Tippy Update - Friday, December 5th

Howdy Y’all,
Well Tippy continues to improve and show her positive attitude as she fights through the pain while working with her PT’s and OT’s. They work with her for at least three hours every day in time segments of 30 – 60 minutes each. She was doing stairs this afternoon – up and down – and lots of walking. She also uses weights to strengthen her arms and legs. She is committed to get through this so she can go home ASAP. I went out and bought some clothes today so I won’t have to do so much laundry and I also picked up a few TV Dinners. I do have some steaks in the freezer, have grilled two already, and I believe some pork chops. Tippy seems worried about me getting enough but with the stuff I have purchased, and the number of restaurants in the area, it would be my own fault if I starved.

Tippy appreciates your thoughts and prayers and loves to hear from you on the phone so don’t hesitate to give her a call on her cell (702-812-9985) and say hi. If she is gone to therapy she will get back to you when she returns to her room. Alex has been moping around the coach and acting like she is sick so we are going to try to get her over to see Tippy this weekend. They don’t allow dogs into the rehab center but they do have a small courtyard where they allow you to bring your pets for visits with their peeps. I am sure that will do both of them a world of good. I can also print e-mails and take them to her or take the computer to her, they do have wireless in the rehab center, and she can respond directly to your messages. Have a great weekend and be safe.

Stu

Tippy Update - Wednesday, December 3rd

Howdy Y’all,

Well we got Tippy into the rehab center this afternoon, finally! She should be there a week or so. The center is here in Tyler so Alex and I have signed up for another week at the RV Park. We had some communication problems between the hospital and the health insurance company in Vegas and between the rehab center and the insurance company. The rehab center seems to be in the clear, with us anyhow, as they did all they could do to expedite the transfer. The hospital neglected to notify the health insurance folks that Tippy was even in their hospital so when the rehab center called to get pre-authorization for the rehab they were informed that they didn’t even know Tippy was in the hospital. Once the hospital sent them the proper [paperwork it took them almost 24 hours to get approval for Tippy to proceed with rehab, like you can have surgery on a broken hip and not require rehab. Anyhow they have now approved and Tippy is moved and settled. They gave her a good dinner although she still doesn’t have much of an appetite.



I also heard from the administrators association in Las Vegas about our insurance, I had written them an e-mail detailing our difficulties. Alan Chandler, assistant director I believe, informed us that our maximum out of pocket for any calendar year is $1500 plus $250 deductible for a total of $1,750. We had been concerned about a large medical bill since we are responsible for 20% at “In Network” facilities. With three extended and a couple of shorter conversations with the health insurance folks this week no one bothered to tell me this little fact. Also they neglected to inform me that for out of area insured, out of state, we could go to facilities that are not “In Network” and still only pay at the 20% level and with the same max’s if the “In Network facilities were too far away. I don’t know why they would leave out this important information and cause us so much worry and concern. It’s to bad that we have to be 70 miles from home but the facilities seem to be top notch and with the motorhome it is not terribly inconvenient. Our friends Steve and Kay continue to take care of our home, better than I do I believe, so I don’t have to worry about that at all. They even fixed a leaky toilet for me that I didn’t have time to fix before the kids arrived and before I left for Tyler.



They will start Tippy on therapy tomorrow, three hours a day, and they will evaluate her progress next Tuesday to determine if she needs to continue or if she can be sent home, possibly with some in home or out patient care. She continues to progress very well in my opinion, and the medical staff as well, at least they say so. We will just see how the next few days go and see what we need to do. As I am prone to say, “It is what it is.” Be safe.

Tippy Update

Hi Y’all,

This is the Sunday afternoon update. Tippy’s surgery on Friday went very well and to the doctor’s expectation. She had an almost comfortable night on Friday and the PT had her on her feet on Saturday morning and she walked a few steps and then sat in a recliner chair for a couple of hours. This morning Alex and I visited Tippy and Alex seemed to really perk her up! She was up and in the recliner when we arrived and had walked to the restroom earlier in the AM. Her pain from the surgery is greatly reduced today and her throat is much better as well, from the airway they use during surgery. She received a pint of blood today to replace what has been draining from the surgery and the doctors say she is doing very well. Her orthopedic doctor didn’t come by this morning but is expected tomorrow AM. We aren’t sure if she will be released tomorrow or not. We still haven’t met with the social worker to discuss a rehab facility and those arrangements obviously haven’t been made so I don’t see how they can release her tomorrow but we will see. We are learning to be flexible these days. I will go back to the hospital this afternoon and then grill a steak at the coach for dinner this evening. More news will follow as it becomes known to me.

