mOOners in Mexico

by Kris

"Yesterday Dr. Garcia saved my friend's life.

I called him in the morning to report that a visiting friend was complaining of chest pains and Dr. Garcia said, bring him right up to my office in Guad, I'll be waiting.

We arrived at the office and my friend was given an EKG, then physical exam, then an ECHO, and consult advising him that we needed to leave immediately for Puerto Hierro Hospital de Especialdades for the cath lab. Dr. Garcia drove us.
Upon catheterization it was discovered that his left anterior coronary artery was 100% blocked. A medicated (with blood thinner) stent was inserted and my friend is resting well and looking a whole lot more healthy.

Dr. Garcia couldn't have been more professional or caring.  Hospital Puerto de Hierro de Especialdades was absolutely beautiful and the entire staff and experience was incredible. Easy for me to say, right?

I can HIGHLY recommend Dr. Ramón Garcia Garcia, who lives here at Lake Chapala and does see patients here during limited hours, and who will respond to your house in the middle of the night, initiate treatment and personally drive you up to the hospital in Guad if you are having a critical cardiac event. He is a gem. Speaks English, too.

His cell phone is 333 157 4741 and his Ajijic phone is 766 0812 or 766-4622."

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This informative blurb was written for the "Westenders forum" at Lago de Chapala, by Marilyn, our Jocotepec amiga muy especial. The friend she wrote about was Ken. Our Ken. The man who had no previous heart problems, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, nada. Mi esposo, mi amor. My fabulous husband who plays his guitarra and sings songs to me. The strong intelligent man who can do anything. The family man who adores our kids and grandbabies. My editor in chief. The best friend I'm growing old with and sharing the best time of my life with; my Ken.

Ken first experienced chest pain - which we now know as stable angina - when he exerted himself lifting and carrying furniture when our daughter, Casey, and her family moved last summer. He thought it was a strain because it went away when he rested. He again experienced it during our first salsa dancing lesson and we thought it was heartburn or that the 5,000' elevation was a factor --- or he was trying to get out of the class. The next episode occurred during a New Year's Eve day hike with our friends, Dave and local resident, Fernando con su hijo, Jesus, to dig up the root vegetable, camote de cerro, an exotic treat Ken loves. Not every gringo shares his taste for camote and fewer yet would climb up a mountain to find and carefully excavate the vine leading to the edible roots.

The chest tightness and shortness of breath that day led to a discussion with our friend, Ivan, who is a quadruple bypass survivor and a fine specimen of a man at 80; followed by another chat with Marilyn at a New Year's Day celebration. Obviously the right woman to put on the trail of local medical care, Marilyn was a cardiac nurse in the Bay Area and an EMT before retiring to Mexico, where she's been involved with the local Cruz Roja (Red Cross) and remains dedicated in the pursuit of life-saving machinery and a fully outfitted ambulance for the area. (I realize that's a damn long sentence but it's full of pertinent and interesting information :0)

Friday, January 2, we drove into Guadalajara - rather we were chauffered by our Roca Azul RV park buddies, Chuck and Gigi (everyone else in Roca Azul offered, too!) with Marilyn as our medical and advanced Spanish speaking liaison. The five of us have shared many wonderful Mexican adventures but this was a very different and certainly more somber trip.  During the forty five minute drive to Guadalajara we talked about heart procedures experienced by Chuck and Gigi as patients and Marilyn as medical professional. The talk was encouraging in light of the unknown we faced.

Ken and Marilyn chatted about the imminent EKG and other tests in Dr. Garcia's waiting room...

Dr. Ramón Garcia Garcia inspired confidence from the beginning of our relationship. His English is deliberate and easily understood whether speaking or typing reports. The information he gave was simple in words but powerfully profound. The stable angina was now classified unstable, "Either you get on an airplane and fly home for an angiogram - which I don't recommend for obvious reasons - or you come with me right now to the hospital." No brainer. Chuck, Gigi, and I followed the Doctor's car into areas of Guadalajara we didn't know existed to a hospital that looks more like a luxury hotel.

Here in its architectural glory is Hospital Puerto Hierro de Especialidades in the Zapopan district.

