An Interview with Sue Hutchison

Weight loss, motor vehicle accident, and Bataan survivor

Hi Sue! Thank you for doing this. You have a story that I think many people will find interesting. Let's grab people's attention, with a story you told me years ago about your successful weight loss. In my experience, this can be extremely difficult.

I agree - until and unless a person is ready and invested in trading her/his misery for a healthful lifestyle, very few will make any lasting change. In 2011, my self-inflicted misery caught up with me to the degree that I made the decision to life-long changes. I have never regretted my decision, and with a few diversions, I have continued for 12 years. I deal with severe osteoporosis, scoliosis, asthma, year-long allergies, Raynaud’s syndrome, a recovered broken patella, spine, and other chronic issues, and walking has proven to be incredible for me in weight loss (from a size 16 to a size 2) and the improvement of all my maladies and mental well-being.

You also had an accident. Can you tell me what happened?

In 2018 I had an opportunity to join with friends and participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range. I spent the night before the march in nearby Las Cruces and drove to the Range at 3 a.m. I had registered earlier for the smaller of the races which would cover approximately 14.5 miles, regardless of the weather. I completed the race rather easily, due to my earlier lifestyle changes. I was in awe of the veterans who were racing beside me with prosthetic limbs, and realized that one who chooses good health will overcome anything possible.

On the 2 hour drive home after the race, I fell asleep at the wheel, most likely due to not having eaten a meal since the evening before. With great EMS (-so many stories of miraculous work could be told here - simply amazing they were able to extract me without killing me), I was carved out of my Honda and taken to our local hospital where the diagnosis was made that I had broken my neck at C2, my back at T1, T7 and my sternum.

The UNM medical team determined that the best course of treatment was to be immediately screwed into a halo-vest, with the permanent occlusion of my left vertebral artery following immediately. I was hospitalized for 3 weeks, went back and forth for 3 months to UNM for checkups, but still using my walker to walk as much as my body could endure. At 11 weeks, my neurologist determined that my C2 had recovered enough to remove the halo-vest and replace with a 24/7 rigid collar. At 6 months post-wreck,  my neurologist could only tell me that it was miraculous that my spine and neck were in such good shape. More than one medical professional remarked to me during those months that had I not been in as good of shape as I was at the wreck, I would most likely be dead, as is the high percentage of most who deal with C2 breaks.

And you were still able to complete the Bataan again, after the accident recovery?

Yes! In 2021, due to Covid, the race was held virtually. I walked 17 miles!

What were your positive and negative experiences in health care during that recovery?

First, I am a person of faith and the most dominant positive for me was the fact that even when I could do absolutely nothing but lay there in my hospital room and wait for the next pain meds, I could pray. Second positive: I was constantly accompanied by my husband who took those 3 weeks off (-in the middle of the Easter season) and stayed in my rooms with me. Really taught me that everyone needs someone in their corner when faced with any sort of challenge. I have really tried to be that someone in a more effective sense since my wreck. The staff of both hospitals, OT and PT therapists, as well as our local wound care specialist were simply wonderful in showing patience and care.
I know that many patients do not experience such positives with their medical teams, but mine was stellar. 
Negatives: I get now two things that so many deal with regularly.
1.  The desperation that I would never be unscrewed from that halo was my constant companion during those 11 weeks. Some of the neuro meds I was taking exacerbated that feeling of desperation. (I realized that early on, and weaned myself off asap. I do realize there are medical professionals who medicate too much, but I had enough medical acumen to realize that I was adding to my desperation by continuing to take certain neuro and pain meds.) At times, I remember thinking of “solutions” to end that feeling. Desperation for any reason is such a miserable place to be, and although I realize your question deals with health care experiences, I also realize that there are those in the medical field who do not view their jobs as anything but a paycheck. If you’re a medical professional, get out and find another paycheck if you have lost the sense of meaningful patient care. My medical team knew I had my husband to help my mental outlook but desperation and depression are real. I realize that medical professionals are VERY overworked, overwhelmed and underpaid. But please find another profession if your patient care has been lost.
2.  Another negative: Insurance. I could just leave this here - I am certain each reader has her/his own story to tell about insurance woes. I think that my annual deductible was met during my first of 4 ambulance trips during my wreck treatment, but still, the thousands of out-of-pocket dollars needed would have NEVER been met had not a BUNCH of friends stepped up and dug deep to help.

If you have a magic wand for the world...

O, geeze! There are too many possible responses to your question. Complete health and life security for each human,  regardless. Let’s leave it at that. You DID say magic.

If you had a magic wand for health care...

First: all medical professionals would have effective and compassionate patient care at all patient encounters.
Second: all medical professionals would be REQUIRED to take 6 months of paid-time-off after every 5 years of service. (-remember, you said “MAGIC.”)
Third: each person, from conception on, would have effective patient care administered through the assistance and utilization of a behind-the-scenes insurance manager who would not only file all claims, but make arrangements for assistance for all patients who need effective (-not gratuitous) medical care and cannot afford what remains for each patient to pay after insurance has responded.
There are more, but hey, we don’t have time.

What do you think are the most important aspects to being happy and healthy in life?

I cannot overemphasize the importance of having a positive outlook and forecast. I realize my own times of desperation and depression have taken their toll on me from time to time. I do not have a head-in-the-sand mental framework, but I DO know that to stay in a framework of desperation is not only mentally damaging but physically damaging as well.
Sunlight, walking, praying, eating well (NOT following diets or fads or “plans” but eating the foods that help me, not hurt me-I know what works for me but will not elaborate much. I don’t want anyone to mimic what works for me, but to find what works best for her/him), being NOT alone when desperate or depressed…those things are vital for me. My treadmill works when I cannot get outdoors.

Determination to live a healthful lifestyle takes a plunge, occasionally. There are times I find myself in an attitude of just not caring. But I am grateful that I see divine providence helping me to realize where I am, and how to make changes and return to my resolve. It’s been more than a decade and I won’t go back. I am determined to live until I die!

Any rants? Expressions of outrage?

I will only mention one rant: There are those who jump on all sorts of bandwagons from sheisters who promise easy weight-loss, better looks, etc. through all sorts of methods. I would love to see better regulatory oversight for those who promote such bogus claims.
THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT IS: REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STUFF YOU EAT, INCREASE YOUR LEVEL OF EXERCISE AND CHANGE TO EATING GOOD FOOD MINDFULLY. I typed ONLY and I MEAN ONLY. The ONLY way to maintain a weight loss is to make permanent, lifestyle changes. People who are duped into taking pills,  drinking a magic potion, and “spa” treatments that are costly and do NOT last are the victims of potentially life-ending FALSE promises.

A healthy lifestyle is a choice and the only way to achieve it is CHOOSING, working at change, and keeping it up. It’s slow but AMAZING transformation occurs.