Stride for Stride: Overcoming a Broken Hip

A typical mid-morning jog in June turned into a life-altering event for Waverly resident Kathy Kemming. The avid runner was a half of a mile from home when she felt a strange new pain in her hip. Kemming paused to stretch and heard a loud pop. 

Kemming was immediately nauseous from the pain. Unable to stand and with no phone to call for help, Kemming crawled to the side of the road. Luckily, she was close to the Iowa DOT office in Bremer County where she saw two men working outside. She yelled for help and they transported her home. 

Within a few hours, Kemming was in the Waverly Health Center (WHC) emergency department. “I was immediately put into a room and given pain medication,” said Kemming. She was taken to radiology where she had an x-ray and CT scan. Once the providers realized the severity of the injury, they began looking into local orthopedic surgeons. 

Dr. Robert Bartelt is an orthopedic surgeon with Cedar Valley Medical Specialists (CVMS) at WHC. He performed surgery at WHC that evening. “That was the best news – knowing surgery would be at Waverly Health Center,” recalled Kemming. “I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.” 

Kemming credited the staff in each department she visited for their kind and compassionate care. She was thankful for visits from the physical and occupational therapists who gave guidance during her stay. 

As a nurse herself, Kemming knows how important it is to take recovery slowly. She had follow-up appointments with Stephanie Smith, ARNP, at the CVMS clinic in WHC and has since returned to work. 

“Waverly Health Center is the place to go when you need help and are looking for the best local care,” Kemming commented. “I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else.”