FALL RISK

Cataracts.  Nature’s way of reminding you that time has marched past and you are seeing life through darkened, blurry, brown, non-rose-colored glasses.

A couple of weeks before my cataract surgery, I began taking a blood pressure medication.  My blood pressure had been somewhat higher for a while, so I finally agreed to start the medication.   One of the lovely side effects is dizziness.    Fast forward a week.

I was outside watering my iris and peonies, the few plants the deer won’t eat.  I got dizzy and fell down landing on my back/butt.   I used to joke that I only got down on the ground by a court order.   But I didn’t wait for the legal papers to be drawn up, and down I went.  I sat up, checked to make sure nothing was broken, no bones splintering out of my leg or any other gruesome injuries.   After I determined I was not seriously injured, I began the torturous and somewhat impossible process of getting up. Perhaps it will help you picture this process if you understand that I have several physical disabilities. I'm not up for athlete of the year.

It might have been amusing if it hadn’t been me, but nothing seemed to work.  I was alone. I had left my phone in the house.  The ground was wet and soggy.  I rolled around into various position strategies. Finally, I dragged myself over to the porch on my hands and knees and after a while I managed to pull myself up.  I staggered into the house with shaking and trembling breath and limbs.  I was bruised, aching, scraped knees, stinging elbows and all of the other minor injuries you might imagine were singing a tune on my body.   It took a few weeks to recover.  

 That evening, I began watching YouTube videos about what to do when you fall down, how to get up, statistics about what happens, and how to prevent falls.   All of them very helpful, especially the ones with 19-year-old gymnasts demonstrating how to position your body to get up.  But anyway…I hope I’m prepared for next time.    Falling when you are considered “elderly” is not good to say the least.   Lately I’ve been slowly accepting that 71 years old qualifies me as elderly. It takes me a while to get certain concepts if you know what I mean.

I went in for my first cataract surgery about two weeks after I fell, and had to sign enough paperwork to purchase a small ranch.  I answered the nurse’s questions for a several minutes, including “have you fallen in the last three months”?   I started thinking about the Arlo Guthrie song Alice’s Restaurant, when the recruiter asked him “Kid, have you ever been arrested?  And he proceded to talk about the twenty-seven eight by ten glossies……well if you’ve heard the song, you know the rest.  

I answered yes.

The nurse sprinted over to the cabinet that held all of the wrist bands (I think she gaily pirouetted on her way over) and whipped out the one that was bright yellow with the words FALL RISK in big black letters.  She pirouetted back and snapped it onto my wrist.  I lay there gazing at it sadly.

The nurse informed me that she was seventy-two years old, retired, and only worked there when they needed her just because she enjoyed it.   I felt my heart beat a little faster as I watched her prepare the I.V. to insert in my hand, knowing that my arthritic fingers would take more than one try at this.  Thankfully, hers didn’t.   She also helped me feel more comfortable by mentioning that if I had to sneeze or cough during the procedure to let the surgeon know so they could remove the sharp instruments from my eye.    That became my plan.   

I wondered why medical people always ask if you’ve had a recent fall.  After my research I now understand that there are serious dangers associated with falling when you are elderly, including the risk of future falls and even an increased risk of death.  If you don’t get up right away, the longer you are down, the greater your risk for dying increases.  And get this - that risk remains even when you do get up.  There are complications that can ensue from a fall.  Needless to say, even though I am writing lightly about it now, I am taking it seriously and literally watching my step.

The truth occurred to me that we are all a fall risk, no matter our age or physical status. 

The Bible talks about Adam and Eve’s “fall” in Genesis 3.  They fell under the temptation of Satan A. Snake, to doubt God’s plan and instructions for them.   These instructions were to protect them from sin and all of its horrors, not to restrict their freedom.  But the snake lied about God’s character and tempted them to believe He was trying to keep them from the life they really wanted. It seems the fall happened very quickly.   

When they fell, since they were the parents of all mankind, we all inherited their genetic disposition.  (Yes, I’ve heard the complaint that none of us asked for it.  But that does not change the circumstances.) We were born fallen, and we are at risk of falling under the influence of the evil one at any time.   We may consider ourselves “safe” because we are strong, we are believers, we have a guardian angel, we are too smart to be deceived. Perhaps we have already fallen, and are certain we will not fall that way, or at all, again.  But the fact remains we are still a fall risk; we must wear the bright yellow bracelet.   Why?  So someone can watch us to help make sure we don’t fall, or to pick us up when we do.

We may be among those who don’t believe, who rely only on ourselves and our personal resources and strength.   Isaiah 30: 15-16 INLT) shows us the truth: “This is what the Sovereign Lord the Holy One of Israel says:  Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.  In quietness and confidence is your strength.  But you would have none of You said ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.  They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’  But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! 

It happens in the blink of an eye, in a short breath, in a quick look away from Jesus.  In an attempt to fulfill our desires and meet our needs outside of His plan, we fall down.  Let me just see what’s over there for a second.  Boom.  You’re down.   You must get up as fast as possible, or you’re facing extreme difficulties and pain.   The faster you get up, the better off you are.  Like the expression “the faster you get off the wrong train, the quicker you can get on the right one.”

How do you get up?  You might wallow around a while trying to get a footing.  Or you may be too injured to get yourself up.  You may need help.  But what if no one is around?   You need a plan.  You need resources and instructions on what to do. I’m not saying you should plan to fall, but I am saying you will want to have the information and appropriate strategies you need to get up. 

Have you considered what those are for you?  “Psalm 94:18-19 When I said my foot is slipping, your unfailing love supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

We all need a plan that works, a plan that rises above our own strength and wisdom.  For many years in my life, I fell down on a consistent and progressively worse basis.  The mental, emotional and physical damage was significant for me.  The memories that Satan likes to throw at me take consistent help from God to redirect my thoughts into current truth.  I continue to seek God’s intervention to help me stay up and stand up. I am free and standing up as long as I choose to be.

Here’s what I find works for me:

“O Lord I have come to you for protection, don’t let me be disgraced.  Save me, for you do what is right.  Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly.  Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.  You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.  Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.  I entrust my spirit into your hand.  Rescue me LORD, for you are a faithful God.”  Psalm 31:1-5 NLT

There’s also power and comfort in knowing and trusting that whatever happens to us, when we are in a covenant with our Savior, we need not fear.  We know this life right now, while it is important, is not the end of the story.  We may have seventy or eighty or more years. We don’t know.  But boom, those are dust in the end.   We can also have eternity where we don’t fall down, and needles or sharp instruments are not stuck in us, where our vision is perfect and our backs don’t ache from falling.   Don’t look away, He’s got a “get up plan” for you. 

By the way, cataract surgery is a miracle.  It was not painful, and it’s made a big positive difference for me.