Hi, dear ones - I just had a note from Keith... it ain't good news.
He just returned from the hospital. At about 11am yesterday morning, Jane was hiking with Sherlock. A Newfoundland (a big dog) was tagging along and while she was jogging part of the trail, the Newfie veered into her and she fell quite forcefully on her right arm and shoulder. Fortunately, she was able to reach Keith by cell phone at the gym. Based on her hiking location and the extent of physical damage, she couldn’t move (let alone walk), and was lifted into a ranger’s vehicle, and ultimately the Lassner car—at which point they went to the Ashland Community Hospital Emergency Center.
The docs gave her morphine and took x-rays. After orthopedic consultation, a they performed a CT-scan. Jane has a severe proximal humerus fracture (a 4-part break) or, in layman’s terms, a bad broken shoulder, and will need corrective surgery, which will take place tomorrow morning. She has been in the hospital since yesterday, and will probably come home Friday or Saturday. This is a difficult and complex fracture and will either require pins and plates, or a more radical shoulder replacement. The ortho doc won’t know until he examines the femoral head of the bone. Regardless, her right arm range-of-motion will be impacted after the injury heals. She’s in a lot of pain and “pain management” is why she is in the hospital pre-surgery.
They are fortunate to have a fine group of orthopedic specialists in Ashland.
Though she’s at Ashland Community Hospital, please hold your calls until Keith gives the go ahead. When the time is appropriate, I’ll give you her direct-line.
I know you send her your best wishes for a safe and successful surgery!
Upshot, Jane is off-the-board until further notice for obvious reasons.
Keith sounds reasonable, but I know he is terribly distressed over this. I'm guessing the boys have been told by now. I'll keep you all informed of how our girl is doing, as I have news.
