I just got off the phone with my Nanny. (“Nanny from Newfoundland”, as she is called in our household.) With her 95th birthday fast approaching, her extended network of family got quite the scare earlier this week when she fell and fractured her hip. And while it’s still a story in the making, and a real concern considering her age – I must say that I’m getting the impression that she’s getting a bit of a kick out of the adventure.
As the story goes, she was walking from the living room to the kitchen when she tripped. Despite many attempts by family for her to have help close at hand – or at least a system to call easily for help – in her fiercely independent nature, she passed on all of those options. So, living alone in a small Newfoundland community, she had no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She knew that something was wrong with her leg, and while being unable to stand, she began pulling herself along the floor ‘like a seal’ , as she described the ordeal. After some time, she reached the phone to call for help.
I can’t quite shake the image of my 94-year-old nanny pulling herself along the floor from my mind – and I have to admit, that rather than being appalled that this incident happened, I am awed yet again at what a strong, determined woman I have for a grandmother. (although that’s not to say that I didn’t share some worried moments/days with many family members at different points this past week.)
The reality of this is that she had to be transported to St. John’s for surgery, which was another ordeal due to other health complications and the very real concern about putting her asleep for surgery. After a few days, the doctors opted to do the partial hip replacement using only an epidural. This meant that she was fully awake for the whole time, listening to them ‘hammering, banging and sawing away down there.’ “It sounded like they were building a fence!” she reported.
So today, only a few days later, she took her first steps with a walker. I don’t know yet what type of recovery is expected, how long that may take, or how long she may stay in the hospital for monitoring. I just know that her Canada-wide family of 7 living children, 16 grandchildren and 20+ great-grandchildren are all breathing a sigh of relief that she seems to have come through this so well thus far.
And I know that I am certainly not the only one who is shaking my head in wonder at the superwoman that she is. Wow.
We’re all hoping that we have her genes! Well written, Amy.
My Beautiful Extraordinary Aunt Jose, I went to visit her Friday afternoon and called her the “Bionic Woman” I admire and love her to pieces, she is so positive and loving, funny, outgoing woman I have ever chanced to meet, not many knew that she was a penpal of mine while growing up in Scotland, so she has a special spot in my heart, this lady is truly an inspiration to all who know her….Aunt Jose I wish you nothing but the best and please God you have a speedy recovery.
Love from Liz (hugs).
PS. Thank-you girls for the beautiful story about your dear Nanny Power…
We are all praying for a full recovery for Aunt Jose, as she is one amazing woman and we are not ready to say good-bye yet and I don’t think she is ready to leave. She is such a darling, Din and I go to visit her each time we are home to Placentia, which is every summer and while in Placentia we visit every day and listen to her tell stories and what has been going on the past year and boy she remembers everything. Just know Aunt Jose we love you very much and hopeing that you are up and about sooner than later, we will see you in July. Hugs till we get there xoxo. Don’t forget to listen to your Dr. haha.