” everyone is asking. I can thankfully say very very well, but the road is long and not always a straight line. Two weeks after I got home I was able to park the walker and get by on a cane. Now I only use the cane when I go out.
My beloved partner is pleased I have stopped using a Thunder mug and I’ll say no more. I’ve managed to drive my vehicle because the left leg is not needed with automatic transmission. But do I ever wish that I had size 7 feet, rather than size 14 right now. Getting that left foot in and out is the hardest task.
I have a wonderful physiotherapist at rehab named Tony. The stretching and exercises are a must if you want the whole adventure to be worthwhile. Now I know what they mean when folks like Tony say No pain, no gain .. right.
I’m Roger Currie
