Sandy

Sandy fell and it changed his life.  On January 21, 2023, just after 8 am, Sandy (77) was getting ready for another of his usually active days. 

In an unfortunate twist of events, 75 year old Sandy couldn’t find the right footwear for a short trip in winter weather, so risked wearing his Crocs. Little did he know it would end in a burst hip socket, fractured pelvis and prolonged hospital stay.

When venturing down some outside steps, Sandy thought the black ice was melting. But in a matter of seconds, he fell and landed with a bang. It took 10 minutes for someone to notice Sandy, before an ambulance came to take him to hospital.

When Sandy’s wife Irene received the call to say he had a fall, she rushed to the scene and found Sandy in a crumpled heap.

The medics soon realised Sandy’s injuries were complicated because the ball joint at his hip had burst the socket and his pelvis had fractured. The medical team did not have the expertise to deal with these injuries so he was transferred to a more specialised orthopaedic unit at another hospital 30 miles away where it was initially agreed an operation would be scheduled. 

Sandy was all ready for the operation a few days later when the theatre staff decided that an operation was, in fact, too risky and that they would instead wait to see how his bones would knit together again.  A decision would be taken in due course as to whether he would need a hip replacement.
 

Additional complications

Being in a hospital further away meant that Irene had to move in with their daughter, who lived near a railway station, so that Irene could take a train and then a bus to visit Sandy every day.  Irene’s life was also put on hold as she took part in social activities on most days. 

Sandy was in hospital for over five weeks, during which time he had norovirus, extensive physiotherapy and many medications to ease the pain.

Back at home, day-to-day life for Sandy and Irene has changed dramatically. Not only do they spend time liaising with organisations, but they have a medication regime to adhere to.  Sandy has been given a variety of items to help him around the home such as a roller to help him get out of bed, a raised toilet seat and a perching stool for getting access to the sink.

Irene has taken control of administering all his different medications and feels very responsible for what happens to Sandy.  Although he can move around a little, Irene is only comfortable with leaving him for very short times. She has lost her freedom to join her many exercise and other wellbeing classes, such as choir, sea swimming and meeting up with friends.

Sandy and Irene both praise the services they have been able to call upon such as the local Carers Centre, Social Work, Care and Repair, the MECS (personal alarm for emergency care) staff, the ongoing physios and district nurse and various others who have all proved to be very supportive.

The most difficult thing for Sandy has been having to accept that he is, in his words, an ‘old guy’.   He and Irene both remain positive and in good mental health and they see this experience as putting things on hold more than calling a halt to their lifestyle.  

In the moments of suffering the worst pain he could imagine, Sandy hopes he will be back in the bowling competitions next year and will be able to go out and about like before the fall.

If one thing is for certain, Sandy says, he will always remember to change out of his Crocs before driving.