the expected life span of an indonesian woman is 72.7 years, compared to 76.7 years for her malaysian counterpart. (source).
so when this lady came all the way from indonesia to have surgery done on a broken hip (or more correctly called fracture of the neck of femur)....
....sustained from a recent fall, she could be considered fortunate on at least 2 counts.
1st, at age 94, she has exceeded her expected lifespan by an incredible 21 years & still enjoying an active & independent life (which resulted in the fall in the 1st place) & 2nd, her family could afford her good private medical care not readily available back home.
she was operated upon last week & a hip screw was successfully inserted to bridge the fracture.
after resting a few days, she would be able to move around with a walking aid/frame for a few weeks & will resume her normal life within 2 mths. (read here)
the elderly are more likely to sustain this injury, said to be related osteoporosis ("bone loss") due to the reduction in female hormones in the post-menopausal age, & in male hormones in elderly men, although men seemed to be less affected than women. (read here and here.)
isn't it ironic that this lady has to seek appropriate treatment her own country could not accord her, while her ailing 86yr-old fall-from-grace ex-president, in all likelihood, is currently receiving the best available medical care, not to mention wide media attention.
even more ironic is the reality that she would most likely outlive him.
5 comments:
Ironically too, my maternal grandma 86 and my husband's grandma 89 both had a factured hip due to fall. Both were denied of surgery by the physician on grounds:
1.bones too brittle to hold the screws
2.they were too old.
They did not live long. Bedridden they passed on less than 6 months.
I wonder....
iml,
if your grandmas had led reasonably independent lives before the fall, they should be given the option of surgery, irrespective of their age.
we all wonder now...
Irony is what the world revolves around...
p.s. I'm back, =)
anastasia,
ah, the prodigal daughter returneth!
*hugs*
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