After moving to Meadowlark Hills in 2008, many of our friends and acquaintances asked, “How do you like living at Meadowlark Hills?”

My candid reply was, “I hate it less each day!” Seriously after 40 years on Timberlane Drive, we were down-sizing from 2,000 square feet to less than 800 square feet. That fact in itself can be traumatic. Adding to the anxiety was the task of selling our home, remembering the housing market was lousy at the time. An added concern was that both of us were facing medical issues. 

When down-sizing, one has to make many decisions—what goes—what stays? Vern Gannon, the auctioneer, advised storing all the things that would be offered at an auction (“estate” sale). We learned quickly at the sale that there was considerable difference between our value of many items and the buying public. One example was the furniture we had in the sale—mostly colored and patterned. We soon learned that the public was into solids! No matter how we measured our new apartment, we still had more items than would fit, so we down-sized some more. 

We had been Passport Members of Meadowlark Hills for a number of years. We knew there had to be an “end” to mowing, shoveling and all the other fun things that are involved in home maintenance. We appreciated the counsel of Becky Fitzgerald in explaining the “working” at Meadowlark Hills. It finally came down that there were two units that would be satisfactory. The one finally selected was the “office” used by staff during the remodeling. It, of course, needed to be renovated. Another factor that came into focus during the decision-making process was health issues. Both of us had hip replacements prior to moving and that experience was most convincing. Our rehabilitation was in our home with STAIRS everywhere. Inadequate rehab was partially responsible for Jo to have a hip revision at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas the next year. Also Ed still suffers from leg pain from his hip replacement.

Health issues escalated after moving to apartment 229. As mentioned, Jo had a hip revision at KU Medical Center and later a procedure to correct scoliosis of the spine. The latter procedure resulted in an infection of the incision which required further surgery. Like it or not, these things happen. As one sage put it, “Nothing’s for sure but death and taxes.” But the best is yet to come, rehab. Jo first was assigned to Lyle House to recover from the hip revision.

Then came Bramlage House at Meadowlark Hills, and the constant care to resolve the infected incision. Words cannot express the compassionate care she received by the staff at both facilities. We have a similar appreciation for Dr. Joe, her attending physician at Bramlage. 

But, Ed vowed not to be left out of the medical scene. He had his aortic valve replaced at KU Medical Center in 2010 and benefited by the rehab program at Bramlage House and later on at the cardiac rehab at Mercy. 

Obviously, I have modified my earlier statement, “Hate it less each day.” Our only regret is delaying the move to Meadowlark Hills. Being a Passport Member helps the decision-making but there is no simple computer program that will make the decision for you. You just have to think it through and say, “What is best for us?” I take a lot of satisfaction when I see non-residents at Meadowlark Hills by asking, “When are you moving in?”