ccss

[gene]

another observation....a year or two back i was diagnosed with advanced/ aggressuve throat cancer ...i was trached before the big surgery...where my total larynx was removed.... done in hospital mexico...a well run facility....i am now a member of neck breathers llc!!!l  lol...i was fitted with  a feeding tube after 33 radiation treatments due to lost ability to swallow...i have had 100+ appointments in total in hospital mexico and liberia ...all by ccss....though not perfect  . i have received excellent care...a bit of waiting...but understandable....i was fortunate enough to find caring  doctors   .... given me 100%....saving me hundreds of thousands of dollars....i am greatful!!!!

and getting stronger daily!!!

Sent from my Galaxy

[Don Hickman]

Gene, I missed that!  I had no idea you had undergone such difficulties.  I'm glad you're recovering.

Take care, 

Don

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[gene]

your wife???

readjusting to state life,?

i think of you often...

Sent from my Galaxy

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[Don Hickman]

I have no memory if I´ve told you guys what has happened here so if I have, please forgive the repetition.  Judy had a bad heart attack on Jan 31 but survived.  However, after coming home from the hospital the docs changed her diabetes meds to Mounjaro, a weekly shot.  That about killed her!  She went into ketoacidosis and spent 8 days in the hospital recovering.  She was in the emergency room for 9 hours while they worked to save her.  Then the hospital released her to a rehab center where she spent 4 miserable days.  It was a terrible place (but expensive!) so after 4 days and she hadn´t even been seen by a doctor, I pulled her out and took her home.  It's been up and down since.  She's now on insulin so we've had a bit of a learning curve.  Today the physical therapy people are showing up so we'll see how that goes.

The medical system here is broken.  And it seems to be rife with corruption.  While Judy was in the hospital at least4 different doctors passed through her room daily but only one was actually her doctor.  They each spent fewer than 10 minutes with her doing nothing and then left.  But later I received the bill for each visit -- $581!!  The rehab center was charging $4,000/week for nothing.  15 minutes of physical therapy each day, never saw a doctor, didn't get her sugar levels under control and the meals for a diabetic all contained sugar!  It was awful.

Trying to get in to see her doc takes weeks.  To top it off, our daughter-in-law is the director of nursing for the largest hospital network in the state so Judy received special care!  I'd hate to think what regular people have to endure.

Don

who would rather be in Atenas

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[gene]

so sorry don....i guess luck of the draw ...funny you moved back for medical and then all of this!!!

hang in there!!!

we are all praying for you here!!!  

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[Sam Wilson]

Hi don Don,

> Don who would rather be in Atenas

Not to rub it in or state something you don't already know, but there are lots of nice places down here where one could comfortably rehab with personal inhouse/daily visits from nurses, therapists, docs, housekeeper, etc. as needed.

I personally know of expats who have brought their aging parent(s) down here for the personal, relatively inexpensive, attention that can be had. It has seemed to work well for them.

It sounds like you are very much on top of things up there (except for the cold!) as expected!  jajaja.

Hoping for the best possible outcome for you guys...

A little side-story about a physical therapy experience...  Years ago with a wife long gone, she had a knee replacement done.  After the surgery she went to a rehab/recovery center in a semi-private room.  Her roommate was a 92 year old woman who was recovering from some sort of surgery.  Every morning my middle-aged wife would just groan in bed and refuse to get up to do whatever therapeutic procedures were scheduled. That 92 year old woman would spring out of bed (as much as a 92 year old in rehab can) and go do her physical therapy procedures with gusto. She was determined she was going to get past her recovery phase and go on about her vibrant life for whatever time she had left. They had to bring in an automatic leg exerciser to put under my long gone wife's knee just to keep it limber and healing properly. That 92 year old's attitude is the successful one!  ;-)

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Sam

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[gene]

attitude goes loooonnnnggg way!!!

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[Don Hickman]

Yes, I know.  It would be far cheaper for us to have stayed there, hired whatever help she needed and be warm.  Lol.  But you know the saying --  Happy Wife, Happy Life!!  Judy had fond memories of this place from 25 years ago when her mother lived here for 2 years before she passed.  All I can say is that it was a LOT better 25 years ago!  We have a very nice private cottage on the grounds but the rent is double what a nice 3 bedroom apartment would cost and we get nothing for that extra $2,500/mo.  Unless, of course, paying the salaries of a bunch of social workers who lead balloon volleyball is something you like.

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[Don Hickman]

Thanks.  I need it.

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