Happy Tuesday!!
That lovely sunshine today balances out the snow flurries we had last night, doesn’t it?
Today’s post is partly personal and because I believe that this blog is our way of letting you have a sneak peek behind the scenes of a small business like Kar-Fre Flowers.
Last Wednesday was a typical November Kar-Fre day. Kris was conducting some interviews with potential employees, Rod and Teri were busy creating arrangements for orders in the design room, Dad had been in and out checking on the progress of our graveblanket makers, I was concentrating on reconciling our checkbook, and Mom was cleaning out what was once Dad’s workshop area, but now has become a catchall for the stuff we’re sure were going to need, but just not sure where to store it. Truth is, we’ve been collecting those kinds of things for years and Mom knew it was beyond time to clean out some of the clutter. She had filled up a garbage can full of clutter and was headed to dump it in the dumpster.
To get to the dumpster outside she walked through our delivery room towards the garage and since her hands were full with the garbage can she turned around to push the door open with her back to open the door.
When she had the door open she stepped through the doorway, but missed that step into the garage and down Mom went onto that cement floor. She said she knew she didn’t want to land on her knees, but ended up on her bottom and knew immediately that she had done something to her left hip area.
When we heard the fall from in the shop Dad and I went to check on her. We found her reclining on the ground and knew she was going need an xray at the very least. I suggested calling an ambulance and Mom suggested that she really just wanted to get off the cold floor and would like a chair. Dad asked that I bring a chair and as I went back into the shop I was in a quandary about what chair Dad had in mind. I decided that the best chair would be one of our office ones that have wheels. I got it to the garage and we helped Mom into it. Then Mom made it clear that while she knew she needed xrays she would not be going by ambulance. Dad and I reviewed the various transportation options. Our full size flower vans she she could lay down in back, Kris’s van, but she might need something out of it. I remembered after one of my knee surgeries that Dad and Scott picked me up in a Chevy Trailblazer and I was able to sit on the edge of the back seat and use my arms to pull myself across the seat until I was all the way inside the car. I suggested we try that with their Trailblazer and we all agreed it was our best bet. Dad brought the car around while I wheeled Mom closer to the door. When Dad pulled up, I got Mom as close to the car as I could and then she asked what our plan was going to be. I explained that while Dad held the chair I was going to lift her up and onto the edge of the car seat. Her only question was what would happen when Dad pulled the chair away and I was unable to hold her. I told her that we weren’t going to think any negative thoughts and soon she was balanced on the edge of the car seat. While Dad held onto her I crawled in the back seat behind her and helped to pull her across the seat until we could comfortably shut the car doors. Then it was off to the hospital. My favorite perk to where we live is that you always run into a friend wherever you are. I walked into the Emergency Room that morning to find our friend, Mel, at the desk. I explained that my mom had fallen and that while we had gotten her into the car I had no idea how they would get her out. Within moments Mel and friends wheeled out what looked like an engine hoist–can you tell I’m married to a mechanic. They carefully slid a sling under Mom, hooked the sling to the hoist and eased her out of the car.
They wheeled Mom into the emergency room, then onto xray, and finally told us what we already had suspected Mom had fractured her femur below the hip joint and would need surgery to repair it. Late Wednesday afternoon Mom had surgery and late Friday afternoon was home again and on the road to recovery. Today she came to visit everyone at Kar-Fre and even rode along with Dad on a delivery.
While we wish she hadn’t fallen or broken her hip, this has reminded us all of how lucky we are. We’re so thankful for Rod, Teri, and Julie for taking care of Kar-Fre as we went back and forth between the hospital and shop last week. We’re thankful for our small town and friends when you need them most. We’re most thankful that Mom is home and recovering better than any of us could have dreamed!
Oh, that can of garbage… it’s still in the garage waiting for Mom’s return!
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