Tuesday, November 8, 2016

George's Story


      More Letters From Paradise
           George's Story

George is a large heavy-set man in his sixties, bald, with a fringe of gray hair. He is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer. He and I have several things in common. We live in the same building, and we both are "Airdales," which is Navy slang for men who served in the aviation branch of the Navy. I like to kid him that for all his service, he never went to sea. We both are fond of books and reading. And there is one thing more. We are part of a loosely-held organization called ROMEO (retired old men eating out). We meet every Friday morning, and go together to a local restaurant for breakfast and conversation.

The guys had not seen him around for some time, then I learned he had at last gone to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. I had been bugging him for some time to go there for treatment. George had undergone knee replacement, and things had gone terribly wrong!! I know several people who have had this done, with somewhat satisfactory results. But this one is one for the books. Let me try and explain what had happened.

George was operated on both knees. One knee came out alright, but the second knee became infected. He underwent five operations on that knee!! He was given two bags of antibiotics six days a week, for two weeks.The wound refused to close, so a vacuum pump was attached to his knee. The wound closed at last, but then it began to drain. Is it any wonder that I urged him to go to the Mayo Clinic? Besides, I argued, he was from Minnesota and his daughter lived not far from the clinic.

And so, George had gone to the Mayo Clinic. I didn't have his cell phone number, but when I did get to speak to him, he said that his leg had been amputated!!

George had discussed with me that if it came to lose his leg he was ready, as he was miserable, and could not get around and do anything. With a new leg he would be more mobile.

I call him every so often for a progress report, so I can tell all the guys. George is in good spirits. He said that after the operation he had a phantom pain in his little toe after the leg was gone.

He is up and using a walker, and then trying the first of his new legs. But his stump had shrunken, and required shims to make a tighter fit.

His final new leg is manufactured in Austria, and contains a chip, which tells the wearer if the ground under foot is uneven or not. And he said that he has to plug the leg into an electric wall socket for charging. The cost of the leg is said to be fifty thousand dollars. Not many places are familiar with this Austrian-built leg, but George called around and found one. Guess where? On our island, at Tripler Hospital. How about that? He hopes to return sometime later this month, but he says there is a steep learning curve. I know he will master the use of his new leg. He is a tough old bird and one of the bravest men I have ever met.

      Aloha
      Grant