A Local Hospital is Another Added Value to the Rock Creek Community

A Local Hospital is Another Added Value to the Rock Creek Community.

Watching the real estate cycle over the past few years has been an enlightening experience. Why have some communities lost substantial value in homes whereas another community just a few miles away has been able to maintain its value?

One thing I realized recently is the added value that local hospitals bring to communities. A local hospital gives homeowners a level of assurance that should the need arise, professional care is available nearby.

You might wonder what would make think about a local hospital. Well as the father of two boys, my wife and I are not strangers to emergency rooms. Recently two experiences made me grateful for having close access to a top notch medical facility, namely Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville, Colorado. And even though Avista is in Louisville, it's just across the highway from the town of Superior and the Rock Creek community.

The first event was somewhat expected. My older son had dislocated his shoulder last November and we were forewarned that if a second dislocation occurred, surgery would be required. This happened in early August, and we were thankful for the quick ride to get help. Shoulder was relocated and surgery scheduled for the following week. My son has been recuperating very well.

A week after my son's surgery, my younger son and I were enjoying an awesome mountain bike ride in Marshall Mesa, just west of Superior. Toward the end of the ride, as I was chasing after my fit, 18 year old son, my front tire slid off of the single track path and into a bush. The indisputable laws of physics took effect. The bike stopped instantly, the rider (yours truly) attempted to fly, but alas the laws of gravity were also in effect. I flipped over the handlebars landing on my shoulder, head, elbow into ribs and finally coming to rest on my side. We were about a half-mile from an area where we could be picked up off of a road, and my wife came to the rescue.

Once again, I was extremely grateful for a short ride to the emergency room. X-rays were taken and sure enough my collar bone was broken.

Now because of my other sons shoulder dislocation we now had an orthopedic surgeon that we liked. We made an appointment to meet with doctor again. It's almost inevitable to have a little bit of humor manifest from this type of situation. When the doctor came into the room he was surprised to see that his patient was me, and I had to explain to him that we had such a great experience with him the week before that well, I just had to come back and do it again. The following day, the doctor reconstructed my collar bone.

Father and son continue to recover and get stronger daily. A huge thank you to our doctor and the great staff at Avista Adventist Hospital. You can't make this stuff up!