Member-only story
Sneak Preview into my 90's
How an accident gave me a chance to see my future
A week after my horrible fall in New York City which broke my lower left leg and ankle, and the reconstructive surgery after it, I was taken in an ambulance to a rehab center near my house, so my husband could come and go easily. I was so happy about the location as it was familiar and suburban with greenery around it.
When I arrived late at night, I was wheeled into my room by the ambulance people. As I looked around the floor, each room door was open. In every room there were two very elderly people talking, shouting, watching loud TV, coughing, moaning, etc. I thought I was in the movie “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, and I was so upset and told my husband to get me out of there secretly in the car. In the back of my mind, I remembered that it was in this location that a nursing home used to exist, where a nurse killed dozens of patients. The facility was torn down and a new one built in its place which is where I was admitted. The aides who came to settle me in looked like zombies, who were overworked and tired themselves. On top of it, the door to my room would not close properly. So all night I had to play white noise to reduce the hall noise. I was totally miserable that first night.
