It was an ordinary evening in early March when my grandmother fell down the stairs of the two-story house where she lives with my grandfather, independently with the occasional help of their three children. After walking up no more than five or six steps on her way to her bedroom she lost her balance and took a terrible backwards fall down the stairs. My grandfather rushed to her side when he heard the commotion and found her on the floor unconscious. He called her name and when she wasn’t responsive, he called 9-1-1.

The fire department arrived on the scene as the first responders to aid my grandma, and then the ambulance brought her to the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was determined that she had broken ribs, hurt the back of her head, her lower back and tail bone, and chipped two or three vertebrae near her neck. This was, by far, her worst fall.

Not long after, she was transferred to the Montreal Genera Hospital trauma unit, which was not available to my grandmother at the Royal Victoria.

Her stay at the Montreal General lasted about a week, and she was let out on the recommendation that she uses a walker in the house, and a sturdy Rollator walker with wheels for the rugged and unpredictable outdoors.

She was also asked to join the Day Hospital, an outpatient program for physical therapy at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Today, my grandma is still recovering from her accident and still has trouble with her balance. She never had to use a walker or Rollator before the accident, but when she’s using the Rollator, she says her back doesn’t hurt because the Rollator helps her posture. Also, she feels secure and doesn’t fear falling.

My grandmother is in better condition than she was in March, and I’m happy she’s made this much progress, but it hurts to see her suffer the pain she still has from her injuries. When the accident first happened my family and I were all worried for my grandmother, and it was sad to see her in so much pain, but we’re all so thankful my grandfather is almost always at her side, or he could not have called for help.

Using her Rollator makes her feel independent, however she still requires something or someone to help her control her balance up or down the stairs. She always has her hand on the railing, and usually someone will help her up the stairs.

To help prevent future accidents, my grandparents have sold their house and will move to an apartment or condo with an elevator instead of stairs. Although my grandfather is still her constant companion everyone has some peace of mind knowing that she has a rollator for extra support.