At the age of 86, pinned down in Russia by the pandemic, a medical emergency was inevitable. And it came one Sunday when anything I swallowed caused severe stomach pain. A home visit by a doctor indicated that immediate hospitalization was necessary, and so an ambulance took me to an old line public hospital. There I was told that my intestines had stopped functioning and that immediate surgery was required. I asked what my survival chance would be after surgery. The answer was 0%.
With that we activated contacts who pulled me from that hospital into a system of cash-only cooperating doctors. We were hustled off to another public hospital and there treatment solved the problem, barely. Released to go home. I promptly fell due to my weakened condition and the following day could not walk.
Once again it was by ambulance to the ultra modern private clinic K31, which indicated a 10 day stay to deal with the multitude of problems involved. There they completed the picture of my condition and finally got me walking again.
There was no personal nursing care at the first two hospitals, and my wife Olga had to fill the gap. At K31 she stayed because of the language barrier. She was in the hospital the full time. Now I am home learning about my new limitations.
What did 18 days in Russian hospitals cost, the last10 with access to the latest technology? A little over. $9,000. That much might buy you a day in an American hospital .
So sorry to hear about this health crisis. Sending healing wishes.
Glad you found good medical care! Take care of yourself. And continue your wonderful essays.