Hoag Orthopedic Institute
Irvine, Calif.
USA
After a very busy two weeks since we arrived back in California, today was the day for the install of my new right knee. Everything went as expected and I am feeling good.
To back track a bit. Our flight from the Philippines was fine though long, especially as the feeder trip from Davao to Manila took off two hours late and we were concerned about our connecting flight to Los Angeles. that flight was also late. so no problems. We have learned the acronym for Philippine air, PAL stands for planes always late. Our first day was spent getting organized with telephones, having unlocked ones meant just sim cards and a short prepaid plan, along with some shopping etc. Our first few nights were spent with Kathy's old friend Debbie Jo who also kindly lends us her spare car to drive, thanks DJ. The next day, Wednesday, was doctors appointment day, three in all. Then another scheduled for Friday and one again on Monday. Lists were made in the evening and errands run during the day. Phone calls were made to friends and we even managed to join in on a St Paddy's day party. After a five night stay with Debbie Jo we move to Kathy's sons house where we enjoy the chaos of the the grand kids, all boys, one at 7 and twins a month shy of 5. I will do my initial home recovery there too.
This brings us up to today. An early arrival of 0600 to check-in, though I was not scheduled to arrive till 0700, It's always better to be early. After a short wait it was off to pre-op for another round of health questions, having my leg shaved, an IV started and a short visit from my surgeon Dr. Robert Gorab whom I would definitely recommend. From this point things get a bit foggy. I met with the anesthesiologist who explained his part and started sending along all the Happy Juice, through the IV I never even felt the spinal. My next remembrances are waking up in the recovery room with a large bandage on my new bionic right knee to now go along with my two replaced hips. Medical science is a wonderful thing.
Next I was moved to my room. All rooms here at the Hoag Orthopedic Institute are private. Kathy was here waiting as I got settled in, Something recommended by Dr. Gorab is a "cold machine" which circulates a 40° through a pad that was placed under the sterile dressing, it's supposed to help control swelling and reduce pain and it seems to be working. Just after 1400 or 2 pm I received my first physical therapy some bed exercises and then up and out in the hallway for a short walk. The hoped for schedule calls for more PT tomorrow and one more night before being sent home the following morning.
I can't say enough good about the care here including the salmon, potatoes and vegetable for dinner.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Thursday, March 3, 2016
IT'S THE PHILIPPINES
Ocean View Marina
Samal Island, Davao
Mindanao, Philippines
"IT'S THE PHILIPPINES", an oft heard phrase here by expats, visitors and even the locals to describe whatever problem or difficulty that is being experienced. It's one we have both heard and used several times in the past few weeks as we try to get organized to head back to the States for my new knee.
To regress a bit I had seen a Doctor here in Davao regarding constant knee pain. Diagnosed as arthritic and a candidate for a knee replacement. It took a few months but finally a decision was made to contact the Doctor in California who had done my hip replacements. They asked that if I had x-rays to please send them. No problem, the hospital provided them on CD and I was off to the local Fedex to send them stateside for review. Fedex said I would need a "media optical permit #" to send the CD. They provided me with an office phone # in Manila! There is no office here in Davao the third largest city is this country of 100 million people. "It's the Philippines". I went to the local post and managed to send the CD of by international mail and it arrived at the Dr.'s office in seven days.
It is now dealing with making appointments and completing paperwork via the internet and telephone from here. Our internet is spotty at best and the phones do normally work at a cost of about $1 US per minute, we really like those rotaries or please hold and you are not given time to explain why you cannot. Thankfully with my Doctor and the hospital we have had to deal with none of that. So nice to see things run efficiently!!
Next was airline tickets. That was managed in only three hours on the internet from midnight till 3 am when we were able to get a fair connection. Of course it was another two hours later in the day regarding seat assignments. "It's the Philippines".
Yesterday and today were spent dealing with immigration. Since we have been in country for more than six months we are required to get an "exit clearance" to leave the country. If you do not have the form you do not get on the airplane. A van ride from the marina, the ferry to Davao proper then a taxi to immigration yesterday. We filled out the forms along with four photos turned them in and began our wait. Darkness descended, a power outage! Power outages are not unusual here, a government office would have a generator, all the little stores do. Yes they have one but no one in the office can remember when it last worked. "It's the Philippines". We left and returned several times over the next
few hours only to be told to come back later. We returned to the boat and decided to come back today. Another van, ferry and taxi ride and we were back to the immigration office. The lights were on, power restored and one and a half hours later and at a cost of $25 US we had our exit clearances and can now get on the plane.
