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Broken Bones, Budapest, and Fit to Fly

11/13/2019

47 Comments

 
Traveling is a wonderful way to enrich your life but there are inherent dangers that we all hope won’t happen to us. After half a century of traveling, I  had an accident. My husband and I planned a 10-day trip to Europe, visiting Vienna and a long weekend in Budapest. Vienna was gorgeous, and hopefully I will write a blog post about it. We took the train to Budapest for a long weekend, planning to return to Vienna Monday and fly home Tuesday.
Budapest
Budapest
On Sunday afternoon, after spending some delightful hours in a large thermal bath, we were looking for a taxi in the park. I saw a taxi and turned around on a small incline—and the next thing I knew I was on the ground and heard a loud crack in my left ankle. My left foot was turned the wrong way and I knew something bad had happened. A kind soul called an ambulance and a woman who spoke English called our hotel. The ambulance picked me up, the EMT didn’t speak English and I was transported to the Budapest Trauma Center.
Budapest
The entrance to the Trauma Center
In the admission room, some guys took me and grabbed my foot to set it. I screamed bloody murder, then somebody stuck me with a needle to take some blood and insert an IV in my hand. Nobody asked my permission, because nobody spoke English. It was like a pre-war movie.  I was in shock, my husband and the most wonderful concierge from the Ritz Carlton spent four hours doing all the paperwork.
Budapest
X-rays from before the operation
My new hardware after the operation
My new hardware after the operation
While lying on a gurney for four hours, I made calls to Germany, the US, and Switzerland. I didn’t think I had an option because I had a complicated break that needed an operation immediately. I was rolled into a room with five female patients who lay undressed, covered only with a sheet. (The hospital does not provide gowns.) I was snarled at by the staff, and my husband was not allowed in the room. The surgeon came in saying that he would perform the surgery the same night or the next day. When I asked him how many of these operations he had done, he told me that I had insulted him by asking the question. The anesthesiologist was a kind and gentle woman who stayed with me throughout the operation late Sunday night. She looked so tired. After my operation in a very antiquated operating room, I was rolled to what I thought was a private room, because I spent  the night by myself with a kind nurse who gave me an extra pillow and asked if I wanted a blanket. The next morning, two other patients were rolled in, when I realized it was not a private room. My husband came as soon as possible, bringing water, juice and something to eat that the hotel had packed for me. In Hungary, the family of the patients provide the towels, cups and everything else you need. The staff is totally overworked and earns very little money. Most of them are unfriendly and don’t speak English or German. The surgeon told me that I was going to be released on Wednesday and I could fly home that day. He never checked my wound and disappeared and I never saw him again. But I am thankful for his skills, because my doctor here in Santa Cruz told me he did a pretty good job. Most important, he had written a sentence in my report that allowed my return flight home. 
Budapest
There was no wifi in the hospital, I called all my friends in Europe who offered to pick me up and drive me to Switzerland, Austria or Germany, but I thought it was best for me to go straight home. My husband went back to the hotel and booked a new flight, canceling all the old reservations. The hotel staff helped him. I was on the phone all day, calling my doctors, friends and anybody else who I thought could help. I spent another horrible night at the hospital, and checked myself out the next morning after my bandages were changed and the drainage taken out.
Budapest
I can tell you I was so happy when I reached the Ritz and the entire staff, including the manager, greeted me. The hotel extended our room for an additional three nights and provided me with a wheelchair. It was like I had entered heaven after being in hell. I will never forget the kindness and the generosity that the Ritz-Carlton in Budapest gave us. It was phenomenal. They provided us with food, drinks, comfort and taxis anytime my husband needed one.  One of their employees took us to the airport counter, where the airline personnel asked for a document from my doctor saying I was "fit to fly." And here is one of the reasons why I am writing this post, my dear readers. If you ever intend to board a plane with some obvious handicap, you need to have a doctor’s note saying you are FIT TO FLY.

Budapest
Being pampered at the Ritz
The 2 flights lasting 14 hours were fine. My husband booked a business class seat that enabled me to raise my legs. The flight attendant brought ice for my ankle. Thank you, United Airlines. I was transported by a special wheelchair that fit the aisle of the airplane and a regular wheelchair for the airport. 

