On Saturday, Sept. 27, over 145 runners and walkers, including Masonic Village residents, employees and others took part in the Harvest Hustle, a three-mile run/walk, on the beautiful 1,400-acre Elizabethtown campus.
The biggest winner of the day was resident Maureen Jackson, who placed second to last. Having broken her femur five months prior, the woman who was used to walking 15,000 steps a day wasn’t just participating for fun. She had something beyond earning a first-place trophy to prove to herself.
The Road to Recovery
Before heading into work as an in-home caregiver for Masonic Village Home Care, Maureen was used to starting her day early with a walk with Marzipan, her energetic rescue dog. On April 17, at 5 a.m., she turned to put the leash on Marz, when her leg bone snapped just below her hip.
As she lay in agony, her husband of 53 years, Bruce, called an ambulance and the Masonic Village operator, who immediately alerted security staff. Joe Phillips, security officer, arrived at their cottage within minutes.
“It hurt so badly, and I know I was saying all kinds of words,” Maureen recalls. “He was very nice.”
She was taken to Lancaster General Hospital and was in surgery by 2 p.m. She remained in the hospital for five days before returning to campus in the Masonic Health Care Center’s Transitional Care Unit (TCU) for rehabilitation.
“It was the greatest experience,” she said of the TCU. “Masonic Village is a wonderful place. It’s a one-stop shop, and staff set up everything for me. After the TCU, Masonic Village Home Health came to my house for occupational therapy, and then I went to the outpatient rehab clinic on campus.
“I was determined to do things by myself again, and they helped me learn how. All the staff in the [Masonic] health care center are amazing.”
As part of her recovery, Maureen also worked with Baird Wellness Center staff, including Lexi Hollinger, wellness specialist. She was able to stop using a walker after just a few weeks. Her next goal is to no longer need a cane.
In June, she saw a flyer promoting the Harvest Hustle.
“I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do this,’” she recalls. “I’ve never done a race before, but I’ve always been active. I’m not one to sit and do nothing. You can’t feel sorry for yourself.”
Maureen drove herself to the starting line of the race on Sept. 27. With the support of staff and neighbors, she completed the course, with her good friend and neighbor Marilyn Morrison allowing her to pass her at the finish line.
“Everyone was cheering for me and jumping up and down,” she said. “It was so nice.”
Maureen is back to walking her dog each morning and then heads to the wellness center. She attends SilverSneakers®, chair yoga and other fitness classes.
“Everyone there is so supportive,” she said of the wellness center. “Stacy, Lydia, Stef, Lexi, Brigid, Anna and Ron are the best and have helped me through this life-changing event with their positive attitudes, guidance and support. I could not have done it without them and Bruce, whose patience, understanding, compassion and being there for me 24/7 helped heal my body and soul.”
For anyone who is facing a similar situation, Maureen advises them to follow a few steps every day:
- Pray and have faith in God’s plan, and He will get you through it.
- Inhale positive thoughts and people, and exhale negative thoughts and people
- Always be kind and caring, and pay it forward.
- Go take a walk and take in God’s beauty, and capture every sunrise and sunset you can.
- When you feel down and ready to give up, press your rewind button, and repeat the first four steps.
She welcomes others in need of encouragement to reach out to her for help on their journey.
“Some people fear going to the [Masonic] health care center, but I would tell them, ‘Imagine if you didn’t have a place to go. There are a lot of places that aren’t nice. They will take care of you here.’”
Before her injury and growing to know the health care, rehabilitation and wellness staff, Maureen already knew Masonic Village was a gem, and not just for its beautiful grounds.
“I want to praise all the Masonic Village staff: my housekeeper, Morgan, maintenance; landscaping; security; everyone – for all they do for us,” she said. “It is always done with a pleasant smile. They all go beyond the extra mile for us. If someone can’t fix something or answer your question, they find a way and get it done.”
Maureen has two sons and four grandchildren, and they provide her with additional motivation to be her best.
“My goal is to stay healthy as long as I can,” she said. “I’m not done. I’ll get through it step-by-step and day-by-day.”
