Almost two weeks ago I was enjoying a last minute one week solo vacation. I was staying at our house and diving with Living Underwater. Had dived a number of my favourite sites and completed my 400th dive. On Thursday afternoon I had rinsed my camera equipment, downloaded dives to my laptop, had a nap, then poured a beer to go read a book for a while on the porch. My plan was to head to the Mega later that afternoon to get some pesos and a few light bulbs and pick up supper on the way back, so left my credit card by the couch. Our cleaning lady's husband had stopped by to show me why the pilot light on the hot water heater wasn't working (rusted thermo-coupler or something like that). Since the ladder was now out, I decided to use it to remove one of the burned out bulbs in the front porch. This set off quite a chain of events.
I couldn't QUITE reach the bulb so leaned forward on tippie toes. Next thing I remember was waking up on the ground. It was dark and when I stood up I had to support my arm which hurt like hell. I needed help. I found my keys to unlock my gate and my cell phone. I left a message for Jeremy Anshel (Living Underwater) that I had fallen, thought I had broken my arm and could he help me?
Long story short, between him and his lovely wife Paola, they called an ambulance where I was admitted to hospital, my face stitched up, and booked for surgery the next day. I had a shattered and dislocated elbow and 3 fractures to the ulna. So I needed a bionic elbow and a plate inserted to stabilize the ulna. You should see the ladder!
They contacted my housekeeper to get me clothing, medications, and tolietries, and to close up the house. Jeremy had grabbed my credit card and handled all the discussions with admissions regarding payment. He spent the night on the couch at my bedside and was in constant contact with my husband and another coworker on the island that Jeremy also knew. At about 5 am he headed off to his real job leading a group of divers (I told him they had better not see anything TOO great because that was suposed to have been my last dive) and my co-worker took over the watch.
In the end, since my charter was returning to Canada in two days, I decided not to have the surgery in Mexico. It wasn't for lack of trust but more for concerns about aftercare and recovery in a land whose language was not my first and awareness of the number of hours I had consumed of Jeremy's and Paola's time. The doctors were reluctant to send me home but neverless set my arm in a slab cast and sling to stabilize it and gave me prescriptions for painkillers and anti-inflamatories. They gave me my xrays and a report (in very bad English..accident occurred because I was attaching a flashlight to the roof!). Total cost was anout $1,200.
Paola picked me up at the hospital, handled all the payment and discharge papers, and took me to get my prescriptions filled and get those pesos I wanted. Never did get that light bulb replaced.
Jeremy droped off my dive gear, gave me a gentle hug, and zipped off to do a nitrox exam with a student. Paola drove me to the ferry station and left me in the care of my coworker and his family. The children carried my bags and everyone blocked traffic to prevent anyone bumping my arm. We overnighted in Playa del Carmen, then caught the bus to the airport. I made out rather well, I thought but took a pass on meals. I was supposed to take my painkillers every 12 hours and I was taking them about every two. At the airport at home my husband took me straight to emergency and I eventually had my surgery. I'm now at home recovering and fully expect to be back in the water diving when I return to Cozumel in June.
I write this for story for 2 reasons: to let you know that you must pay a deposit (in my case $1,000) before a hospital will look at you and that full payment is required before discharge. I carry extra travel insurance however the insurer must pre-approve surgeries through discussion with local surgeon. This presented a challenge as local doc said he was too busy.
The second reason I write is to provide a concrete example of the kindness of the people of Cozumel in the face of stories about commercialization and crime. Someone just posted a request for a "smaller, kinder, gentler" dive op. I know one that fits the bill.
I couldn't QUITE reach the bulb so leaned forward on tippie toes. Next thing I remember was waking up on the ground. It was dark and when I stood up I had to support my arm which hurt like hell. I needed help. I found my keys to unlock my gate and my cell phone. I left a message for Jeremy Anshel (Living Underwater) that I had fallen, thought I had broken my arm and could he help me?
Long story short, between him and his lovely wife Paola, they called an ambulance where I was admitted to hospital, my face stitched up, and booked for surgery the next day. I had a shattered and dislocated elbow and 3 fractures to the ulna. So I needed a bionic elbow and a plate inserted to stabilize the ulna. You should see the ladder!
They contacted my housekeeper to get me clothing, medications, and tolietries, and to close up the house. Jeremy had grabbed my credit card and handled all the discussions with admissions regarding payment. He spent the night on the couch at my bedside and was in constant contact with my husband and another coworker on the island that Jeremy also knew. At about 5 am he headed off to his real job leading a group of divers (I told him they had better not see anything TOO great because that was suposed to have been my last dive) and my co-worker took over the watch.
In the end, since my charter was returning to Canada in two days, I decided not to have the surgery in Mexico. It wasn't for lack of trust but more for concerns about aftercare and recovery in a land whose language was not my first and awareness of the number of hours I had consumed of Jeremy's and Paola's time. The doctors were reluctant to send me home but neverless set my arm in a slab cast and sling to stabilize it and gave me prescriptions for painkillers and anti-inflamatories. They gave me my xrays and a report (in very bad English..accident occurred because I was attaching a flashlight to the roof!). Total cost was anout $1,200.
Paola picked me up at the hospital, handled all the payment and discharge papers, and took me to get my prescriptions filled and get those pesos I wanted. Never did get that light bulb replaced.
Jeremy droped off my dive gear, gave me a gentle hug, and zipped off to do a nitrox exam with a student. Paola drove me to the ferry station and left me in the care of my coworker and his family. The children carried my bags and everyone blocked traffic to prevent anyone bumping my arm. We overnighted in Playa del Carmen, then caught the bus to the airport. I made out rather well, I thought but took a pass on meals. I was supposed to take my painkillers every 12 hours and I was taking them about every two. At the airport at home my husband took me straight to emergency and I eventually had my surgery. I'm now at home recovering and fully expect to be back in the water diving when I return to Cozumel in June.
I write this for story for 2 reasons: to let you know that you must pay a deposit (in my case $1,000) before a hospital will look at you and that full payment is required before discharge. I carry extra travel insurance however the insurer must pre-approve surgeries through discussion with local surgeon. This presented a challenge as local doc said he was too busy.
The second reason I write is to provide a concrete example of the kindness of the people of Cozumel in the face of stories about commercialization and crime. Someone just posted a request for a "smaller, kinder, gentler" dive op. I know one that fits the bill.
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