I want to devote my article this month to a plethora of thank you’s to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and their incredible staff of doctors, nurses and physical/occupational therapists. I was seriously injured in a tractor accident on September 28. It resulted in a broken right ankle, requiring screws and a plate, a broken left femur and left hip, requiring a titanium shaft both in the hip and femur. Also, crush injuries to my left thigh and abdomen, broken ribs, a broken scapula, and internal chest bleeding.
As I arrived at Henry Mayo’s emergency room via ambulance, the assembling of the trauma team began.
Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Michael Shapiro, thank you for putting me back together again! Dr. Farshad Malekmehr inserted the chest tube and contained the internal bleeding, Dr. John Barstis, Hematologist, focused on my blood clot treatment, while Dr. Devinder Kumar was my pain management doctor. As these talented specialists did their thing, my many thanks to my doctor, Dr. Joseph Terrazino for acting as quarterback and focusing on my overall care throughout.
And the nurses! Amazing gals and guys who are at your bedside. ICU, DOU, ARU, it didn’t matter where I was, and I was in all of them during my stay, the nurses were truly amazing!! Thank you for who you are and what you do!
My month long stay at Henry Mayo ended at the Acute Rehab Unit (ARU), where Gayle Hoover, Nurse Case Manager, took over. Grace Watford is the Medical Director, so we’ll call in Graceland! This incredible unit preps you for going home. Physical and Occupational Therapy, as well as planning for the medical equipment you will need at home upon discharge.
It’s been 11 weeks since my injury, and I am expected to make a 100 percent recovery. This, I feel, would not be the case if it was not for the medical care I received from the moment I was picked up by the ambulance, my journey with Henry Mayo, Dr. Shapiro’s masterful reassembling of me, and the follow up care I am still receiving.
So, for all who touched my life in such a special way, thank you! Our medical services in Santa Clarita has become something we should all be proud of!
Myles McNamara is the owner of Comfort Keepers In-Home Care, and can be reached at 661-287-4200.