Mad?! Furious! Many of my followers here recall when, two years ago, I fell in Mexico, spraining my ankle. As I was being released from a hospital in San Diego (where I was taken for qualified care), the nursing assistant put me on crutches and told me to "walk" to the wheelchair. Ken was there watching, and she was, too...from a distance. I said more than once, "I can't do this..." and she never came up to assist me. I fell backward, hitting the center of my back on the metal gurney, Ken screamed, "Oh My God, Louise!", and I dropped to my butt on the floor & fell backward. I couldn't move, and was put on a backboard by three men in blue scrubs & taken for more x-rays. When I returned, I was put on some morphine & a doctor "asked if I wanted to be admitted". (I repeated that I couldn't move!) There I stayed for 3 days as each doctor and nurse came in to ask how my foot was feeling. No one addressed the back injury nor iced it...nothing.
There's a long story of recuperation, and pain that still affects me when I try to lie down. As we had many out of pocket expenses along the way, and I became angrier about what "Elizabeth, CNA" took from us, we found a lawyer who would take our case and try to get us a *fair* settlement.
Today he contacted us and told us the very insulting number they were willing to offer, saying that, clearly, I was a "FALLER".
One: I was NOT "a faller" at that time...
Two: Is Elizabeth, CNA, therefore "A DROPPER"?
I think of all I am to my family and within two communities...make this a third community as well! I'm so angry that someone who doesn't know me has one label to slap on me. It's one word, and worse words might have been said, but I had to create an image that would backlash the injustice done *again*.
What's wrong to owning up to one's mistakes and not trying to cover their asses after the fact! Excuse me, but tonight, without shame, I come asking how you might describe me. I'd like to let someone know...
(Photo taken Nov 26...poignant as it was the last time I'd see David & Heather...)
faller or not, their action or the non-action of the nursing assistant was their fault. a back injury is not to be trifled with and clearly you got that and its recurring effect from that accident at the hospital. you should contact one of those reporters/consumer advocates and give your story to let people know what kind of assistance or treatment await them at that hospital. heck, it makes my blood boil! now i got to have some chocolate! how i'd describe you? all of those except faller!
I describe you as super cute, a great observer of the details in your world, a warm, welcoming person, and an encouraging friend to many. Sc##w Elizabeth, CNA and the hospital she rode in on. I can't imagine how angry you must be. Go punch a pillow and holler, then come back and update this post from "Faller" to "Wonder Woman."
Awesome, kind, gregarious, funny, warm, loving. Let's see, sprained ankle, crutches, in pain, no assistance....how many people might take a tumble? Most of us. Not a faller, more like normal human. Sounds like irresponsible incompetent lawyer speak to me. Go get 'em Louise.
I hope you get another lawyer! I think they were negligent and incompetent. Send that lawyer back with another number for a settlement. And to label you a "Faller". I'd like to smack them.
@joysfocus The lawyer is really trying and we're appreciative. When he wanted to make a settlement, they (hospital administration-whomever) hedged and wanted to see my records, suggesting I probably had back issues for some time. When they discovered I hadn't so much as ever needed to even see a chiropractor, they've resorted to this labeling. Of course that wasn't a problem until I was injured! Thanks for the vote of confidence. We're not through.
Kind, generous, funny, clever, strong, creative, welcoming, loving and much loved are just a few of the words you have missed off that list! What a cheek to try to use the term "faller" to try to get out of their responsibilities! How dare they! You have only had all these back issues since that stupid nurse's incompetence! Don't accept it Louise! Go get 'em! Oh yes the other word is Fighter! Fav for being so Fabulous!
I have been fuming over this for an hour or so. I detest labels, and have had a few applied to me in my time. I have had back issues for decades and blame poor posture in the early days of my professional life. I utterly agree with @pamknowler .
oh Louise, no wonder you are angry and frustrated. I can add many lovely labels to your list. How disgraceful to label you a "faller" when it was their fault in the first place. Its terrible how these organisations try to wriggle out of their responsibilities. Hope have more success.in the future
You had disgusting treatment and I would have been ashamed to have been the nurse! It certainly would not have happened like that if I had been the nurse with you! Fav for this great pic with many words and a Faller you definitely were not!
Oh, Louise! I'm so sorry you've suffered at the hands of an incompetent nurse and hospital. Your injury is 100% their fault and slapping a label on you to cover their ass just makes me angry. I hope your lawyer can get you a decent settlement.
What a disgrace. I understand your anger Louise as my husband and I have had to face a 5 year legal battle of our own (relating to building defects in our home) and there have just been insults and injustices at every turn. I don't want to hijack your post though so back to you. YOU. Caring, warm, supportive, funny, witty, wonderful you. Their awful label is nothing but a tactic to avoid any sort of accountability. I a, so sorry you have had to go through all of this.
