January 12, 2014 Sunday

I was offline much of this past weekend. As life unfolds, there are moments of drama, even when one is in a wonderful place like Chiang Mai. I debated about posting this, but it is part of the journey, and overall, it was more of a positive than negative experience.

A little background: I have a friend named Jo who used to live in San Diego. My long-time friend Lucia is very close friends with Jo, I think going back to when their daughters were at the same school. Jo is Thai, grew up in Chiang Mai, moved to the U.S. in her adulthood, and retired recently returning to a community called Mae Rim just north of Chiang Mai. Lucia is here in Thailand for a time visiting Jo, and spending some time with me, also.

The Rose Garden

Jo is a painter, and her teacher here is named Eng-on Homsuwan. Jo, Lucia, and I all went out to Eng-on’s home in the Doi Saket area about 20 km east of Chiang Mai on Friday, where there was something of an open house, with many guests, mostly her students. Her home and large yard are beautiful, a lovely rose garden intersperses the front, side, and back yards. This would be a very inspirational place to paint or learn to paint. There was food and it was a very nice event, socializing with this group of artists.

Drama Unfolds

On our way back to the city, I started feeling queasy, then started sweating profusely, and I then asked Jo to pull over because I was becoming urgently sick. There is a certain humbleness when you are laying in the weeds at the side of a highway, completely soaked in sweat and vomiting uncontrollably. And even as badly as I felt, I sensed that I would be all right, and I did not panic. Jo called for an ambulance, and when it arrived, they took me to a close-by, small hospital to get me stabilized. And that worked. Then the smaller hospital called Chiang Mai RAM hospital, and arranged for an ambulance to take me there. Chiang Mai RAM is the best hospital in Chiang Mai – RAM has people coming from all over the world (including the U.S.) for medical work, surgeries, heart surgery, etc. RAM is a state of the art hospital. I got to RAM at about 6 PM Friday, and because they knew I was coming, saw a doctor within minutes, got a thorough exam, lab tests, and they determined from the exam and blood tests that I had gotten an intestinal bacteria (which is what we thought).

Jo went to 3-Sis to get my passport and more clothes. I was admitted for observation, and spent the night. I basically felt fine by about 9 PM, after the antibiotic kicked in and with the hydration of the IV that had been started at the smaller hospital. But the hospital want to make sure. This is why I have a travel insurance policy for the trip, so I knew the medical costs would be covered.

I saw the doctor again on Saturday, and she declared me ready for discharge. There was quite some delay waiting to get a confirmation from the insurance company. I asked them if I could just pay and file the claim with the insurance myself. They are happy to be paid, so I did that and they gave me copies of all the relevant paperwork. The costs were amazingly modest: for the first hospital, including the two ambulance rides and the medication, was just under 1300 THB (or $44); for RAM including the lab tests, doctor’s time, overnight stay, two meals, medications, follow-up medications, everything, was 8500 THB (or $270).

I was not expecting to have a chance to review a hospital, but unexpected things happen. My impression of Chiang Mai RAM and the staff – outstanding! Caring, compassionate, and competent people. I was not too crazy about being woken every two hours for vital sign checks, but I think that is common, especially given that I arrived in an ambulance. Temperature 37.1, pulse 60, BP 120/70; the stats hardly changed.

On Saturday morning, I felt fine, and looking out my tenth-floor window, I realized that Chiang Mai RAM is at the NW corner, just outside the moat (looking down, I could see part of Hua Rin Corner, at the NW corner). Out my window to the east, I could see the large chedi at Wat Lok Molee, a temple I had just visited a few days ago, and one of my many favorite temples (I have more than a few “favorite” temples).

I left the hospital Saturday afternoon, and being more than a bit restless after having been in the room all day, I walked back to 3-Sis (about 1 km). It was a beautiful day, and after all the drama and being in the room so long, the walk was very good.

And I am very grateful to have good friends.