"Stay away from hospitals..."
Furman Bisher on Aging into the 90s
From undated notes left on his desk at his death:
"This is not a topic for your sports readers. It is about health, aging and the inevitable process of growing old. It is for those of you 90 and older, and I can speak to you on that level for I am one of you.
The central subject is caring for your body after you have moved into
the 90s. I’m not an authority on medical problems, but I experienced them and my experiences might be of some help to you. My problem is spinal stenosis, having to do with the spine, the backbone of your life. My direct subject is simply this: if you have [any?] trouble in your back, or any part of your body that might suggest surgery, stay away from hospitals.
That covers a lot of ground—based on what I experienced. If you are in that 90s bracket, it means most hospitals—hospital personnel—will not want to take the risk of putting you under the knife. You become a risk. Your body is old. All the parts have suffered wear and tear. What I discovered in seeking help was a fear that my invasive surgery was a risk that several hospitals choose not to take—or, rather are reluctant to risk, for it might [reflect] on the hospital and the staff involved.
I’m in the 94 bracket. I’ve taken extreme care of my body.
Regular exercise, jogging on five continents..."
From undated notes left on his desk at his death:
"This is not a topic for your sports readers. It is about health, aging and the inevitable process of growing old. It is for those of you 90 and older, and I can speak to you on that level for I am one of you.
The central subject is caring for your body after you have moved into
the 90s. I’m not an authority on medical problems, but I experienced them and my experiences might be of some help to you. My problem is spinal stenosis, having to do with the spine, the backbone of your life. My direct subject is simply this: if you have [any?] trouble in your back, or any part of your body that might suggest surgery, stay away from hospitals.
That covers a lot of ground—based on what I experienced. If you are in that 90s bracket, it means most hospitals—hospital personnel—will not want to take the risk of putting you under the knife. You become a risk. Your body is old. All the parts have suffered wear and tear. What I discovered in seeking help was a fear that my invasive surgery was a risk that several hospitals choose not to take—or, rather are reluctant to risk, for it might [reflect] on the hospital and the staff involved.
I’m in the 94 bracket. I’ve taken extreme care of my body.
Regular exercise, jogging on five continents..."