With luck that is the last of our "It's the Philippines" experiences until we return in May, when even though we arrived by yacht and have a letter from the marina stating we will leave in that manner the airline will want to require us to buy an onward ticket, we will deal with that then.
With luck tonight and the internet behaving I will try to add some photos. Lorenzo of the yacht Flaneur hosted a party in celebration of being on the hard for ONE year.
A kitten Kathy found abandoned here in the yard today, perhaps 4 weeks old. The little one was turned over to our Filipina friend Jessica who now takes care of about twenty cats. We have paid to now get six spayed and this will be next on the list to be done.
Samal Island, Davao
Mindanao, Philippines
"IT'S THE PHILIPPINES", an oft heard phrase here by expats, visitors and even the locals to describe whatever problem or difficulty that is being experienced. It's one we have both heard and used several times in the past few weeks as we try to get organized to head back to the States for my new knee.
To regress a bit I had seen a Doctor here in Davao regarding constant knee pain. Diagnosed as arthritic and a candidate for a knee replacement. It took a few months but finally a decision was made to contact the Doctor in California who had done my hip replacements. They asked that if I had x-rays to please send them. No problem, the hospital provided them on CD and I was off to the local Fedex to send them stateside for review. Fedex said I would need a "media optical permit #" to send the CD. They provided me with an office phone # in Manila! There is no office here in Davao the third largest city is this country of 100 million people. "It's the Philippines". I went to the local post and managed to send the CD of by international mail and it arrived at the Dr.'s office in seven days.
It is now dealing with making appointments and completing paperwork via the internet and telephone from here. Our internet is spotty at best and the phones do normally work at a cost of about $1 US per minute, we really like those rotaries or please hold and you are not given time to explain why you cannot. Thankfully with my Doctor and the hospital we have had to deal with none of that. So nice to see things run efficiently!!
Next was airline tickets. That was managed in only three hours on the internet from midnight till 3 am when we were able to get a fair connection. Of course it was another two hours later in the day regarding seat assignments. "It's the Philippines".
Yesterday and today were spent dealing with immigration. Since we have been in country for more than six months we are required to get an "exit clearance" to leave the country. If you do not have the form you do not get on the airplane. A van ride from the marina, the ferry to Davao proper then a taxi to immigration yesterday. We filled out the forms along with four photos turned them in and began our wait. Darkness descended, a power outage! Power outages are not unusual here, a government office would have a generator, all the little stores do. Yes they have one but no one in the office can remember when it last worked. "It's the Philippines". We left and returned several times over the next
few hours only to be told to come back later. We returned to the boat and decided to come back today. Another van, ferry and taxi ride and we were back to the immigration office. The lights were on, power restored and one and a half hours later and at a cost of $25 US we had our exit clearances and can now get on the plane.
With luck that is the last of our "It's the Philippines" experiences until we return in May, when even though we arrived by yacht and have a letter from the marina stating we will leave in that manner the airline will want to require us to buy an onward ticket, we will deal with that then.
With luck tonight and the internet behaving I will try to add some photos. Lorenzo of the yacht Flaneur hosted a party in celebration of being on the hard for ONE year.
A kitten Kathy found abandoned here in the yard today, perhaps 4 weeks old. The little one was turned over to our Filipina friend Jessica who now takes care of about twenty cats. We have paid to now get six spayed and this will be next on the list to be done.
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| OUR "BLUE CAT" NOW 14, JUST RELAXING |
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| THE V-BERTH PACKED FULL AS WE HEAD TO THE STATES |
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| PIG AND GOAT FOR DINNER |
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| A KAREOKE WARM UP |
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| JO DOES NOT THINK MUCH OF LORENZO'S TUBBA |
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| CHRIS LIKES IT |
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| HAPPY YACHTIES |
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| IT'S NOT A PARTY I N THE PHILIPPINES WITHOUT KEREOKE |
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