Within moments of registering into the hospital Ken was whisked into the "cath lab". He undressed and put his clothes on a bench next to another pile of clothes which he later realized were the doctor's. That, to me, is symbolic of this highly respected cardiologist's totally un-pretentious non-superior attitude. Marilyn was thrilled to be invited to watch the procedure as a professional courtesy. I was happy that Ken was with someone we both love and whose medical knowledge we value and respect. Ken was comforted with her presence. The angioplasty was shown in-progress on a screen and Ken could watch - which he found fascinating as someone interested in, not only his health, but technology and science. Gigi, Chuck, and I were shown to Ken's post-procedure room where we found a pleasant waiting environment complete with a menu for room service.

Lunch is served...where else but Mexico a cervesa offering hospital? Heineken, the only brand, was a mystery.

The procedure went smoothly with the injected dye coursing through arteries as it should except for the 100% blockage of the left anterior artery, a main street in the road map of the heart. Dr. Garcia said, "we're going to have to open" and Ken turned to Marilyn and asked, "what does open mean" to which Marilyn replied, "Open." With visions of scalpels and chest expanders, Ken said the room became a blur of activity. Fortunately "Open" meant with a balloon and a medicated stent and not a full-blown open heart surgery. Soon the screen showed blood surging through the previously blocked artery and the procedure was declared a success. Marilyn said the change in his skin tone to a rosy pink was instantaneous.

Our recovery room; ecstasy, relief, and gratitude with lots of joy and love.

Because of the powerful blood thinner used to open the massive blockage within the artery walls, Ken had to lay perfectly still on his back for the better part of the next 24 hours. Any movement could cause uncontrolled bleeding from the groin area entry of the angioplasty. During a late night exam there was bleeding at the wound site and doctors and nurses had to apply strong pressure to stop the flow for most of 30 minutes. For much of the first night he had a heavy weight placed on the wound to apply constant pressure. This caused quite a bit of discomfort because of the still inserted catheter. A long sleepless night for my patient.

Saturday, Chuck, Gigi, and I visited and had an enjoyable time watching a movie - until it stopped pretty close to the end...sometimes with 15 peso movies you get what you pay for. Ken was raring to go home; messages of love from our RV and Lake Chapala friends were added incentive to get home. Ken, the truest student of Español I know, has many funny stories of interactions with nurses, and food service people - now we know to study more medical and hospital terms, just in case. In talking to the wonderfully friendly non English speaking woman in charge of Ken's check-out procedure I got to the point of tugging my ear and saying, "it sounds like.." and we all cracked up. I won't win any awards for my Spanish speaking prowess but on occasion I do get points for style and a smile.

Sunday afternoon Ken was released amid good-byes and thank you hugs to the staff who were so wonderfully helpful and professional. I know they enjoyed Ken as a patient - he's not a demanding soul in the least and many of his caretakers were delighted with him as interpreter for their practice of English. There is definitely no language barrier for words of friendship and appreciation.

Leaving the hospital, it appears rosa is the color of the day. I especially love those rosy pink cheeks.

Ken is "home" (wherever we are is home) and recuperating comfortably. Our neighborhood in Roca Azul is amazing; there are twelve of us (six couples including Ivan and Evi staying in a Roca casa) who enjoy an occasional comida together here (we are happy, funny, and creative foodies!) or trips to town or day excursions to nearby areas. We have just the right balance of friend time and couple time. Everyone at home in the states, though concerned about us being sooo far away and in a "foreign" country,  took comfort in the messages of our incredible experience. Jerry and Paula, our Nova Scotia amigos, enroute to Roca during the ordeal, are anxious to get here and join the celebration of Ken's new and improved health. Our financial advisor, Carol, has a plan for paying the bills totalling $16,000.00 US - more than a little ding in the travel-kitty. And Kaiser, our home health care provider, has re-imbursement claim forms for just such out of country emergencies. Our youngest daughter, Casey, says "Papa Bear now has a magic heart to match his magic ears.." and she's right and funny, as usual.

I took pictures of so much in and around the hospital - even the Ferrari/Maserati dealership down the street.

But, I have not one photograph of Dr. Garcia, the man who saved my precious husband's life. Every time we spoke with him, I was too focused on him (and Ken) to even think of the camera. When we met again  yesterday for the post-op visit, he performed the examination, declared Ken physically ready to get on with life, then asked if we had any questions. Ken said, "just one, it's about your bill." Dr. Garcia handed Ken the itemized statement and said, "this is not important, you pay when you can." The bill was marked "paid in full" so we can send it home for re-imbursement now. So, though I don't have a photograph of Dr. Ramón Garcia Garcia, if you want a picture, visualize an Angel.

mOOners