"new shoes and to walk was all she wanted"

A new patient 68years old with a diagnosis of 'depression' and possibly 'early dementia' was admitted. She was finding it difficult to get about and generally coping with life since her husband had just died. She was assessed and eventually moved from the psychiatric admission and assessment ward to us in the psychogeriatric wards for further assessment and probability of permanent placement with us. A very sad, tiny little lady who hobbled around and was fastidious about her clothes and appearance. She did have some very nice clothes despite her small size, most of which were quality top label stuff. She had very bad bunions causing her to walk with great difficulty. She even had been given a walking frame! I was a deputy charge nurse working daily with the psycho-geriatrics as activities/diversional therapist and running the psycho-geriatric day centre adjacent to her ward. I found out from the social worker that this lady had funds from her husbands insurance payout on his recent death, and that her wish for many years had been to be able to walk properly again. I enquired through a local surgeon if a bilateral "bunionectomy" was possible and was informed yes but not through the existing public health system, (the waiting list would be many years long for such an 'unnecessary' operation), so it would have to be a private consultation. I got to know the lady though the day unit and with some help from the social worker and my nurse, managed to arrange appointments and eventually get her private surgery. Many of the hospital staff includuing two of the doctors said that I was working outside my authority and could get myself in a lot of trouble. Also as the lady was depressed and pre-senile dementia diagnosed and it would be a waste of money. (She had no next of kin that we could find, she had no children). However, she survived the surgery and returned with both feet up for a while causing some extra work for a few nurses! She eventually walked - the social worker and a regular assistant nurse took her shopping and she purchased several pairs of shoes. I had left that hospital not long after her surgery, and so has that lady! She now lives in the community, independently and enjoys life. (reported to me by the social worker) And she is not demented! I understand that she is happy and she does vaguely remember the 'male nurse' who drove her back and forwards many times to the surgeons rooms and the small private hospital where she had the operation. Gives me a warm fuzzy. She was only one of a few really wonderful memories I have for my 35 years of nursing. Hope you enjoy my story.

Mister Chris.