JAN 04, 2018 – Nothing like starting the new year with a new hip! Our 94-yr-old energizer buddy, Hannlis, was pleased to report that she didn’t actually need a full replacement, “Just a screw,” for the surgeon to mend her broken bones on New Year’s Eve. On the beautiful Miami Beach day before, she’d returned from a long walk and a swim in the sea, then slipped while rolling her trash container to the curb. :(Humpty Dumpty Hannlis is not alone: More than 400,000 hips and another 600,000 knees will be replaced in the US this year. And it was a friend’s heart valve replacement we had in mind when we created this card. Its inside message reads, “Here‘s hoping you’ll soon feel good as new.”
Below you’ll see Hannlis as I did at noon on New Year’s Day, already sitting up in a chair. Her grin and warm glow come from gazing out the sunny hospital room window at the boats sailing by in a sparkling Biscayne Bay. “It looks like a glorious day,” she said. “Go enjoy some beach for me! Enjoy Every Minute of this new year,” she insisted, “because we never know …” Then, with a little giggle and wave at her own predicament, she added, “As you can see!”
We can only hope everyone who needs to receive a Feel Better card like this has Hannlis’ indomitable spirit. “How many people with new hips did you help get back on their feet during your 50 years as a physical therapist?” I asked her; she retired at 75, only because she could no longer lift patients twice her size. “After Mom broke hers,” I went hopefully on, “she was soon right back out there in her walker, tearing up the streets.” Yes, Hannlis said, “That’s my plan, too.”
She’s something, our amazing nine-lives Hannlis. Still, if you have some good, healing energy to spare, kindly send it her way. You can be sure she’d do the same for loved ones of yours.
founder & chief creative
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