Danube Hospital Vienna and I

Franz Kellner

by Franz Kellner

Story
Vienna 2013


Monday morning, 01/29/2013. As told in my story “Dreams and Intuitions”, I made a joke.
Minutes later, on the way to the tram, I slipped on the ice, which was under the snow and I couldn’t get up. Good neighbor called Julia and they called the rescue. I tried to calm Julia down, she was very empathetic in such situations. An ambulance from the “Green Cross” with paramedics was there in a few minutes. A paramedic looked at my leg and said, “It could be a femoral neck fracture.” Unfortunately, he was right.

The Danube Hospital (in German: Donauspital) was overloaded that day because of the weather. I was in the emergency room. Hours passed observing the new arrivals, calling relatives and friends, and playing games on the cell phone. My leg was elevated. I got a mug of water and nothing to eat, because the operation was due to take place today. X-ray showed that I should receive a so-called pan and a piece of bone, both made of plastic.

By 8:30 p.m. it was clear that I would not have surgery and was given a late dinner. During the night I laid in the corridor with other patients because there was not enough space in the rooms. Sleeping wasn’t easy. The nurses took great care of patients who complained of pain. The next day was better and the patients were moved to different rooms. I got a single room, which was actually intended for private patients. But nothing else was free.

01/31/2013 – finally surgery. No general anesthesia but local anesthesia. The doctor said you felt better afterward than after a general anesthesia. I could have witnessed my surgery but was so tired that I fell asleep and woke up in the room. Julia, our daughters, my mother, sister and their sons visited me. In the evening I became pale and dizzy. Julia pressed the alarm button and a nice doctor came. She reassured us all and said that due to some blood loss during the surgery, my blood pressure is now low. I got fusions and it got better. My family could go home with peace of mind. At night someone would come into my room every few hours to see how I was doing. I enjoyed the private room for two days.
Then a private patient was admitted and until they found a place for me, I again spent a night in the corridor. I spent the next 2 weeks with two nice pensioners. As much as circumstances allowed, we had a good time together. We were also very grateful for the caring care of the nurses. A few days after the operation, with the physiotherapist I began trying to walk with 2 crutches. Somewhat painful, but motivated by the therapist’s positive support. After 2 weeks I was back at Julia’s house.
3 weeks later I came to the Raxblick rehabilitation center. That’s a different story.


© Franz Kellner 2023-07-31

Genres
Novels & Stories
Moods
Challenging, Emotional
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