Illegal aliens are supposed to be overrunning our health care system, swamping the nation's emergency rooms with their sick kids, tuberculosis and organ transplants. [The typically hysterical linked article references a "report" in the American Journal of Physicians and Surgeons, the obscure (9 total Google hits, including one in Russian) publication of a fringe organization the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons.]
But I think I know the real reason medical costs are out of control. It's because of people like David Strom and my friend, Bob.
I'm not saying anything about Mr. Strom he hasn't told on himself. He's documented his travails with good humor, all the way back to here.
It so happens, my friend and loyal reader Bob was in rehab at the same time David was trying to overcome a broken ankle and hospital-induced penumonia.
Bob's encounters — at least the latest ones — began with knee replacement surgery. Basketball and tennis had ceased to be possible. He took up hobbling, but it was just not that great a sport.
A few weeks after surgery, things were looking up. But infection set in, and they followed up with a six-week course of antibiotics. Unfortunately, the infection returned.
Rather than replace the infected joint with a new one, doctors decided to remove the knee and insert a spacer made of acrylic cement and impregnated with antibiotics. If that stayed clean for six weeks, they could install new knee.
I asked Bob if he could bend his jointless leg in either direction now. He wasn't willing to try.
So, six weeks around the house, mostly immobile except for therapy and short, necessary jaunts on crutches.
The date for the next surgery was drawing close, when... We'll let his long-suffering wife pick up the tale:
The fun just doesn't stop at our house.
Bob was crutching (is that a word?) into the house Saturday night, lost his balance and fell backwards onto the concrete garage floor. Yeah, you read right.
Luckily he didn't crack his head open and we got him into the house and into bed. We were hoping he was just a little banged up but Monday morning he still couldn't get out of bed or even move without severe pain. I called the Dr. and they said we better come in for an x-ray, so one of the neighbors came over to help me get him into the car. After about one minute we knew that wasn't going to work so I called 911 and an ambulance came and took him to Methodist.
Sure as shit.........broken hip. But as the surgeon said: it's a "good" break. Clean. Typical. Standard procedure. Uh huh.
Anyway he had surgery Monday night. Apparently they just put a screw in there and you're good to go. And as Lucia said: at least it's on the same side (the knee-less side!).
There's always a silver lining ...........somewhere.
Illegal aliens, my foot.
This is a bi-partisan problem that could be solved if we deport the right people, and I know just where to start.
