Grateful to be alive

- Alton Jay, resident of Perrins Marina Villa, needs his walker to get aroud these days after recovering from a fall last year. MacAulay photo
By Charlotte MacAulay

He’s lucky to be alive says a new resident of Perrins Marina Villa in Montague.
Seven months ago Alton Jay, 80, had a fall at his home in Mount Stewart that caused severe life threatening injuries and sent him to hospital for a seven month stay.
“It’s a miracle that I can sit here today and tell you this story and only God can perform miracles,” he said.
Mr Jay began Aug. 9, 2009 just like any other day.
He stepped out his door, but his legs decided to take a break.
The doctors have told him when your 80 sometimes your legs don’t do what they are suppose to do.
He made three steps and then fell face first on the cement.
His son, Alvin, immediately took him the 23 miles to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
When doctors there found he had a broken neck, and several other broken bones in his nose, cheeks, jaw and hand they sent him on to Moncton hospital.
Adding to his troubles while he was in Moncton, Mr Jay contracted pneumonia.
Mr Jay said he doesn’t remember much about his stay in Moncton, but he knows his family was called several times because the doctors thought it was going to be the end.
There was a lot of pain and his face was unrecognizable, swollen to twice it’s normal size.
When he was stabilized Mr Jay was sent back to the QEH to be rehabilitated.
“I had to learn to live all over again and there was lots of help from all concerned.”
Mr Jay was getting his nutrition from a feeding tube for the first little while and when it was time to get back on solid food there was great help from the staff, he said.
“One thing that brought me back so quick was that my appetite wasn’t gone for long,” he said.
Another thing was the outstanding care he received from all the hospital staff.
After spending most of the fall and winter looking at the four walls of a hospital room and working hard to become mobile again, Mr Jay was happy to join the other residents at the Villa on March 1.
Mr Jay is no longer able to live on his own because the doctors said they don’t know if his injuries could be repaired a second time..
He enjoys the independence the walker gives him.
“These walkers are a Godsend. A lot of people, especially here, need them.
“There is great comfort and wonderful care here, but it’s not home,” he said.
Mr Jay said he misses the only home he’s ever known, living all his life in the same house he was born in 80 years ago.
“I know I’m not going to live alone again and I’ll be better off to stay here.”