Dear Editor:
I have a story to tell that I think contains an important message.
I am a very fit 87-year-old lady and I live in an apartment on the south side of Park Royal. On Oct. 12 I was walking along to the White Spot to meet some friends. As I was passing Trattoria restaurant, I noticed two young girls coming in the opposite direction – both on their cellphones and talking to each and not paying attention to where they were going.
As they passed me, the closest one bumped me on the shoulder and I fell to the sidewalk right onto my left hip.
I was immediately in awful pain and knew that I had broken something.
People came out from Trattoria to help. They called an ambulance right away as it was obvious I could not move. The ambulance arrived and the paramedics did as gentle a job as possible moving me from the sidewalk on to a stretcher, but the pain was excruciating.
I realized then that, suddenly, through no fault of my own, my life had changed.
The hospital staff moved very quickly, but because I was on blood thinners, they could not operate for two days.
When it did happen, the surgery was very successful. I was amazed that through the use of very heavy painkillers they got me on my feet the day after surgery and walking a few steps with a walker. Then a little farther each day until I was discharged 10 days later. I then went to Amica for two- weeks’ initial respite.
I am now back in my own apartment with a daily caregiver and an excellent physiotherapist twice a week.
The reason I am writing this letter is that there is so much press given to the hazards caused by people driving while using their cellphones. But I don’t see much about the equally hazardous use of cellphones by pedestrians who are not looking where they are going.
It goes without saying that this accident has caused me great emotional stress and financial expense – not to mention that by the time I am fully recovered, I will have lost at least four months of my life.
I would like to thank all the very kind people who helped me outside Trattoria, the ambulance paramedics, the staff of Lions Gate Hospital, the surgeon who did such an excellent job, the physio staff at the hospital and my own physiotherapist, all of whom have aided in my gradual recovery.
I feel that if this message gets through to even one cellphone user, then it has been worth writing it.
Helen Stewart
West Vancouver
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