RobinsGreatAdventure Update...The Plot Is Not Only Thick, It's Gulas

The Plot Is Not Only Thick, It's Gulas

In my last update I had my casts off and was on the long, long road to recovery.  Unfortunately I can't really do much more than from my last update except the therapy must be loosening somethings because I had to have five of the six wires in my wrists removed.  I was hoping to have the sixth removed but the doctor wants to keep it in for a while longer.  I do have a little more flexibility but am still lacking strength.  It will take a while to build my muscles back up.

I will need some additional assistance for a week and the lovely Renata, who helped me during the time I had casts on, will once again come every morning.  27 September (ironically 3 months from the date of my accident), the stitches will be removed.  Therapy might be as long as six months. Ugh! 

The good news is, I am back full-time with old and new students and have a part-time gig with a dental firm catering to UK patients; updating their website, customer service contact and social media planning.  The staff is very thoughtful and I'm enjoying keeping up my marketing skills.

Summer is winding down in Piestany and tomorrow we will have the parade of flowers, so look for another post really soon with pics! 

The Plot Thickens

Well, the casts are off my arms with mixed blessings. There may be some issues with my right wrist ever gaining full movement and one of the wires put in to keep my bones together on my left wrist worked its way through my skin and had to be removed.  

It's been a week now and I'm still in therapy to regain movement and strength.  I am fairly sufficient and yesterday was able to open doors to my flat.  The road to full recovery will be a long one and I'll know more in about six weeks.

My Slovak family is taking good care of me.  I feel so fortunate to have their encouragement and support.

Thank you to all who have sent notes and asked after me. It really helps to hear from friends and family.    

I've been working over the summer and even though I've missed out on warm days, I'm looking forward to the new school year, new students and new adventures.  Keep watch for future posts on my great adventure in Slovakia.  

Plot Twist with Many Thanks to Skypers and Friends

26 June 2013 will forever be embedded in my memory.  I saw a great performance by Iron Maiden (read my review) and on my trip home was spooked by someone resulting in me running, falling down and breaking both my wrists.  After four weeks and an operation on both wrists inserting pins into each, I'm only one-sixth the way through the six month healing process.

I now have permanent casts for another four weeks, then therapy with wrist braces...then after three months back to the hospital to take the pins out. 

Why the term plot twist? Well, I had planned to return to the U.S. on 26 July which is now impossible. The good news out of all this is I will be able to stay in Slovakia and teach for another year! I'm quite excited about this new twist to my adventure story even though it is an awful way to make it happen.

Slovak Kindness

I would never have been able to get through this without the help from Peter Remis and the Skypers Language School teachers, my students and friends. Since the beginning of this ordeal, everyone I know here in Piestany has been fantastic.  I'm really not able to take care of myself so needing to trust and have patience (neither is easy for me) has been a daily process and will be for some time to come.

Medical Treatment

Many of my family and friends, in the U.S. and in Slovakia have asked me what I think about the medical system and my hospital experience. 

In the cities I've lived in, most recently Boston, the medical facilities are modern with state-of-the-art equipment and the medical visits and process is fairly efficient.  However, you pay for all your treatments, visit, hospital stays at a premium.  Even with health insurance, I would still have had to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills.

The hospital in Piestany isn't modern but is clean and the staff was courteous and helpful. The waiting rooms are packed with people and can take up to four hours to see a physician. However, I haven't had to pay a dime except for a "tip" to my doctor which was minimal.  The most difficult thing is the language barrier.  Trying to understand your medical situation by translation can be confusing.

I'll continue to blog about this new plot twist in my life.  Please feel free to comment below.