The Long Shafts of Injustice
On 30 September my brother called me. Our mother had fallen in the shower. On arrival at the skilled nursing center, we were told that her buttocks had missed the transfer back to the wheelchair, but it was a controlled fall. Essentially, a controlled fall is witnessed and the assisting companion breaks the impact of the fall by controlling the movement downward onto the floor. As a Registered Nurse, I have on occasion performed this maneuver with a client.
I checked my mother and she stated that her upper legs hurt. I requested an x ray - out of an abundance of caution. I was told the policy allowed for observation for three days prior to ordering an x ray. The next day, my mother's pain was worse. Again, I requested the physician be called and an x ray obtained. Third day? Really bad pain. X ray requested again.
Mid-afternoon on 3 October, my mother was sent to the emergency room. X rays showed bilateral mid-shaft femur breaks. Both femur, shattered. To complicate matters, she was septic. The surgery was 7.5 hours and ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) was performed on both legs with rods, plates, and screws. A total of four units of blood were given to my mother. This past Saturday was one of the worst days for my family - as we sat in the waiting room waiting for the surgeon to finally come out and speak with us.
When I told the surgeon of the "controlled fall" he stated, "The story does not make sense. This type of severe blunt force trauma is only seen with horrific car accidents."
My mother told us a couple of days ago, "I knew my legs were badly damaged... I heard them go crunch, munch." As a nurse, I know there are times when pain is so severe, the client loses the ability to verbally express the pain properly. This seems to be the case with my mother - who is cognizant and has great verbal expressive function.
I filed a complaint with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission five days ago. Sent x rays of my mother's legs, and an in-depth account of events. Spoke of the callous disregard for my mother's life; the cover-up of what really happened; the lie regarding the type of fall.
The agency was efficient and this morning I received a confidential reply which I have not even shared with my siblings. And while their letter is confidential, my correspondence and reply to them is not confidential. We feel betrayed by the State of Texas. And as I stated in my response, I was unaware that the femur bones are located in the buttocks.
My mother's injury impacts five generations. Recently, Mom welcomed her first great great grandchild. This is not now just about her. It is about all of us. And when, as Americans, did we cease to really care for and cherish our aging population? Mom is still in the hospital. And now I am acquainted with the long shafts of injustice.
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