Well, that that was a riveting read for all the wrong reasons! Glad that you are in better form now and hopefully, you can close the chapter of this health debacle sooner rather than later.
Mike!! What a nightmarish experience! I was thinking it might be our Nashville Michigan sister friends. But I hope you are healing from this traumatic ordeal. Oh, life, you are full of tricks and turns. And our dear bodies have so many millions of parts that need to hold up for us. It’s really a wonder we last as long as we do. But I hope your body gets rest and restoration now. Thank you for sharing the story with us, though, because it is a cautionary tale, that could save many people a lot of trouble.
"It's really a wonder we last as long as we do." I've thought the same thing many times of late! Hope you are well, Linda. I know you've had lots of challenges yourself in recent times. XX
Mike, you are kind to think of me at this time. The good news is I am beginning a process to take much better care of myself and get control of my health. Reading a book called Good Energy and trying to adopt recommended lifestyle improvements. So I’m really doing fine. My mom and my Ruby are going through the hard stuff. Ruby update coming soon. It’s such a hard time for so many people. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that we can connect and support each other through platforms like Substack. And connecting by writing, beautiful stories, by reading your beautiful story, with much more depth, is such a vast improvement over stupid Facebook. 🙄
What a story, Michael. I am so sorry you had to live through that. I hope your experience makes all of us readers all more grateful for our blessings. I'll add a few additional takeaways from your piece: 1) your story reveals the deep compassion of systems where patients don't have to worry about finances or bureaucracy when they are dealing with a severe health crisis (and the barbarity of systems that demand either or both); 2) your images revealed gifted photography and the beauty to be found retracing your trek (though maybe skipping the hospitals).
Sorry this happened to you. My husband had kidney stones while we were visiting Norway. Got great treatment and thankfully it was covered by insurance.
I love the pictures! Will the stint really be in until January!!? It was a great trip even though our time with you was a cut a little short. How amazing that we got to see not only where you live in Milan but also Lake Como. Magical. Hang in there Michael, I'm hoping that by Easter this will largely be over and you'll be back to normal. All things work together. . . .lol ;)
Michael!! How scary! But also, your photos (and Andrew’s) are fantastic. They tell an entire essay between the beauty and delight of rest and the stark reality of illness in such visual ways.
Also, this would be the final push I needed to become an EU citizen…you too? (And the reason to push for universal healthcare. Even with insurance that costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars a month, the one night and all those tests would cost most of us Americans close to $10,000…)
Thank you. Trust me, I will apply for my Italian citizenship as soon as I am eligible! But I’ve got another 7-8 years, unfortunately.
Maybe I should’ve clarified in the story that if I were an EU citizen, since Switzerland is not in the EU, I may have still had to pay out-of-pocket when I was there, but then would have been eligible for at least some reimbursement later. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. Lesson learned!
Well, that that was a riveting read for all the wrong reasons! Glad that you are in better form now and hopefully, you can close the chapter of this health debacle sooner rather than later.
Thank you, Anton!
Mike!! What a nightmarish experience! I was thinking it might be our Nashville Michigan sister friends. But I hope you are healing from this traumatic ordeal. Oh, life, you are full of tricks and turns. And our dear bodies have so many millions of parts that need to hold up for us. It’s really a wonder we last as long as we do. But I hope your body gets rest and restoration now. Thank you for sharing the story with us, though, because it is a cautionary tale, that could save many people a lot of trouble.
"It's really a wonder we last as long as we do." I've thought the same thing many times of late! Hope you are well, Linda. I know you've had lots of challenges yourself in recent times. XX
Mike, you are kind to think of me at this time. The good news is I am beginning a process to take much better care of myself and get control of my health. Reading a book called Good Energy and trying to adopt recommended lifestyle improvements. So I’m really doing fine. My mom and my Ruby are going through the hard stuff. Ruby update coming soon. It’s such a hard time for so many people. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that we can connect and support each other through platforms like Substack. And connecting by writing, beautiful stories, by reading your beautiful story, with much more depth, is such a vast improvement over stupid Facebook. 🙄
What a story, Michael. I am so sorry you had to live through that. I hope your experience makes all of us readers all more grateful for our blessings. I'll add a few additional takeaways from your piece: 1) your story reveals the deep compassion of systems where patients don't have to worry about finances or bureaucracy when they are dealing with a severe health crisis (and the barbarity of systems that demand either or both); 2) your images revealed gifted photography and the beauty to be found retracing your trek (though maybe skipping the hospitals).
Grazie mille!
Sorry this happened to you. My husband had kidney stones while we were visiting Norway. Got great treatment and thankfully it was covered by insurance.
Hope you are completely healed soon.
I love the pictures! Will the stint really be in until January!!? It was a great trip even though our time with you was a cut a little short. How amazing that we got to see not only where you live in Milan but also Lake Como. Magical. Hang in there Michael, I'm hoping that by Easter this will largely be over and you'll be back to normal. All things work together. . . .lol ;)
Ah…I had a feeling it was the Marty sisters!
Yes, I’m afraid it’ll really be in until gennaio. But still, as you said, all things work together for good! ❤️
Michael!! How scary! But also, your photos (and Andrew’s) are fantastic. They tell an entire essay between the beauty and delight of rest and the stark reality of illness in such visual ways.
Also, this would be the final push I needed to become an EU citizen…you too? (And the reason to push for universal healthcare. Even with insurance that costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars a month, the one night and all those tests would cost most of us Americans close to $10,000…)
Thank you. Trust me, I will apply for my Italian citizenship as soon as I am eligible! But I’ve got another 7-8 years, unfortunately.
Maybe I should’ve clarified in the story that if I were an EU citizen, since Switzerland is not in the EU, I may have still had to pay out-of-pocket when I was there, but then would have been eligible for at least some reimbursement later. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. Lesson learned!
I wasn't expecting this story, hopefully it won't be too long before those stones are gone.
Your fingers to God’s ears!