Help?

[oyceter]

*dusts off journal* I've been meaning to post updates for a while, but of course never got around to it.

Anyway, CB had a stroke while we were on a family vacation in Paris. He is doing well, all things considered--the damage seems limited to a slight droop in his mouth and double vision--but he's been in the hospital for about a week now. My parents are with me, and we are trying to figure out his care with limited access to his doctors (visiting hours are limited, and they often make the rounds outside visiting hours). We have a translator, though it's our tour guide who obviously doesn't have that much knowledge about medical terminology. We have some print outs of test results in French, but we're having difficulty getting access to actual medical records, since they usually are put together on patient discharge.

Does anyone have experience with internationally transferring patients and/or flying with medical escorts or on a plane with medical equipment? We obviously don't want to move him if it will endanger him in any way, but we would also like for him to begin treatment back at home as soon as it is safe for him to go back.

Comments

[ambyr]

Oh God, how hard for all of you! I hope his recovery continues smoothly.

I have no such experience; I do have a French friend with family in Paris I could reach out to, if that might be any help in terms of language stuff?

[oyceter]

<3 I think we are okay for now for language and thank you!

[wychwood]

Oh no, how awful! No useful info, just huge sympathy for you all.

[oyceter]

<3 thank you!

[oursin]

How devastating - don't think I have any current contacts in Paris, alas - sending all good thoughts.

[oyceter]

<3 thank you, good thoughts much appreciated!

[thomasyan]

Eep! Much sympathy and support.

[oyceter]

<3 thank you!

[umadoshi]

So scary and stressful! I don't have useful info, but am hoping hard that you can get him home safely ASAP and that he recovers well. *worried hugs*

[oyceter]

<3 thank you!

[anatsuno]

Oh no, I'm sorry, how tough :((

Jesse K sent me here - I'm not in Paris but I'm in France, French, and an FR-EN translator. Not specialized in medicine but my mother had several strokes in the past few years and I think perhaps I could help with translating test results if that's an issue? Sadly I don't know anyone especially competent with international medial escorts or medical relocation, but I can poke my contacts if need be?

Don't hesitate to reach out if you think I can help, though my abilities are limited <3
(answer in comments here, or this username at gmail will work for email)

[oyceter]

Oh if you wouldn't mind, could I send you the first two MRI printouts? I used Google Translate on them but... who knows how good that is.

[anatsuno]

yes of course! I shall do my best :))

[j00j]

Oof. So I've never actually had to deal with this, but I have a loved one with health conditions that necessitates reading A Lot about travel insurance coverage and we've come close to having to use it once or twice. So if you don't get any more informed info...
If you have travel insurance for this trip that includes medical escorts, or if you have a credit card that provides travel coverage, insurance may be able to provide relevant expertise. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/medical-evacuation-coverage/

Now, do I trust the company responsible for paying for the services to be completely objective about what services should be required? I do not. But if part of their coverage is providing translation, evaluation of the case, etc. it at least gives you more information than you have right now.

[oyceter]

Sigh, our travel insurance sadly doesn't cover transport unless the situation is life-threatening, and our normal insurance is still getting back to us. But I forgot to check with my credit card, thank you!

if this is useful

[radiantfracture]

So sorry this happened, and glad he is doing relatively well.

My experience is second-hand and Canadian, but my parents' travel insurance included a flight home with medical attendants (a doctor and nurse). Arranging this involved a lot of back and forth with the insurance reps. Do you know what your insurance allows for?

The doctors won't release him before it's a reasonable idea, so I think you can leave that in their hands.

My mom (the sick person) got to fly first class with the attendants, but my dad had to go coach.

(ETA) Oh, right, the sort-of point being that the contractor for the insurance took care of most of the logistics.

Re: if this is useful

[oyceter]

<3 Thank you! Our insurance sadly only covers transport if it's life or death (so I think basically only if you need care that the place you are in can't provide). Next time I am definitely getting better coverage..

[minnaway]

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, and best wishes to CB for a full recovery.

The US Embassy site does have some lists of potential companies:
https://fr.usembassy.gov/services/medical-assistance/ambulance-services-and-medical-escorts/

[oyceter]

<3 Thank you! I had looked at that page before but hadn't rechecked.. we are currently calling a company and it is listed there, so hopefully that is a good sign.

[thistleingrey]

:( :(
I've had a bit of experience lining up a medical escort within the continental 48 US states for someone who had to be driven cross-country following cranial surgery, if that turns out to be useful. (One starts by asking local-to-starting-point skilled nursing facilities for help, seriously, because they do this a lot and individual households do it once, if ever.) +1 to the earlier comment that says that the contractor tends to handle most logistics--for their liability.

Good luck to everyone involved!

[oyceter]

<3 We've called an ambulance service/medical escort service recommended by one of my parents' friends, so hopefully they will be able to do a lot of the follow up. Thank you, all the good wishes are much appreciated.

[genarti]

Oh no, I'm so sorry! This is absolutely awful.

If I can be of help, I'm a professional FR>EN translator, and I do a certain amount of medical/health care stuff. Most of my experience is in the Canadian context, and I'm not all that familiar with the French system, but anything I can do to be helpful for you I'm happy to do.

I don't have experience with internationally transferring patients, though, I'm sorry.

[oyceter]

Oh wow, that is great! Would you actually be willing to look at printouts of his first two MRI results? I've used Google Translate but I am 1000% sure someone professional would be way better.

[genarti]

Yes, absolutely! You can email me at genarti at gmail, or I'll DM you my realname address if you'd rather (it's all the same to me, but realname is what I'd use to reach out to third parties if you want me to later).

ETA: I'll be afk for the next few hours, but this evening eastern time I'll take a look!

[heavenscalyx]

Oh no! Best wishes for a speedy recovery for CB. I’m going to reach out to a friend whose mother broke her hip in Paris pre-pandemic and who was the family member who flew home with her.

[heavenscalyx]

From my friend:

We were lucky in that my mom had travel insurance, which covered a first class flight home for both of us (and maybe even my flight there).

The American Hospital has English speaking staff and lots of experience doing transport (and an interesting history, but that’s besides the point).

On this side, your friend should already be reaching out to have a neurologist at the ready. Hopefully the French neurologist can consult with the US neurologist before her husband gets on a plane.

[oyceter]

Thank you! Ugh, I should have gotten better travel insurance... ours does not cover transport unless it is life or death. We're also trying to reach out to a neurologist in the US too, so it is very reassuring to know we are doing some things right.

[sovay]

I have no first-hand experience with such a situation, so all I have got is sending much love.

[oyceter]

<3 thank you!

[jesuswasbatman]

Awful to hear this. I can't help but I hope everything goes well.

[qian]

Shit, how awful, I'm so sorry! No experience to offer but I hope you're able to get it all sorted soon. (No need to reply, I just wanted to say something. <3)

[torachan]

Oh no! I hope he continues to get better quickly.

I'm glad to see you've got some offers of help in the comments here already.

[rachelmanija]

Oh no! How scary and stressful. I have no useful knowledge, but I hope someone else does. Please keep us posted.

[heresluck]

...okay, that is definitely not the family vacation you were hoping for. I send condolences to all of you, big hugs to you in particular, and good wishes for CB's recovery!

[vass]

Oh hell. Best wishes to you both.

[larryhammer]

Yikes! Holding you and CB in the Light.

(I've no experience that can help, though.)

[kalmn]

No advice, just good wishes to you both.

[yifu]

No info, just sending you both all the love. ♥