Tippy's Thanksgiving Accident

Hi All,

Thought you would want to know that Tippy fell and broke her hip on Thanksgiving day. She has now had surgery and the pain is significantly reduced but she still has much re-hab ahead of her. She was working in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner for all of us, David & John and their families were all here, when one, or maybe two, of the dogs got under foot and she lost her balance trying not to step on them and she fell. Due to the position of her left leg, foot laying flat on the floor pointing away from the body, it was apparent there was a serious problem. We called 911 immediately and the local volunteer fire department had a guy there in about five minutes followed shortly after by three more. They couldn’t do much except offer first aid which she didn’t need and to help make her comfortable. The ambulance arrived from Corsicana, about 30 miles away, in about 40 minutes. One of the volunteer fire guys waited to meet them at the main road and guided them in so they wouldn’t miss any turns. The EMT was able to give Tippy some meds to relieve her pain and then they were able to get her on the stretcher. I followed the ambulance into Corsicana and went to the emergency room with her. They took x-rays right away and it was quite apparent that the hip was broken right through the femoral (sp) neck.



Unfortunately the orthopedic surgeon from the hospital was gone for the holiday weekend and no one else was on call. The emergency room doctor said the hip needed quick attention so they wanted to transfer her to a hospital that has an orthopedic surgeon available. Tyler, Texas was the closest with the best facilities so they transported her there, after an hour wait for another ambulance. I again followed in the car, about 80 miles from one hospital to the other, and again went to the emergency room with her. We arrived there at about 8:00 pm, originally picked up by the ambulance at home at about 2:00, and then waited until almost 11:00 to get placed in a room on the orthopedic floor. The orthopedic doctor met with us in the ER and explained the surgery and the possible re-hab that would be needed. He also spoke with us again after Tippy got into her room. He was very nice and reassuring about the procedure. He said he doesn’t treat the surgery like an assembly line but he does do quite a few. The important thing was that Tippy liked him right away.



I finally left about ten minutes to twelve for the 75 mile drive home and arrived about 1:15 AM. The boys were still up, kind of, and O reviewed everything with them, had a plate of leftovers from Thanksgiving, got a few things put together, and got to bed at almost 3:00. I got up at 6:15, got the motorhome arranged and started, hooked up the car and Alex and I were on the way back to Tyler at 7:00. I arrived at the RV park at 8:45 and was on my way to the hospital when Tippy called to say they were taking her to surgery. I got there to find she had already been moved to pre-op, 9:30, and they gave me directions to that location. I met Tippy there and waited for the doctors to begin the surgery. Well we waited until almost 11:30 before they came to give her some “relaxing meds” and take her to surgery. I then returned to the RV park to take care of Alex and finish setting up the coach. I returned to the hospital at 1:00 and waited to hear from the doctor. He finished the surgery at about 2:00, came and assured me that everything went well, and told me that she would be brought up to her room in about an hour. I waited there and she did arrive at 3:00.



The surgery went fine, basically the bottom half of a hip replacement, and she rested comfortably, better than pre-surgery, Friday night as did I. Alex and I went to bed at 9:30 and didn’t get up until 8:15. I took her for her morning walk, had some coffee, canceled some reservations we had for trips next week and our December and January trip, and then headed for the hospital at 10:00. To my surprise Tippy was sitting in a chair and had already put weight on the hip and leg! She was able to sit in the chair, a recliner on wheels, until after lunch before returning to her bed. They allow me to order meals with her so Tippy and I had lunch together before I returned to see Alex and to send this e-mail. I will return later this afternoon to visit and have dinner with Tippy before returning to the coach for the evening. I think Tippy will be ready to take calls tomorrow, her cell number is 702-812-9985 if you don’t have it, and please keep her in your prayers.