Dear Editor,
I am a 79 year old retired firefighter. I worked for L.A. County Fire Dept. for 31 years. I had numerous injuries throughout my career.
Since late February, I hurt my left hip and now need a hip replacement, but in the meantime, old fire injuries surfaced: an MRI on my right shoulder and torn left knee. The shoulder is bad, but at my age, I choose not to rebuild it.
In September, I had outpatient surgery on the knee. Then a surgery date for the hip was set for Dec. 6; less than a week later, it was canceled by KRMC. By then, the pain in the hip was unbearable. I have to use a walker to get around 24/7. I have tears in my eyes all day because of the pain. I have had to sleep in a recliner since February.
I try to stay active so the hip doesn’t freeze up. I go to the Wellness Center 5 days a week. I do manage to ride a bike for 2 miles daily, but it is a struggle. I always get a towel, not for sweating, but for wiping the tears from my eyes. Worst pain I’ve ever had.
I’ve had both COVID shots plus the booster and a flu shot. I have done what the experts have advised, but I still can’t get surgery because I have to stay one night in the hospital. And, of course, all the people who have done nothing to protect themselves go to the front of the line, no questions asked. Maybe KRMC gets federal money for COVID patients?
They say they are short-staffed, but put a vaccine mandate on all the staff that have been doing this for 2 years. They and the first responders are the real heroes, and they deserve praise not punishment. Those that don’t want the shots just test them 1 or 2 times a week!
Perhaps it’s time to put COVID people second. And let this of us who need surgery get it. I wrote this about my problems, but I know there are lots of us that need the hospital for various surgeries.
I can no longer put my left sock on my foot. Every time I shower, my wife has to put my sock on, and I leave it on until the next shower. One of the worst parts is I can’t do anything around the house and I have to sit in the recliner and watch my wife do what I should be doing. Plus I had to miss delivering meals this Christmas because I could not walk.
Michael Thorpe
Kingman
