March 6, 2026, 10 a.m.
This is my next moments in the…read more 2025-26 series, "Why is the Dignity St Joseph's rating 2.5 to 3."
My best friend, wise counselor, intelligent organizer of all things, and lovely wife of 24 years was born a member of the Hopi Tribe.
Though born in Phoenix and an Arizona Valley Girl, her parents were children of Hopi Culture Carriers.
Search "Hopi Alcatraz" and you will see a story about her ancestors refusing to allow their children to be removed to government boarding schools. So...
Fathers were imprisoned and the children sent to government boarding schools. Lots of children sent to boarding schools. Lots of children removed to homes in distant cities.
You can cut hair, discipline native language use out of daily use, force English-only, stop ceremonies, and sit kids in pews, listening to sermons and reading holy books. The Geology of Culture supports the vegetation of life's new ways.
My wise, intelligent, and lovely new family changed my culture, teaching me how to care for family in serious medical events. Over the past 21 years I have spent more than a year's time, 24/7 in hospitals, acute care, skilled nursing, physical therapy, senior living, memory care and other cares.
Another fork in the road, just a cul de sac. If interested search "Hazel Lumley Umtuch Olney." We began Hazel mistrusting me. I helped her with a project. Soon she said, "We're gonna Indianize you chris." Last time I saw her we greeted eachother as long lost dear friends.
My Indianizing; no, Humanizing, continues to this moment.
I could not write these words without 54 years of humanizing and uncountable hours supporting family in medical situations. Family presence equals better medical care. The more care shown by the family, or friend side, the better the treatment. My brother was not a homeless guy. When I moved into his room. Care and concern in San Fernando, California eent up at least 35%. That is a big percent in science. Medicine is science.
This week is another Fall Week. Not as a season, as a lose balance, hit ground fall. Hip fracture.
9 1 1: Phoenix Dispatch did their job quickly. Station 10 equipment and six crew arrived, quickly assessed, moved respondent to Dignity SJ's ER. Patient moved to ER gurney. Imaging done. Wife and I find ways to doze overnight in ER bay. Team focused on bone repair begins assembling: Team managing physician, many nursing staff - from general care to Specialist nurses. Orthopedic Surgeon, attending surgeon more imaging techs and specialists, anaesthesiologist.
Team assembled onformation (data), consults, created surgery and recovery plan. Patient prepped in pre-op.
Family Consult with Orthopedic surgeon. Half hour procedure, attending surgeon closes. Recovery room staff takes over from there. Wait for orthopedic surgeon to complete two previously booked surgeries. Total of three nursing staff prep patient in the middle of a shift change.
As patient is sedated, blood pressure plummets. Surgery cancelled, patient returns to consciousness in recovery bay. I get a very polite, honest, pointed communication regarding my presence in a Restricted Area without an official escort. I arrived to understand how a surgery notification board can go from "Waiting for procedure" to "PACU" without an "In Progress" notification.
We reset to a hospital room as Specialists determine how to accomplish this potentially life-ending procedure.
I retrieve our family Rollator/Transport Chair from the car. We have seating for two in a one-chair room.
Meanwhile, D finds another room chair, non reclining, in the hallway. Loud pulling and scraping noises resonates from the char, floor and down the hall as The Lioness retrieves her prey, retiring to The Cave.
A night of care including transport staff, excellent, patient, caring Nurse and Patient Care Technician. Heart and Lung Squad integrated into the team, Both "gists" meaning many education, training and practice years added to the knowledge and information collection.
7 a.m. following day, more imaging, records review, Cardiologist and Pulmonologist greeting us. We met them first in December. They bring along a Pulmonology Fellow, adding more experience and special ptactice to his dozen previous medical years. Green light on heart fitness. Waiting for operating theater scheduling.
Within 20 minutes, patient being prepped for surgery. Anaesthesia will be an epidural; painless, waist down, patient conscious, waist up.
We wait for return of our repaired family member. Next stops, observation, release to a physical therapy facility, finally, home.