Leg Fracture

June was truly a month of ups and downs. 

On June 8, after dining out with some friends, my husband fell at the restaurant and fractured his right leg. We rushed to the Northside Forsyth ER, where an X-ray confirmed a tibia fracture. A CT scan was done to examine the details, and we were told that he would need surgery the next day, so he was immediately admitted that night.

The pain from the fracture was intense, and the hospital administered morphine repeatedly. However, due to my husband’s kidney failure, his body couldn’t tolerate the dosage. That night, he suddenly stopped breathing, and the medical team had to perform CPR. He was transferred to the ICU, where he stayed for two days. Thankfully, he recovered well enough to return to a regular room and undergo surgery (“Tibial Plateau Open Reduction Internal Fixation”) a week later. The surgery was successful.

Luckily, I was able to sleep in the same room at Northside Forsyth. (This was my bed.)

A week after surgery, my husband was transferred to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital. It was our first experience with a rehab center, and we came to deeply appreciate it. He received care in an acute rehab setting with a structured therapy schedule: 3 hours of occupational therapy and 3 hours of physical therapy each day. The focus was on rebuilding strength and learning essential movements for daily life, without using his right leg. He learned crucial skills like: how to climb stairs (we live in a two-story home and all showers are upstairs), how to shower safely, and how to transfer between a wheelchair, walker, and car. Without this step, the transition home would have been incredibly difficult.

The private room at Encompass Health

ou ring the bell on the day of discharge to celebrate completing OT and PT.

On July 1, my husband was finally discharged home. He will continue to use a wheelchair and walker for several more weeks. Today, a home health nurse visited to check on his condition and incision site and explained the care plan going forward. Over the next eight weeks, a nurse, an occupational therapist, and a physical therapist will visit regularly to support his recovery and help him return to daily life. I'm relieved that our insurance covers this service.

I'm also grateful that my company has allowed me to work from home temporarily so I can care for him while keeping up with work. Most of all, what we’re truly thankful for throughout this journey has been the support from our friends and church community—shout out to Waypoint Baptist Church! Since his hospitalization, so many have reached out, visited, and brought meals and encouragement. We’ve felt surrounded by love and care, and we feel incredibly blessed.