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After My Granny Fell
Norma Carolina Delfin Gress
BEFORE YOU READ:
Read the title and the headings. What do you think this article is about?
She Fractured Her Knee
This story is about my granny. She is 87 years old. She lives with my older sister in Mexico. One day, my sister called to tell me that my granny fell. She was trying to go to the bathroom when she stumbled and fell. My sister ran to help her, but it was too late. Everything happened very fast. After that, my granny could not walk. My sister was worried and guilty because she couldn’t prevent my granny from falling. I felt scared and sad.
My brother and sister took my granny to the hospital. The doctor gave her a prescription for pain medication. He said to my granny, “Your knee is fractured, but it will be good in two weeks.” My granny does not have medical insurance, we paid for the emergency room visit and for the medicine.
She Said No to Expensive Surgery
Two weeks later, my granny’s leg was still swollen, and she was in a lot of pain. We decided to call a specialist. The specialist saw that Granny’s knee was still fractured and her hip was broken. The doctor said she needed hip replacement surgery. The surgery is very expensive in a private hospital.
We wanted her to go forward with the surgery so she could walk again. But my granny disagreed. She believed the recovery from surgery would be too painful. We could not change her mind.
Now My Sister Cares for Her, and the Family Helps
Currently, my sister is taking care of Granny, and we are very grateful for all the support and sacrifices she has made. We help her with everything we can to make it easier for her. Additionally, many family members visit her throughout the weekend and sometimes on work days too. My granny is happy when she is visited by all her family. Family members who live far away usually talk with her by video call. My family loves and feels empathy towards my granny.
We had to adapt my sister’s house to accommodate my granny’s needs. It is a big challenge because the house is very small. We bought a hospital bed and recently added a patient lift and transfer chair to help move her from one place to another. We also installed a mini-split air conditioner and an air purifier to make her more comfortable.
It Shouldn’t Be Like This
Having my granny with a disability has been difficult emotionally, physically, and financially. My priority is to support my granny. I wish there was more public support for older people. My granny receives a certain amount of money from the government every two months, but it is not enough to cover all her expenses. My uncle and
I try to make up the difference. When we have difficulties covering her financial needs, we ask other family members for help.
It shouldn’t be like this. What if we did not have the money to help her? What about all the families that don’t have enough money to support their elders? I believe it is a social and public responsibility to care for older adults. They are vulnerable, and some may not have family to support them.
We Want to Keep Her with Us
My granny is a strong woman. She has a positive attitude while facing her condition. Sometimes, she feels disappointed and depressed. We want her to know that we love her and we want her to be with us for a long time. Although it can be complicated, we believe that we can support her and keep her with us for many more years.
AFTER YOU READ:
1. How does the author’s family take care of their granny? What does the author think about this?
2. How do you take care of seniors in your family? Read the article in the box on page 31.
Norma Carolina Delfin Gress is a student at Ysleta Community Learning Center in El Paso, Texas. She is a dedicated, enthusiastic, and reliable person who works hard to accomplish her goals.