Fwd: Jean

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: James Donald <tiare.taporo3@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 at 11:27
Subject: Fwd: Jean
To: Alec Donald <adonald@abdonaldltd.co.nz>

Hi again,

Pleased to advise that Jean's condition has improved markedly from that of 4 days ago as per the attached. The service through our insurer- EPS Sura - has continued to be excellent, apart from the odd language inspired difficulty! For example, yesterday we had some problem with obtaining a replacement oxygen cylinder after the old one was empty, but it eventually turned up and because Jean had improved, the delay was not serious. Then, most unexpectedly last night an oxygen generator arrived and we had no idea what it was and we had not ordered it!! Only after protracted Google Translate toing and froing did we understand and that the machine would take over oxygen production after the new cylinder runs out.

The 3 times per day IV's are continuing and right now the doctor is here. Jean and her are having a long conversation which is protracted on the I-Pad and phone, but the upshot is that by the use of an inhaler they want to deflate the swelling in the lungs to force the finish of any residual infection before they can conduct a proper examination of the blockage.

Jean believes that this has been present for the last 30 years or so at least and it seems certain to us that it is the crux of the problem. 

Yesterday we bought a blood oxygen meter which attaches to a finger and which also gives one's heart rate and it has been great in ascertaining any oxygen loss whenever she has been away from the oxygen supply for any time. Her rate of oxygen loss has diminished markedly and so there has been a great improvement, but as per the above, we need to get to the heart of the matter.

In the meantime she is confined to quarters under pain of Court Martial!! Unfortunately no longer any mast to hang her upside down from! It is her birthday today and not such a great way to spend it, but hopefully in a week or so we can have a bit of a celebration.

The doctor returns on Thursday for another re-assessment. But we feel that with the level of detailed care, most of which has so far been occurring in our apartment, she has the best chance in a long time of finally at least identifying the problem and following on from that, curing it.

More medical bulletins very soon....................!!!

Cheers and lotsaluv from Medellin.................

Jim and Jean 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: James Donald <tiare.taporo3@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 at 17:43
Subject: Jean
To: Alec Donald <adonald@abdonaldltd.co.nz>, Amanda Donald <amandadonaldrm@gmail.com>, <Rozanne.Donald@mrgs.school.nz>, Charlotte Donald <chillitdonald@yahoo.com>, Linda Luxford <lindaluxford9@gmail.com>, Hamish Mead <bluedogstainless@xtra.co.nz>, Monica Correa <monica.m.correa@icloud.com>, <perry.lanaway@gmail.com>, Clara Restrepo Velez <claramemo@hotmail.com>, Darren MacGillivray <dmacgillivray71@gmail.com>, <dianden@icloud.com>, Andrew Miller <andrew@bushroad.co.nz>

Hi to all,

Just to let you know that Jean's Pneumonia that she contracted in Miami in November last year has flared up with a vengeance again and culminated mid afternoon yesterday in a visit to the Sura A & E at Clinica Las Vegas. We have Sura health insurance at COP 109,000 per month for both of us which translates to NZD 50 (NZD 600 p.a.)

Maria from the hospital's International Office, and who we know quite well, very kindly met us on arrival and steered us through the initial examination and registration process.

The whole process was painless, which was just as well as Jean was a basket case. Firstly they did blood tests which showed that her blood oxygen level was well below the minimum. We should in retrospect have initiated this process a good 6 weeks ago but Jean is a soldier and assumed that she could "fix" her tiredness and shortness of breath herself. But you can't fix Pneumonia without medical intervention.

Then they hooked her up to the oxygen supply and she immediately felt better. Her oxygen level depletes at the moment very quickly without  this additional supply. They also during the course of the afternoon and early evening put her on 2 antibiotic IV's plus several serum IV's for re-hydration. The humidity levels here at the moment are around the high 30%'s which are very low and we haven't had rain for quite a while. So, that might be a factor as well and certainly needs watching because it's very easy to become dehydrated.

The care and thorough professionalism was very impressive and has completely restored and consolidated our faith in Sura which is in effect a public system, but with the proviso that to be part of it you need to pay the very reasonable premium.

Our only criticism in the end was that they wouldn't let us go unless we could show that we had oxygen in the apartment which of course we didn't. They kept insisting that we had to be there to accept delivery of the oxygen, but of course we couldn't because we were in the hospital! It became a real merry go round and extremely frustrating because we kept saying that we were only a 15 minute drive to the apartment and we could then wait for the delivery but they kept insisting that Jean could not be without an oxygen supply for that long. All this was accomplished with the help of a police sergeant who was there with his sick 3 yr old daughter who was absolutely gorgeous. We told him that we hoped she would soon be better. He is studying English part-time and his English, though far from perfect, was far better than our Spanish. 

In the end, they agreed to let us go after some heated exchanges as long as Jean had another antibiotic IV. We don't like all these antibiotics - Jean in particular - but she is resigned to it for now. 

So, we drove home and arrived about 10.30 pm. For some reason the GPS was down but we still managed in the dark! Must be getting more Paisa by the day!! 

Fairly exhausted by all the anxiety and 7 hours in the hospital A & E. So, we had a small bite to eat (Jim had a solid whisky!) and we fell into bed exhausted - only to be woken by a ring on our doorbell at 3 am. It was a delivery of an enormous oxygen cylinder, so Jean hooked herself up to that and we went back to sleep. Since then we have had, starting at 8 am with a visit from the equivalent of a District Nurse who administered another antibiotic IV, then a young doctor who spoke excellent English (always a bonus!) and was very likeable and very thorough. As this is being written there is another District Nurse here administering another IV. This happens every 8 hours - the next one will be midnight tonight!  And the use of a nebuliser which infuses something which reduces mucous production. In addition to all that, there was a physiotherapist who gave Jean some breathing exercises to help open the airways.

And all for the annual premium which we find absolutely incredible excellent value. And all the personnel were excellent and cheerful in the execution of their duties in no doubt some difficult circumstances. And all this happens in your own home - no need to go to a clinic anywhere as an outpatient.

This daily regime, while fairly busy, will last for at least 7-10 days. Then, Sura have said that they will organise a specialist to examine Jean and try to ascertain the reason for the partial blockage in her upper Pulmonary respiratory system which she has been talking to doctors in NZ and Asia about for the last 20 years, but has always been written off as allergy or asthma or some bronchial problem. It was confirmed by a Spirometry test she had done early this month, so at last we might finally get to the bottom of it.  

The nurse has departed and Jean is up and about again doing some preliminary preparation for tonight's meal. Meatballs and cauliflower (cooked, then blended with cream and butter). Jim will finish off as it's all a bit much for Jean - but she is impossible to control!! Not that one should ever even think of controlling her!! The nearest Jim came to that desirable situation was on the boat where she always went up the mast and Jim wasn't above threatening to leave her up there if she was too cheeky!!! Alas, those days are gone.

Hope this finds you well and there will be more medical bulletins (ad infinitum!) as time goes on.

Cheers and lotsaluv from us in Medellin..........

Jim and Jean