Past and present of knee surgery
A guy named Mack Lee Hill died in 1965 after knee surgery, according to Wikipedia. He played professional soccer for the Kansas City Chiefs, in the American Football League, from 1964 until his death in 1965 at the age of 25. He was born in Quincy, a small town in North Florida. His death was due to complications from knee surgery, due to a soccer injury.
My wife just had arthroscopic knee surgery a few days ago and she is doing great. Mack Lee Hill graduated from the same high school where my wife and I first met. He played soccer on the same high school team as me. The results of the knee surgeries, however, were quite different.
I have latched on to modern medicine out loud on this forum before, but not this time. Sure, as my mom used to say when she commented on my school report card, “there’s always room for improvement.” Today, however, I am very grateful for medical advances. No bloody cut of meat to open the knee. No extensive sutures to close the incision. No long and dreaded recovery, heavy medication or overwhelming painkillers, intensive rehabilitation or convalescence.
What if Mack Lee Hill had been given the same opportunity? Would he have survived knee surgery today? I don’t know all the details or complications that took place with his procedure, so my reflection on that situation is just to say how things have changed.
Our doctor went out of his way to present a pleasant “bedside treat.” Other staff members did well to make us feel comfortable. No perfection yet, but plenty of progress.
We were able to get a diagnosis, an MRI, get crutches, and outpatient surgery all in the same center. I’m not complaining, but we have good health insurance and actually that made a big difference. Today I am thankful for having good medical coverage.
My wife is a little uncomfortable, she was expectantly groggy after the procedure until the anesthesia wore off. They take the few stitches out of her in no time and I’ve been here with her to make things as smooth as possible.
During the procedure I was very nervous. We have all seen stories on TV or heard of cases where someone had a routine operation and died on the operating table. My wife was certainly nervous so no complaints today just thanks. These past few days have made me think about the relative nature of things. It reminds me of the old anecdote about whether the “glass is half full or half empty”. Today mine is overflowing. So thanks to modern medicine and all the good sincere people who practice it. Thank you good health insurance and your community for what you have provided.
And Mack Lee Hill? What would be the result of him today?