Medical Update

I saw my oncologist and he says I have Hodgkin's lymphatic cancer. Stage 2. Chemo/Radiation needed for 6-8 months. Cost $25-30 thousand USD.

I have relisted my home in Alabama. I hope it sells this time. It truly is a matter of life and death, I'm sad to say.

I feel I am getting excellent health care in Costa Rica and at a fraction of the cost. 2 out of 3 of my docs are U of Miami grads, all spoke impeccable English and all spent a great deal of time questioning and examining me.
When my Costa Rican friends heard the cost of my cancer treatment they were shocked and cannot understand why America doesn't provide free or even affordable public health care. I am so ashamed of my country. I really get pissed listening to this so called health care debate from down here in Costa. I had to leave my country to find an affordable diagnosis and treatment for my sickness. That's just wrong.  I often wonder about other Americans in my same situation.
Pollo, who has been like a son to me, is trying to get me into Costa Rica's social services network. His uncle works in the records dept there. This service provides low cost everything thru their public hospitals but it's hard to get in the system (bureaucracy, paperwork is rampant here) Hopefully I can qualify and get even cheaper health care.
In the past six weeks I have traveled to San Jose ( a four hr bus ride thru the mountains on a two lane hwy) four times..that is my only drawback is living so far away. This last time I went alone and it all went quite smoothly. My friends aka the staff at the hotel I stay were waiting for my arrival. My taxi driver, Raul, has been thru this with me from the start and he told me yesterday, "Lisa, I love you and Peggy so much and you should never worry because Costa Rica will take care of you." And Costa Rica has. Boy, has it ever. Unlike my own country.
So even with the bad news there is so much more good news. High curable rate has a lovely ring to it, don't you think?
My attitude has been surprising good and continues to be. My doctor say attitude is half the battle. And with friends as yourself I am in a win win situation.
Hugs, Lisa