A Trail of Excellence

My story actually comes in two parts so let’s begin with Part 1.
On April 22 2024 I had a hip replacement surgery done by Dr Stephen Connolly at the SJRH. He and his team did excellent work preparing me for the surgery. A special note for Dr Bob Goss (anesthesiologist) and nurse Brook who ensured my comfort and answered my questions , and played Fleetwood Mac for me in the OR. And affirmed that I wouldn’t fall off the OR bed lol. Great team up on the Orthopedic floor , the nursing staff and the physio people (Richard) who had me ready to go home the next day. That should have been the end of the story but ….

Part 2 Three weeks post surgery on May 14 I was happily recouping at home when I fell and dislocated my hip. I was alone at the time and scared and in incredible pain. The paramedics arrived (I wish I could remember their names) and got me to the hospital ER all the while taking great care of me. Dr Peter Moss ,Resident Dr Veronica Landry (sp) nurse Tammy Lynn, respiratory therapist Donnie, nurse Mike and the rest of the team took fabulous care of me, repositioned my hip (glad to be asleep for that) and sent me home.
Two days later on May 16 my hip spontaneously dislocated again ( just sitting on the bed). Another trip to the hospital via ambulance and wonderful paramedics and Dr Brian Ramrattan, Nurses Mike, Griffin and Michael, Respiratory Therapist Donnie put me back together again.
May 17 in the evening it happened again. My hip dislocated AGAIN while I was watching tv. My third trip in an ambulance,again with amazing paramedics who delivered me to the ER. Many thank you’s to Dr Nick Byers, Nurse Michael, and Respiratory Therapist Donnie and the team who , on a busy Friday night put my hip back in place. Dr Byers told me he needed to solve the issue so I wouldn’t have to endure this happening again, the pain, the being put to sleep, etc. So he admitted me to the hospital on complete bed rest until Dr Connolly could put in a more permanent fix.
The long weekend in May was spent on complete bed rest on the surgery and the ortho floors.
The nurses in both of those units are so good at their jobs and were kind and encouraging to me. I can’t remember all of their names but I’ll try (Melissa, Maddison, Destiny, Maria ) on the Surgery Unit and Patrick on Ortho , also the lovely nurse who on Sunday night made me some toast and cheese. I hadn’t eaten since Friday night so was a wee bit hungry.

A return to the OR on Victoria Day Monday , and many thank you s to the team who came in to do my surgery. Dr Connolly , thank you for coming in on your weekend off to look after me and to put a ‘fix’ in my hip. I appreciate you so much.

So that’s the story. 2 surgeries, 3 ambulance trips, 3 ER visits, 2 dept ( Surgery and Ortho) and a great physio team (Pamela and Richard) and a roster of nurses in all of the departments who cared for me.
A particular shout out to nurse Maria on the Surgery floor who just has that ‘something extra’ when working with her patients. She is a gem.

So there it is. A success story of our care system.

Thank you to any caretakers that I have missed. You are all a credit to your professions.