On the Road Again

Enid and Emmett Nichols were en route to their country home in Carmine about a year ago when, suddenly, an oncoming car broadsided their 1995 Volvo, leaving the two senior citizens with numerous injuries and terribly shaken.

"It was very frightening to me," Enid, now 78, recalls. "I was afraid no one would rescue us on that country road."

But within the hour, a nurse stopped to assist and called for emergency medical services to transport the couple to a nearby hospital and police to investigate the accident. She also phoned the Nichols' daughter-in-law to inform her about the accident.

At the hospital, they learned Enid suffered four broken ribs, in addition to the 10-inch cut across her forehead. Emmett, now 85, suffered a broken right foot and was referred to Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital, where doctors placed a screw in his foot to repair the broken bones.

In caring for seniors, the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System addresses an array of needs including spiritual, psychological, mental and social in addition to medical needs.

The accident was very traumatic for the Nichols. Healthy and active prior to the accident, the couple volunteered at their church, played bridge weekly and traveled extensively without assistance.

Following the accident, the couple was so traumatized that they questioned whether they would again live independently or travel. Enid, who had initially been treated at Hermann Hospital and was later admitted to Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital, became depressed to the extent that she was unable to enjoy the beautiful spring days. "I did not even want to go outside," Enid says. She remained closed in her room with the blinds down. She was also fearful of driving and riding in cars.

"Faced with her own mortality, Enid lost interest in virtually everything and it took the staff coaching her to finally lift her spirits," says Maureen Brunetti, a nurse at Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital.

For his part, Emmett was depressed about his condition and his inability to resume normal activities. He was hospitalized for three weeks at Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital where he endured extensive physical therapy on his injured foot. After being discharged, he continued a month of physical therapy at Memorial Hospital Southwest.

They both recall their visit as being pleasant under the circumstances. "The food was good and the care was good," Enid said. "That made being there as nice as possible."

Both of them credit the staff for their assistance in not only meeting their physical needs, but helping to lift their spirits, encouraging them in their recuperation process and giving them hope that they might once again be able to enjoy life as they had before.

Brunetti says when patients are admitted the staff tries to make everything pleasant, or less traumatic. "Our goal is to get patients as independent and as well as we can," she explains. "We want them to return to their normal life as quickly as possible."

Enid and Emmett have done just that. In May, they went to the Cayman Islands and in October, to Phoenix. Their Thursday trips to the country every week are back on, but this time with caution.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmc-info@tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/07_01_99/page_09.html