If you are lucky enough to have never dealt with a Hoyer Lift consider yourself blessed. It’s a crane used to get immobile people into and out of beds and chairs. Here’s the company literature on the subject of this very useful tool:
They roll you from side to side in bed and put what amounts to a huge IKEA bag under you with six loops all round it. Then they bring the lift into your room and attach loops to hooks on the machine.
Sosa a nurse’s aide got me out of bed and into my wheelchair all by himself. He’s prettty smart and very compassionate like everyone at Health South. And efficient:
So there you hang like a sack of potatoes and I love it! It’s like flying. The bag holds you distributing your weight evenly and you are up in the air smiling like a big fat newborn. Getting photobombed (I told you these people are amazing). Hilarious.
After Physical Therapy they rolled me back to my room in the wheelchair and left me to have lunch sitting up with a promise of a return later to Hoyer me back to bed. Which was great for a change but after half an hour I felt myself slipping forward in the chair. Hmm. That’s not right. As you can see below my feet are in no position to support me yet.
Well, with my left foot not on the support and my right leg broken in two places there was no way to stop the slide. My emergency button was out of reach - duh! - and the door was closed but I started yelling. “Help! Room 508! Help! Someone? Help! Anyone!” After scrambling a bit and trying to gain time by wiggling I reached the button and caught it as it fell toward the floor. Help arrived. Lots of help. They righted the tilting ship that was Conchscooter in his wheelchair and a party ensued.
You lovely people. Lots of laughs. Back to bed. Bring on the Hoyer Lift I say!
9 comments:
Laughter IS some good medicine! Keep the smiles flowing. :)))
KWBound
911 disbatch needs 911 stat. You could have used one of those call buttons around your neck. Good catch.
LOL! yeah, watched them hoist my mother around in the nursing home. the staff called it "the machine." glad to see you have such good folks taking care of you. :)
Your descriptions are hilarious. Thank you so much for this blog that even in your discomfort and pain you can still bring a smile to our faces. Continue to get well!
I only started reading your blog recently thanks to a mention on Webb's Journal.
I was sorry to hear about your accident but am truly impressed with the sense of humor and the positive attitude throughout your ordeal. Truly Inspiring
Matt
The real question is whether they will let YOU take the Hoyer helm?
I would be lethal driving a Hoyer.
BUT, what went on during therapy? Hope it wasn't as you expected it to be.
Read on Doug.
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