Helene’s journey!

Thursday January 5, 2012

Helene and Hal are parked near to us in the Blue Bus (Corazon Gitano …Gypsy Heart) and are the best of neighbors.  They summer in Sante Fe, New Mexico and winter in Mazatlan.  Helene is originally from Quebec and Hal from the States maybe New York but I’m not completely sure about that.

Over the last two years Helene’s hip has been getting steadily worse and this year it had become unbearable.  Time for a hip replacement.  They were lucky enough to get coverage through the Mexican insurance and yesterday was the day.  Helene was excited, ready, anxious, nervous and elated that it was finally going to happen.

Okay she really does look happy!

Apparently Hal woke up in the night on Dec 26th and realized that Helene was not going to be able to get in and out of their rig after her surgery.  A little middle of the night figuring and the project begins!

The following quote is from Hal & Helene’s blog about how this all started……Helene writes..

“As I was sleeping soundly Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, Hal woke up around 2 a.m. realizing that I would need a ramp or a catapult to get back into the bus following my hip surgery and hospital stay. By 3 a.m. he was designing, by 3:30 he was outside with a string and a flashlight checking out angles. He was back asleep by 5ish

However, when he was outside in the daylight checking things out, our neighbor, Sam came by to see what the project was and within the hour, they were on their way to Home Depot.

These guys worked hard for 2 days. And now…. We’re just waiting for the second coat of paint to dry.

Folks walking by: What are you putting in? A water slide?

A skate board ramp?

Hey, are you taking orders? We want a deck”

Day 1 Sam and Hal get the platform built.

Helene already has a nice place to sit. 

Constructing the ramp.

Finishing the ramp.

Plywood on and next a railing. 

Helene gets to help and paint the ramp.

Hal finishes it up where crouching work was needed.

All painted and now just a carpet runner to finish it off.  Helene is safe and relieved thanks to Hal and Sam.  Great job guys.  A very tasteful solution to the problem.

Jan. 4, 2012….operation day and time to go!

Off to the hospital. 

This morning we were happy to learn that the operation was a success and that Helene will spend a few days in the Sharp Hospital before returning home.  Yahoo!  She will soon be mobile and pain free.  We are so happy for her.