I have struggled to find the words neccessary to describe
how Dr. Bala has changed my life. At 44 years of age,
to hear the words from a U.S. physician, "You have
osterarithitis in your left hip and I could have you
approved for a total hip replacement surgery by Monday",
was nothing short of terrifying. He told me the determining
factor of when to undergo the surgery would be when
the pain became too intense. Being a nurse and knowing
the limitations of a traditional total hip, I KNEW I
did not want to live that lifestyle for the next 40
- 50 years of my life. A little luck and a lot of research
lead me to decide to pursue a hip resurfacing, rather
than a total hip replacement, and to Dr. Bala to perform
the procedure for me.
The dry statistics are that I was in the hospital for
six days. I was up, walking with a walker two days after
the surgery day, bawling happy tears because that deep,
achy, grinding, burning pain of those first morning
steps were not there. Granted, there was a little incisional
pain at the surgical site, but completely different
than the osteoarithitis pain. Physical therapy was twice
a day in the hospital and in the evenings for several
more days at the hotel until it was time to head home.
None of this was surprising as my research lead me to
be prepared for basically such a routine, except my
joy at the disappearence of the joint pain.
The part of my experience I could not prepare for was
the depth of compassion, curioisity, strength and character
of the people of India. Begining with Dr. Bala, his
staff, the nurses, the aides, the housekeeping staff,
the staff at the hotels, restuarants or stores we went
to, the counter help at the little local bakery, people
we sat next to on flights or out walking the streets,
were so warm, gentle, curious and caring, we were caught
completely off-guard. My beautiful wife is a nervous
traveler by nature and I was expecting the crowded big
cities of India we see on television. By the time we
left India, she was changed as well in that she is now
a much less nervous traveler, a little more trusting.
In America, crowded usually equals rude, mean, harried,
nasty people. It took several days to understand that
the people of Coimbatore are put together much differently
than Americans. While there is plenty of honking horns
and some impatience, it is all undergirdered by the
gentle Indian soul.
To put it bluntly, Dr. Bala gave me my life back. I
followed my own flawed thinking to put off the surgery
as long as possible. PLEASE do not make the same mistake!
Do not spend 2 years hobbling around until the pain
is unbearable. The one thing 46 year old Gary would
tell the 44 year old Gary is to get that damn hip resurfaced
NOW!! TODAY!! This led me to a life of eating Aleve
like candy while spending a third of my waking hours
on the couch because the pain was too intense to take
another step. Unfortunately, I am one of those people
who can't sit still very long and I usually drive my
wife and friends a little crazy with "what's next?".
Dr. Bala has given me the physical ability to be that
active again.
I think a few examples of the physical activities I
have returned to might be more illistrutrative than
general "this is great" statements. Since
returning from India in early July, I have returned
to my job as a floor nurse, working 12 hour days, walking
for pleasure, jogging, raquetball, clearing a building
site in a heavily wooded 4 acre lot with a chainsaw
and a skidloader for my daughter and son-in-law. Reshingling
my entire house and residing 2/3rds of my house after
a hail storm that pummeled us with baseball sized hailstones,
scooping up my handicapped mom and carrying her up-stairs
she can't climb herself and remodeling my son-in-laws'
clinic. Most importantly, I am able to get down on the
floor again to wrestle with or tickle my 2 year old
granddaughter, nephews and nieces.
When preparing for discharge, I asked what my long term
limitations were, Dr. Bala told me "Give yourself
6 months to completely heal and then anything you would
do with your natural hip, you can do with this resurfaced
hip." I haven't quite taken the whole 6 months
yet, but his statement has held up for me as that I
haven't found anything yet I cannot accomplish.
It is as simple as thank you Dr. Bala and India for
changing our lives.
Regards,
Gary and Cheryl Breckenridge
Northfield, Minnesota
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