Our buddy had a stroke

slas7713

Member
Aug 9, 2004
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A close friend of ours very recently had a serious stroke. He's been in the hospital for just over a week now and we need to get him back to Colorado. We've checked on the mediflight type flights and got quotes between $32,000 USD and $36,000 USD. After that shock we just checked on a regular charter and got the lowest quote of $22,000 USD. He doesn't have insurance so all of these options are pretty much out of range.

He is in stable condition and able to travel, but only if he's in a lying position at all times. The doctor said this is necessary until further recovery. This rules out all regular airlines as it's a requirement to be upright for takeoff and landing.

Has anyone out there ever had a similar situation and can you provide some suggestions.

Thanks,

Dean
 

BushBaby

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Some years ago I was in touch with a woman from one of the Leeward Islands who had a serious back problem & could not travel in an upright position. Having chatted by e-mail for several months she decided that the DR was going to be a much cheaper place for her to live & she organised herself a private flight to Puerto Plata that would allow her to be transported horizontally on a medical bed/trolley with wheels.

You do not state where you live (& there is no reason why you should if you do not want to) so my advice would be to visit the nearest airport to the hospital where your friend is & try talking to Private pilots at that airport. See who has a small (10/15 seater) turbo prop plane that can be adapted to accept a hospital trolley & find out how much they would charge for the trip to Colorado. If you CAN get a qualified nurse onto the flight at the same time then so much the better.

Might I suggest that this is likely to be fairly expensive so you should start your financing campaign for donations from relatives & friends NOW!

I wish you every good fortune in your endeavors ~ Grahame.
 

Lambada

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The doctor said this is necessary until further recovery.

Can the doctor estimate how long it might be before your friend can sit up sufficiently for landing & take off? If it's only a matter of a week or so, it might be better to wait until then? Have you had a second opinion about their ability to fly and whether it needs to be prone & whether they might require anti-clotting medication immediately before travel? You might find something useful at these links & you could even post a question there, because medics respond.
Stroke Concerns about medical transport - Stroke - MedHelp

pending carotid surgery; can patient safely fly? - Neurology - MedHelp
 

slas7713

Member
Aug 9, 2004
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In Puerto Plata

He is currently in Puerto Plata at Centro Medico Bournigal being attended to by Dr. Rafael Santana. He's one of the best Cardiologist in the country and if anything ever happened to me here I told my buddy to try and get me to him.

The doctor said it would be a month, or possibly two before he could sit so we are trying to figure out a possible location where he can get good care and therapy, hopefully in Puerto Plata.

Any ideas??

Dean
 

suzannel

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Jun 7, 2006
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Consider staying in PP

With the cost of the flight and then the added costs of treatment in the U.S., may I suggest that if you feel you are getting such excellent treatment in PP that you consider keeping your friend there for his recovery.
I do not know if you are an expat or if you have a home there, but I am certain that you can get decent rental and live-in nurses for much cheaper.
 

El Tigre

El Tigre de DR1 - Moderator
Jan 23, 2003
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With the cost of the flight and then the added costs of treatment in the U.S., may I suggest that if you feel you are getting such excellent treatment in PP that you consider keeping your friend there for his recovery.
I do not know if you are an expat or if you have a home there, but I am certain that you can get decent rental and live-in nurses for much cheaper.

I agree with you on this. If your friend doesn't have a dire need to be back in Colorado I would consider staying for the treatment which I am sure will be cheaper than trying to get him home.

I wish him all the best and hope he has a quick recovery.
 

drloca

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Oct 26, 2004
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I guess you would have to evaluate the extent of the stroke. If your friend will require intensive rehab/therapy, time is of the essence to get him to an establishment where this is available once he is stable. Does he currently have any deficits as a result of the stroke.

Just curious why he is under the care of a cardiologist after suffering a stroke?

I wish him well and hope you can access the resources to get him the help he needs.
 

slas7713

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Aug 9, 2004
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Where

The doctor strongly suggested he go back to the states due to the higher level of care, rehab and specialist available. He said they could also more thoroughly evaluate him with the proper equipment and resources.

We took him to this particular doctor because we knew of him and his reputation and didn't really know of any stroke experts in the area.

Many speak of keeping him here but can anyone provide specific info on the availability of a proper nurse and rehab specialist in the area. This isn't as easy as it seems.
 

drloca

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Oct 26, 2004
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The doctor strongly suggested he go back to the states due to the higher level of care, rehab and specialist available. He said they could also more thoroughly evaluate him with the proper equipment and resources.

We took him to this particular doctor because we knew of him and his reputation and didn't really know of any stroke experts in the area.

Many speak of keeping him here but can anyone provide specific info on the availability of a proper nurse and rehab specialist in the area. This isn't as easy as it seems.


I know you mention you want to keep him "in the area" but any chance he could go to Santo Domingo perhaps?
 

suarezn

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Feb 3, 2002
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I would transfer to the HOMS hospital in Santiago, asap.

...or to CEDIMAT in Santo Domingo as they are supposed to specialize on this and as I understand it they also have the latest and greatest equipment to deal with these kinds of situations.
 

Lambada

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The doctor strongly suggested he go back to the states due to the higher level of care, rehab and specialist available. He said they could also more thoroughly evaluate him with the proper equipment and resources.

There has to be a reason why Dr. Santana didn't suggest HOMS or CEDIMAT, since he would surely know what is available at both. slas7713, see if you can find out, specifically, what that reason is. Has your friend got relatives in Colorado who would advance him the money for a medivac flight?
 
Jan 17, 2009
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I talked to a doctor recently regarding the need to pay insurance for this type of service if we ever need it. He said that there are no good rehabilitation centers in the DR for someone who's had a stroke, and the best option is to fly the person to the US. It sounds like he was giving the same advice this doctor in Puerto Plata is giving your friend.
 

Tamborista

hasta la tambora
Apr 4, 2005
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I would think Miami would be a less expensive charter flight option if the patient had to be under a US doctor's care, if not San Juan, PR is pretty close.
 

Jumbo

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Jul 8, 2005
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Also thought of PR as the next best thing to Colorado. Find the cost of an ambulance and arrange a ferry to PR. I am sure there are decent hospitals and rehab centers in PR that will take any US based insurance he has.


Would your friend from Colorado be Joe B. If so please PM me.
 

drloca

Silver
Oct 26, 2004
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216
63
A close friend of ours very recently had a serious stroke. He's been in the hospital for just over a week now and we need to get him back to Colorado. We've checked on the mediflight type flights and got quotes between $32,000 USD and $36,000 USD. After that shock we just checked on a regular charter and got the lowest quote of $22,000 USD. He doesn't have insurance so all of these options are pretty much out of range.

He is in stable condition and able to travel, but only if he's in a lying position at all times. The doctor said this is necessary until further recovery. This rules out all regular airlines as it's a requirement to be upright for takeoff and landing.

Has anyone out there ever had a similar situation and can you provide some suggestions.

Thanks,

Dean

Angel Midflight- FAQ -

Check this out! I dont know anything about them but for the cost of a phone call.....

They offer a free quote but it appears they can also arrange to have some rows removed at the rear of the aircraft to accomodate a stretcher.

Here is another one.

Air Ambulance Network Contact Details

Hope these help...not sure if these 2 are some of the companies you have already contacted.