Medical Funds for a broken knee

Warning - long, rambling post coming up!

Well the deed is done and the pins are out! So far, so good, relatively

little pain and getting around slowly. This is how my surgery day went

....

Up very early, after not that much sleep, nothing to eat and just clear

drinks until 7am. Then we left for the hospital, to check in at the day

case arrivals for 7.30am. We were shown to their arrivals area, where

many others and their relatives were sitting waiting too. It was bedlam

there actually, nurses running around doing bits and pieces and doctors,

anaesthetists and physio therapists popping in and out to see everyone

before they were sent off the the operating theater.

First I answered the admissions questionnaire, then saw the surgeon who

had come to draw an arrow pointing at my knee. Next a visit by the

physio who had come to issue crutches and tell me how to walk on them - I

told him I'd got my own and after 6 months, I think I'd got the hang of

it by now. Next, I was taken to a booth where I got changed into my

theater gown and after my blood pressure was taken, we were left to wait

for the "call up". My cousin is a nurse in theater and she text

messaged me to say I was second on the list and they were waiting for

me, so I wouldn't have to wait much longer now. Just as well, because my

nerves were getting a bit wrecked by now.

At 10am I was taken down to theater in a wheelchair and my cousin met me

there to check me in. She stayed with me whilst I was put to sleep and

hers was the first voice I heard, waking me up just over 30 minutes

later. She got me a warm blanket and some water to sip and then kept a

check on me for a while. She told me the surgeon was pleased with the

procedure and although some of the metalwork was a little bit tricky to

remove, he did manage to get it all out without causing anymore damage.

As I woke up a bit more, I became aware of a stinging in my knee, well,

more above and around where I imagined the wound to be actually. I told

her this and she said I'd had a morphine shot but she would get me some

codeine once I'd been taken to the day case ward to recover further.

Once she was happy with my progress, she took me down to the ward to

hand me over! I was given codeine and left to snooze it off for a bit.

Apart from the stinging, my knee actually felt fine. Although I was

apprehensive about when the moment arrived for me to stand up and walk!

After an hour I was given a dismal cheese sandwich to eat and a cup of

weak coffee. I ate the sandwich dutifully, and now I need 1200 euros for the medicaments and 650 for terapy, if you think that you will help me with a donation will be apreciate it, thanks.

Waiting to be discharged from Hospital

My bandaged knee

Feeling very positive at the moment and definitely no regrets about

getting the surgery done. I know there's still a way to go yet, but

hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of a long ordeal. I think

the information I've read and lessons I've learned since my injury are

standing me in good stead, no nasty surprises and plenty of ideas for

what I should and should not be doing, and more importantly, what works

for ME. Happier days ahead!