Small Town Care Makes All the Difference

When expectant mother Madison Gillespie was told she’d be on bed rest due to preeclampsia, she was disappointed to say the least. The CrossFit and IRONMAN athlete was even more surprised when she went into labor five weeks early. Due to her preeclampsia, she had to deliver her premature daughter at the University of Washington hospital. She and her healthy daughter were discharged five days later and the new family, including Gillespie’s Navy pilot husband, returned home to Anacortes.

After so much bedrest, the couple were eager to get back out, so one week after baby Emery was born, they ventured out for a walk. It was here that Madison tripped on a curb, and holding her newborn daughter in her arms, instinctively fell backward.

“I heard a crack. I felt a crack, and then I screamed,” Madison said.

A trip to Island Health Emergency Department (ED) showed a trimalleolar fracture—Madison had broken her tibia, fibula and medial malleolus. A reduction procedure was performed, and then Madison was sent home to wait for the swelling to subside.

Enter Island Health orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Reem. One week postpartum and now with a severe injury, Madison was understandably shaken. She said Dr. Reem brought her a lot of peace.

Less than two weeks after her fall and less than three weeks after giving birth, Madison had surgery that left her with 11 screws and one plate in her ankle. This meant another eight weeks of non-weight bearing activity. Through it all, Madison said, the care at Island Health was exactly what she needed, every step of the way.

“It was super challenging to get through the recovery during postpartum. Having a newborn baby was a piece of cake compared to all that came with the ankle injury,” Madison said. Her quick recovery is a direct result of Dr. Reem’s prescribed physical therapy regimen.

Dr. Reem says knowing Madison’s needs and abilities, she was able to create an individualized, safe and aggressive physical therapy schedule.

“I knew her athletic body was capable of the work, and from working so closely with her, I knew she was eager to return to some normalcy. But she was also a new mother, and I had to take that into account, too,” Dr. Reem said.

Madison’s hard work paid off. She is now pretty much back to normal, although for a brief time, life looked quite different from her original vision of new motherhood. She is grateful for the personal care she received along the way.

“The care we receive here in our small town is truly unique. In a larger system, it’s easy to feel like just another number—but here, you get the same high-quality treatment with a personal touch that makes all the difference. When I had my accident, I was so grateful to be cared for close to home by a doctor who immediately understood what I needed,” Madison said.

To learn more about the services offered at Island Orthopedics, visit islandhealth.org/ortho or call 360.299.4218 to schedule an appointment.