T
his is unfortunately a true story. It
happened here in Naples, Florida,
this past April 2016. The reason I'm
telling you about it is that, with a
few basic changes in my preparation for bed, it could have been prevented. Maybe I still would have had
the fall, but I definitely would not have had to spend
seven days and nights on the floor without food, water or medication!
One very important part of this story
is that I live alone. My main means of
communication are phone and email.
Whatever it was, I was not able to help
myself.
I could not reach the phone beside
Also important is that I was unemployed
my bed; the computer resides in an-
at the time and so had no employer or
other room; and my cell phone, where
coworkers to notice my absence.
all my contact numbers are — as noted
The night of Sunday, April 3rd, I got
earlier — was in the living room. This
ready for bed as usual: my cell phone in
was the classic "Help-I've-fallen-and-I-
the living room, being charged; a glass
can't-get-up" scenario! Little did I know
of water next to my bed, in case I need
how long this would last ...
a sip in middle of the night. I woke up a
while later to go to the bathroom. I sat
on the edge of the bed, got up ... and
My mind takes over...
Believe me, during the ensuing days
then, I was suddenly sitting on the floor
and nights, I had quite a few — I'll call
next to my bed!
them "episodes," because they were
It took me a bit to realize where I
totally out of the ordinary: I had times
was, then I started to get up ... but I
when I thought there were people in
could not! I spent the rest of the night
my living room but, when I called out to
trying to get up by various means — us-
them, of course no one answered. I had
ing the nightstand, using the bed itself,
determined that they were Chinese who
etc. — but, although I hadn't broken
had come to study the Chinese antiques
anything, I found I had hardly any
I had inherited from my folks! Truly, I
strength in my arms or legs! I wasn't
was hallucinating. But at first I was very
dizzy, and I don't think I fainted; I ap-
unnerved by “having uninvited strangers
parently just tried to get up too soon.
in my house”!
November 2016 - March 2017
27