Kathy & Jeff Brodock

Stats Stories and Updates Photos / Babies
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State

Alabama

Surgery Date Feb 18,  2002
Ligation  
Tube length  L R
Pregnancy 1  
Pregnancy 2  
HSG

 

Age

 

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Feb 2002

We drove from Alabama to Mexico. We took our 13 year old son. We arrived in Pharr about 1 p.m. on Sunday. We crossed over so we would know right where to go Monday morning. Toll was $1.50, no questions were asked. It was a 15 minute ride but it took us over 2 hours because we turned too soon and got lost. When crossing back from Mexico to US it took about 30 minutes and a $2.20 toll. The man at the booth didn't seem to believe our story about driving from Alabama to Mexico for a surgery, so he sent us over for an inspection. That man also thought we were nuts. I did have the name of the hospital and address and Dr. Perez's phone number written down. This did make us more "credible" :0)  We got a room at the Pharr Executive Inn, just a mile or two from the boarder. It was $35 total, clean, with phone and TV, but no extras. We asked for a wake up call and did NOT get one. (If you stay here BEWARE!!!! there was a hard core porn station on the television!). Monday morning we headed out for the hospital. 

Our admitting nurse did not speak English. She got my name off my operative reports that I brought along and our address off my husband's license. One nurse spoke pretty good English, the rest we did a lot of hand signs with and smiled A LOT! Levi came in and was VERY nice. He is not a doctor yet, still in school. But he was the one that brought me the most comfort and reassurance. Our room had a TV. a love seat and a cot type bed. My son brought his sleeping bag and pillow. Hubby slept on the love seat.

What they might have lack in technology and equipment they made up with compassion and skill. They were very gentle. The IV was put in on the first stick--very unusual for me. Then came an old man to take blood. He spoke English, took his time, and got the needle in on the FIRST try!! I have rolling veins and this is almost unheard of.  The OR was small and had no cross, or music. Not complaining though. The anesthesiologist started rambling away. I just looked at him and said "I don't speak any Spanish". He looked at me with surprise and said "You speak no Spanish? None at all? Nothing?" I said "Hola" and smiled! He laughed and said, "I speak no English, none at all." as he laughed. He does speak English. He put the sleepy stuff in my IV, and someone put the catheter, I really don't remember too much about that, they were fast and skilled. He and Levi rolled me over to do the epidural. It hurt, but nowhere as much as the other ones I've had in the past. Next thing I know the surgery was about over, and I slept through most of it. My husband was in there and was telling me everything looked good and Dr. Perez was on the second tube. Each time I woke up the anesthesiologist would ask me if I was okay and if I had any pain. It took about 2 hours, I needed no reconstruction and Levi said my tubes were in good shape.

They left the epidural in for the pain med. They brought me some food around 10:30 p.m. Jello, juice, cookies and hot tea. I slept about 4 hours all night, no hospital bed is comfortable. They took my catheter and IV out around 7:30 a.m. and brought me some breakfast. Dr. Perez came in around 9 a.m., looked at the incision, told us to wait 15 days before having relations and 4 months to try to conceive. Our son took a picture of the 3 of us and we were on our way--after looking in the nursery at the 2 beautiful babies.  It took us about 10 minutes to cross the boarder and $2.20. This time we had our paperwork from the hospital in hand in case they start to question us again.

DISAPPOINTMENTS: I never saw Dr. Perez until I was discharged. Levi came in the room after surgery and then he had to leave, but I never saw Dr. Perez. No hot water in my room. (though everyone else had hot water).

GOOD THINGS:
Levi. Clean hospital. Levi. Nurses were kind and gentle. I was treated as a person and not a number. Levi. Our cost was $1700. No extra med., reconstruction, no problems Levi. It was quiet.

Did I mention Levi? :0)
Would I do it again? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God bless all of you,
Kathy B.

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