Henry

I met a man at therapy on Monday and saw him again today.  He is rehabbing prior to (hopefully) having duel Knee Replacement surgery.  He is 66 and just got on medicare.  He said he could have done it at 65 but he wanted to wait until he was at full retirement age.  He is knock knee'd (SP?) and possibly flat footed.  He was a truck driver and in '93 had surgery on his meniscus and instead of heading the doctors warnings returned to work after just three weeks vs the recommended six weeks.  He has 4 steps in his house and 3 to get in his front door.  He walks with a cane and judging from his hat loves the Dodgers.  He gave up his chair for me today, even though it pains him just as much to get up and down as it does me.  He is a Veteran.

I never met a Henry that wasn't a great person.    And Henry at therapy is no different.  He is also the second Veteran I have met waiting for knee replacement surgery.

Now I mentioned that Henry needs duel Knee Replacements.  His knees wobble, are boney and bend inward.  They appear swollen but its just the distortion of the bone and the lack of cartilage he has.  Henry didn't get bad knees in the last year...and I was intrigued as to why he was just now starting the process for a replacement and the answer was sad to say the least.  He had started the process many years ago but this brings us back to the Veteran part.  He tried getting appointments and had to drive very far only to be given cortizone shots and told to come back three months later.  Then he was referred to specialist, waited months for appointments only to e given another cortizone shot and sent home.  He said about the age of 63 is began very evident that he wasn't going to get his knees repaired and gave up and idle's for Medicare to kick in.  The minute he got Medicare he got a new dcotor  and starting rehabbing.  He goes three times a week for therapy, the same as I do. 

He admitted today that seeing me scared him and he was starting to worry about the pain after surgery.  I lied and told him it was really only bad for the first few days.  I told him I am sure since he gets to build up his muscles before surgery that his rehab post surgery would likely be much easier.  The therapist doing my magnetic therapy smiled at me.  His smile said "I know you are telling a lie".

The point of this post about Henry is that I am free because of people like him.  Because of the piece he played for our countries safety and freedom.  I fell down, got hurt and got fixed.  He fought for our country, is dealing with the consequences and has been forced to live with it because Veterans have shitty, horrible less than mediocre health care.

I am thankful to Henry.  Too everyone else who signed up to do their part.  I can't do anything to make it better for him, individually.  I can write a letter to the President about Henry, to our Congressional delegates.  You can too.  It won't help Henry, but who knows...its something small.  What else can be done?  I am sincerely asking.