I've always though of you as the warmhearted and attentive mother/grandmother of the whole 365 family. Furthermore you are very adventurous and know how to live life to the fullest - VERY important skills in my book :)
Wow! Talk about adding insult to injury -- literally! I would call you an ambassador of good will, an adventurer, a traveler, a kind heart, a photographer, a loving matriarch, a wonderful sense of humor, a nature lover, a people lover. What I would NOT call you is a faller.
Oh mama mia, that is a nightmare! So sorry for your prolonged unpleasant experience with this.
Faller? Nooooooooo. I haven't met you on here more than a few times, but you are a bubble of joy and you brighten every page on here you grace. So to me you are not a faller, but a lifter up of other people. All the very very best to you xx
Of all your wonderful features/traits, the ones that you will need the most include tenacious and persistent. Of course being gracious and kind will help you personally get through it, but the opposing parties don't deserve that side of you. Hoping that they come to their senses!
Egalitarian, environmentalist, nature-lover and great fun. I think the sobriquet of 'dropper' for the culprit is far more appropriate than labelling you a 'faller'. What a lot of bureaucratic cya twaddle. As the unfortunate recipient of one of Johnson&Johnson's 'not fit for purpose' ACR hip prostheses I know just how you feel. Well over half the recipients, including me, now suffer lifetime problems from the metallosis they caused. Class action here took years, outcome $250 million, lawyers to cream off $34million, the rest to be apportioned between around 2000 of us. I've had three revisions of the original operation, each time two tendons had been blown-off by high-pressure gunk caused by the metallosis. Brilliant surgeon managed to put them back on four times, but despite prolonged rehab and ongoing physio (lifetime) I still have only around 60% function in the hip flexors. A pox be upon them and all their houses as the Elizabethians would say. Hang in there mate, we think you're pretty good stuff.
People sure like to classify us in boxes. Keep up the good fight. When my youngest was 5 months old with meningitis, the nurse weighed him and the scale fell over, causing a subdural hematoma and seizures. Thankfully, damage was temporary. I was afraid to sue. :-(
@danette I'm SO VERY sorry you had that happen to your baby! You were young, and it had to have been terrifying! Truly, it was a blessing that it WAS temporary, but the the memory of that scare never leaves. I've never sued for anything over the years, but this one has had its ramifications that still continue. I hope we can stay the course; I dislike injustice for anyone!
What can I add Louise? Everyone has said all the wonderful words to describe how we see you. I am so sorry you have had this lurking away in the background of your life. These things colour everything we do and haunt us in our darkest moments. You are such a strong person I know you will overcome this in your own inimitable style. otherwise we need to organise a 365 delegation to visit the said nurse..........I think Graham Stevens would be our tour de force!! :-)
Louise this whole affair is heartbreaking. The very idea that the hospital would respond in this manner is outrageous. I am so hopeful your body can continue to heal and you can be stronger and better every day. You are one of the real stars on 365, I love seeing your posts!
@Cherrill I'm beginning to feel guilty now for eliciting so many lovely responses, but thank you, dearest Cherrill! This has been ongoing, but (until this minute) I never let it colour my day. As much as finding this summation of "me" to be shallow and rude, I'm irritated that the woman was not a logical thinker and has used the recent past to inaccurately describe what happened back then. Not being intelligent was bad enough, but if she's smart, then I find her to be devious and deceptive. Poor Graeme would wonder what was going on to be pulled into this discussion, but yes! I agree he's the thought process and the mouth I too would select to say a few words in my behalf! Ha! Much loe to you, m'friend. This will work itself out...
@louannwarren Lou Ann, you're dear to step into my "art therapy moment" with those kind words when I'm so seldom controversial! I was hurt and infuriated, and my daughter whose degree in art therapy has always encouraged me to commit it to paper. I so seldom feel such angst, I've not done so, until now...and she called me last night to tell me she was proud of me for having done that. I'm amazed that it actually felt so good! Thanks, my new friend!
@Cherrill All I can add to this discussion is this: I'm in...some people need to be taught a lesson in an "open and adult" manner and I'd be quite willing to participate.
@pixiemac Thank you Sarah... We walked all over Chicago and I didn't fall once, did I? And to think that all the while you were thinking me "warm, friendly and wonderful"! Thanks my sweet pixie friend!
@taffy Thank you Taffy, I forget that I'm am capable of being tenacious and persistent, I'm so seldom called upon to be so! We're not through...I just needed to vent in that moment as I felt so 1 dimensionally demeaned!
Faller? Nooooooooo. I haven't met you on here more than a few times, but you are a bubble of joy and you brighten every page on here you grace. So to me you are not a faller, but a lifter up of other people. All the very very best to you xx
and all the other positives in your image and added by friends here