The Broken Hip Episode - Paperback

by Dene Hellman (Author)

A Broken Hip Episode is one woman's experience with transitioning from vitality to dependence in mere seconds. It is an all-too-frequent occurrence wherein a vigorous old age is ended abruptly by an unexpected accident. There are statistics demonstrating that such an event too often signals the end of life or, at least, the end of valid membership in daily interaction. Unwilling to settle for dependence-and inclined to regard everything new and unusual in her life as something to write about-Hellman very quickly calls for pen and paper after she is hospitalized and begins a chronicle wherein no negative or positive aspect of her rehabilitation goes unexamined. Unaccustomed to spending much time with television or social media, the author finds her recovery time is often spent parked in front of a television and becomes fascinated by Donald Trump's unfolding campaign for president. The TV screen in her rehab room is always on, although she must eschew sound and frequently has to rely upon gut instinct to figure out what is going on. And, as she negotiates the mysterious medical insistence that she walk on tiptoe, struggles with the economy of food trays, appreciates the efforts of certified nursing assistants, and ponders the gaps in medical information that she is given, she notes it all in cryptic, diary form.

Author Biography

A native of Iowa, Dene has lived in North Carolina for three decades. A graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, she has written and published in numerous genres, including a novel, a memoir, and two poetry books. Dene lives and writes in Winston-Salem, N.C.