Posted on 10/01/2004 3:47:22 PM PDT by Vermonter
Just when it’s getting fun, Robert Novak, 73, the veteran columnist and one of the hosts of CNN’s Crossfire is going to be hobbling.
Early Friday morning, the day after the first presidential debate in Coral Gables, Fla., Novak slipped in in his Miami hotel room shower and broke his hip, a source told B&C. Novak and his Crossfire counterpart Paul Begala were in Florida to fire at each other for Thursday's show and to help with CNN's coverage of the debate.
The source said Novak will require a partial hip replacement, but had no estimate of how long that will keep him off the campaign trail, or at least trailing far behind it.
But the source also reported that Novak was busily editing his column on the laptop computer in his hospital room.
But have you ever tested the bottom of showers in hotel rooms? They probably need some law suits to clean up their act. I'm very aware of bathtub and shower floors and some are outright dangerous. Even some with roughened bases are NOT slip proof.
Maybe he shouldn't "bump no more with no big, fat woman."
Novak is too tough a bird to stay bedridden long. But hip replacements are tricky things and much can go wrong. Prayers are in order.
As I understand it (and I make no claim of medical expertise), what you refer to is not uncommon among the very elderly. Often a death warrent, too -- break your hip, get confined to bed, die of pneumonia.
I doubt that's what happened with Novak, relatively robust at 73. But it's a serious deal, and my thoughts are with him.
If Maureen Dowd were to fall on her head, it would do only minor brain damage.
Any damage to Maureen's brain is, by definition, minor.
LOL!! GOOD ONE THAT!!!
Speaking of Novak-best wishes, by the way-does anyone remember years ago on Crossfire, when Novak had one of his front teeth fall out on live tv? It was one of the wierdest things I'd ever seen, as Novak continued as if nothing was wrong. He held his hand in front of his mouth while he asked questions!
I know a 96 yr. old lady that had a hip replacement last January. She's doing superb! Within a few days after surgery, she was up and walking. She rarely uses so much as a cane these days.
Good post!
We helped facilitate my Mom (80) and Dad's (85) move into their new condo last year. We insisted the contractor put grab bars in both bathrooms, shower and tub.
So far, neither has had a bad fall.
Here is the question, though, why always the shower (or majority of time in shower)?
Mom was up 2 days after replacement surgury, 4 weeks later back in her 2 floor apartment.
Amazing what they can do these days.
Hey TC. I even installed a grab bar right by the front door way entrance of my dad's place since there is a step one must go up or down. Stability and confidence are so important to avoid falls for the elderly.
We insisted the contractor put grab bars in both bathrooms, shower and tub..........
No such thing as overkill on this safety measure.
How long was your G/Mother out of commission with the hip replacement? Was she able to walk within a month or so?
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