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The most dangerous place on earth for me.

This facilty I'm in is really amazing at what they do for patients here. I had some concerns earlier due to my misunderstanding, combined with a cataclysm of events at the facility that prevented them from being as responsive to my needs as they might otherwise have been. Their case manager, nutritionist and a PT were all out sick when I first arrived. Looking back on it now, I realize what extraordinary efforts they were making on my behalf, unknown to me at the time.

Today, I walked 1500 feet unaided except for a walker. We are now looking at a much earlier date for my discharge to home care than originally envisioned. I still have at least 2 months of rehab work ahead of me, but knowing I'll be able to do most of it at home is very encouraging.

Thanks for all your morale support, advice and warm wishes; they really have helped.
 
UtahPete said:
This facilty I'm in is really amazing at what they do for patients here. I had some concerns earlier due to my misunderstanding, combined with a cataclysm of events at the facility that prevented them from being as responsive to my needs as they might otherwise have been. Their case manager, nutritionist and a PT were all out sick when I first arrived. Looking back on it now, I realize what extraordinary efforts they were making on my behalf, unknown to me at the time.

Today, I walked 1500 feet unaided except for a walker. We are now looking at a much earlier date for my discharge to home care than originally envisioned. I still have at least 2 months of rehab work ahead of me, but knowing I'll be able to do most of it at home is very encouraging.

Thanks for all your morale support, advice and warm wishes; they really have helped.
Click to expand...
:clap::clap::clap::clap: ...........Mike:thumbup:
 
"but knowing I'll be able to do most of it at home is very encouraging."
Fantastic news Pete. Isn't it fun when you find out you are doing better then they thought you would? Keep on fooling them.
 
A quick update on my story. Yesterday, I was able to walk 1500 feet unaided except for a walker. Today was my surgeon's followup visit and he is quite pleased with the results. He sees no reason to delay my returning home to finish PT any longer than my PT and I can agree I'm ready. Preferably before Christmas.

I can get in and out of bed myself now, and even get to the toilet myself. I credit the incredible skill of the surgeon, the patience and persistence and knowledge of my PT and OT, and the amazing kindness and skilled support of the management and staff of the Utah State Veterans home. I never knew such amazing people existed.

I had a rough time of it the first week at the facility, mentally and emotionally, but I got through it with the love and support of my wife Jane Baker Patten, my sister and brother-in-law and a few friends I didn't realize I had.

The one great outcome of this is that this facility is now training its staff in recognizing PTSD and responding appropriately to patients suffering from it. You would think this would be a given in a State Veterans' Home, but until having to deal with me it just wasn't on their radar. Many thanks to my wonderful wife, for understand the source of my bizarre behavior and helping the staff to realize i wasn't just some difficult person who needed to be tranquilized.

Finally, I want every American to know that the VA does an incredible job for veterans and their families. The resources available to veterans are broad and deep. The VA really does exemplify President Abraham Lincoln's charge to help those who have borne the burden of war - veterans and their families.

And don't let anyone tell you the VA isn't doing its job for veterans. From my experience, I believe that any veteran in need can find the resources they need from the VA.
 
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UtahPete said:
......

And don't let anyone tell you the VA isn't doing its job for veterans. I'm here to tell you that any veteran in need can find the resources they need from the VA.
Click to expand...


I won't go into detail b/c this is your thread. I was cut loose from the VA health care system a while ago b/c I had no service connected disability. They said I could be on 'space available' and then I'd have to pay the going rate for any service provided. The going rate was what a civilian doctor or hospital would charge. Since I am retired military I continued with Tricare (or Tricare for life), of course to do that I pay for Medicare. But, I am glad that you are being treated well, and continue to progress.
 
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hoping you heal fast and at least you can remember your accident, me i'm missing a few weeks of 1979
 
Pete, I hope your recovery continues to go well. I broke my ankle slipping on ice about 4 years ago. Luckily I didn't need any surgery and I was pretty much back in regular activities in 4 weeks time but had to be careful and gentle. Now I'm much more afraid of walking on ice than I ever used to be.
After reading about the cause of your accident I find myself being extra careful on the stairs now!
 
Today, at breakfast I met our newest patient and his gracious daughter. Richard will be 99 years old two days before Christmas. He has dementia, but also an alert mind and a wry sense of humor. He is a medical doctor who graduated from MD School at age 23. He subsequently attended Harvard and Columbia Universities and was destined to become a research scientist, but chose to work with patients. At some point he joined the Army and was the Chief Medical Officer at Fort Sill. He also graduated Juilliard School of music, was a published composer and concert pianist.

I meet the most amazing vets here. Roy is a strapping 74 year old now confined to a wheel chair, but still carries himself with the dignity and bearing of the Army Intelligence Officer he once was. He was actually stationed at Chau Doc in Vietnam at the same time as me, although we had no reason to cross paths back then.

Larry is a former Navy Combat Photographer who, among other things, was sent to document the aftermath of bombing runs, napalm attacks and such in Vietnam. He has images of burned villages, dead and maimed villagers and other such devastation that we wreaked on the populace burned vividly into his memory. He has been struggling with PTSD-related behavioral issues ever since and is an embittered man.

Ben is Korean War Era Navy veteran. He's also full-blooded Native American from Miami, Arizona. He was assigned to a hospital ship and as a naive 17-year-old had the job of unloading the dead and wounded from the arriving choppers. He's never gotten over that, but still has a pleasant, easy-going way about him.
 
Today, I was able to go home. Much as I looked forward to being in my normal habitat, I knew I would miss the friends I had made there and the unique camaraderie of military vets with a shared experience.

One of my nurses is an Air Force veteran who served in AF Intelligence at Danang when it came under heavy mortar and rocket attack. He was wounded but a young private he was with bled out from a shrapnel wound to the gut before 'Stump' could get him to the hospital tent. Stump went into nursing mid-life and came out of retirement at 76 to work with vets again. 20221219_090013.jpg

I met an 87 year old veteran everyone calls 'Commander'. He first went to war in Korea as a Navy Electricians Mate, subsequently got selected for OCS and went into Vietnam commanding one of the first Seal teams ever assembled. He was awarded a Silver Star by President Eisenhower.

And then, of course there's Roy, who happened to be stationed at Chau Doc in Army Intelligence the same time I was there supporting the Navy Riverine Divisions; we spent many a meal together recalling our experiences there. He is 6'4" btw.
20221220_120459.jpg
 
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SO happy to hear that you are going home early. I thought you had another week to go. Looks like it will be a Merry Christmas in the Nixon home.
 
Pete, I can kinda understand where you are coming from. I didn't fall down the stairs but have had knee problems for the last 41 years. Now at almost 74 years young, I have two artificial knees after 11 surgeries on them. You will recover and be moving forward. Listen to the medical specialists and the PT (pain and torture) people. It's going to take a while to get back to normal, but you can do it. The good thing is (at least here in Minnesota) is it's not riding season.

Prayers and God Bless.
 
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