Thursday 24 October 2019

After two and a half days of lying supine in traction, we board an air
evacuation Learjet to Miami this afternoon. Original plan for flying on to
Tampa, where operates a hip guy who has done excellent work on two friends,
costs significantly more and insurance policy stipulates closest available.
Even so, transport is more than twice cost of entire knee replacement in Cape
Town. Happy closest wasn't in Venezuela. Not sure whether or not they bring us
back. There are no doubt good surgeons at Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma
Center. Harvard Medical School newsletter states, "An experienced surgeon could
probably do a hip replacement blindfolded because you can feel everything, and
components of the replacement are put right into the bones." Also, "A hip
replacement is a much less painful operation". Besides, there's a Starbucks and
a Panera Bread in close walking distance of hospital. One must keep his
priorities straight.

Saturday

Done and dusted. Surgery yesterday afternoon. Didn't get total replacement,
but rather nail and screws. Suppose to be stronger than original. Woke up from
op in more pain than at any time during entire knee replacement, so quote in
previous paragraph is horse squeeze. Obviously mindset concerning pain in US
vs. South Africa is dramatically different. In Cape Town they realize that
controlling pain aids healing, but here, especially Florida, everyone is
paranoid about addiction and that they will be prosecuted if giving "too much"
as defined by some mush-brained, moralistic, FDA bureaucrat - it has happened.
Guessing propaganda surrounding ill-conceived and destructive War on Drugs has
effected attitudes as well.

Didn't realize that, although the bony bits don't, marrow has pain receptors.
Long nail was hammered through about three quarters of femur. Total
replacements, not requiring so much trauma, are possibly less painful, although
lots of muscle is cut gaining access both procedures. Anyway, been stumping
around with loaner crutches and now released by physical therapist. Hope to be
airborne back to Grenada Monday. Doctors skeptical, but what do they know?
Just got own crutches with a red stripe. They're fast. Woohoo!

Fortunately all major boat maintenance was completed before stupidity
intervened, except won't be able to go in water (potential infection - serious
bad mojo) to check/clean bottom and replace anodes. Jannie will acquire yet a
new role. Won't tell her this whole thing was cooked up to shirk even more
responsibility. Probably be a couple or three weeks before working a sailboat
is feasible, but should certainly be ready to bail before December. Lots of
music, craft beer and rum to soak up before then. Woohoo!

Jack & Jan