Who Needs Spinal Fusion?
When you have severe back pain, it doesn't always respond to conservative measures. So, what are your options? Keep reading to learn when spinal fusion surgery can relieve your pain for good.
My mother, Geneva M. Gilchrist, is wheelchair bound and a resident of Broadmoor at Creekside Park continuous care facility. We have an audio/video system in her room to help monitor her condition and care. A kidney stone about the size of her kidney causes repeated urinary tract infections. As you know, in elderly people UTIs cause mental confusion very similar to dementia. My mother forgot she could not walk and wanted to get out of bed. In her attempt to do so she fell on her knees and with her head lodged between the upper rail and the bed mattress. An aid heard a cry for help and tried to assist her. The audio/video system captured the sound of her hip breaking as her body turned in the attempt to release her from the bed. In all she had five broken bones.
Memorial Herman The Woodlands emergency center emergency room doctor advised me, “Considering all factors, we believe it is in your mother’s best interest to not do anything for her, to return her to the nursing home, and place her in hospice care. The traumatic surgeon is out of town. She would need to be transferred to the Houston Medical Center, but mostly likely she would not survive the transport.”
I replied, “ You don’t understand. This lady has a strong will to live, and she is tough. She can get through this. We have to give her a chance.”
Later, I received a call from Dr. Qadir indicating he reviewed my mother’s case. He had the ability to perform the needed surgery, but a fixture, not available in Houston, must be received overnight. This was Friday night. The fixture would arrive Saturday. Dr. Qadir would cut his trip short and return to The Woodlands to perform the surgery on Sunday morning. He advised me it was highly likely that my mother might not survive the surgery.
Likewise, the cardiologist and anesthesiology expressed the same concern.
The surgery lasted 3 ½ hours for a woman 93 years old. My mother successfully completed the ordeal. Five weeks later X-rays indicated she was healing extremely well.
I wish I had video of her 94th Birthday Party. 20 members of her immediate family gathered to celebrate. She was full of life, witty, and enjoyed herself completely. We all did. That night is special. We again celebrated her 95th birthday in a similar fashion.
My siblings and I visit with her nightly. My time with her is precious. She is sweet, caring, and still my best friend. She has a way of genuinely complementing everyone who comes her way. All remark on her smile.
Thank you for going above and beyond, giving up your days away, and returning to The Woodlands to skillfully repair my mother. My mother is alive today, because you put her interest before your own.
Thank you, Dr. Qadir, for the last two years and for whatever time I have in the future with my mother.
Mackie Sue Gichrist
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