I arrived on Thursday and ended up going to the Stanford emergency room where I waited for five hours before somebody changed my bandages. It was a total waste of time and we were totally exhausted, especially my poor husband. The next morning, we saw a wonderful  doctor here in town who is now taking care of me. He said my operation was good, so now I am in a cast hopping around on one leg.

I haven’t cooked. Friends are bringing dinner and my husband is barbecuing. So sorry, there's no new recipe, but I am sharing some photos from Budapest on my Wanderlust blog.
​ Click here.
​Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner click here for recipes that are helpful to you for the upcoming feast.
47 Comments
John / Kitchen Riffs link
11/15/2019 01:18:13 pm

What an ordeal! So sorry this happened to you -- what an unpleasant experience (to put it mildly!). Glad the operation turned out OK and you're on the road to recovery. Such an eyeopening post -- we never think something like this will happen to us, do we? Sobering lesson for all of us.

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Gerlinde
11/22/2019 07:14:38 am

It was quite an experience John, but it could have been much worse. I just hope for a speedy recovery and being able to walk soon.

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Gloria link
11/15/2019 01:27:15 pm

Im.so sorry all you suffered with this difficult accident. Glad the operación was ok. Nos you have todo care you and recovery.
Hugs and love!!

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Gerlinde
11/16/2019 07:16:53 am

Thank you Gloria for your good wishes and for caring. I appreciate that. Hugs to you.

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Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen link
11/15/2019 01:40:13 pm

So sorry you both had to go through all that Gerlinde. Hoping you're on the mend now. I'll be keeping you in my prayers.

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Gerlinde
11/16/2019 07:31:55 am

Thank you Mary Ann, for your good wishes and prayers. I am on the mend. My cast is coming off next Friday and with the help of a special boot I can start putting some weight on my foot.

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Darlene Foster link
11/15/2019 01:59:01 pm

OMG! What a terrible way to end your lovely trip. Something similar happened to me but not quite as bad. We were at the beginning of a two week holiday, a few days in Spain and then on a Danube river cruise that had been planned for over a year. I was walking down the stairs from our apartment in Spain and missed the bottom step. I too heard a crack. We continued to go out for dinner although the pain was horrible. I refused to go to a doctor. Continued our time in Spain, just limited the walking. Went on the cruise, also tried to keep off my foot as much as possible. The staff on the cruise were amazing. I was convinced it was just sprained badly. Got home, went to my doctor and found my ankle was broken in two places. My operation was similar to yours with many screws and a plate. I was in big trouble with my doctor for not going to a doctor in Europe but I'm kind of glad I didn't after hearing your story. Take care. It will take awhile until it all heals. xo

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Gerlinde
11/16/2019 07:28:34 am

That is an amazing story Darlene. You were determined to go on your trip . I don’t think I could have done that. I had a girlfriend that had a broken foot stepping down stairs and pretended is was a strain until she got home .

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Penny O'Neill link
11/16/2019 05:29:48 am

Oh, Gerlinde, what a long and painful ordeal for you and your husband as well. Your story is similar to two friends of mine, both were operated on and had good medical treatment, but, experienced the same care dilemmas that we take for granted here in the States. Here is to continued healing and recovery, and strength as you will likely have some physical therapy - and here's to you up and about soon.

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Gerlinde
11/16/2019 07:42:13 am

Thank you for your good wishes Penny. It was hard for my husband. He is a wonderful caregiver , that makes things so much easier for me.
My European friends assured me that the Hungarian physicians are well trained. I wasn’t sure while I was being treated in the hospital.

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Teagan Geneviene link
11/16/2019 06:38:29 am

Dear Gerlinde, what a horrible, horrible nightmare! I've been utterly alone for two bad accidents. One of which required surgery... but at least I was in my own country and knew the language. Horsefeathers! I don't know how you endured it. I'm so glad you are safe and recovering. Hugs on the wing.

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Gerlinde
11/16/2019 07:46:57 am

I am so sorry you were alone and didn’t have any help when you needed it Teagan. That’s horrible. I don’t know how I would have survived this without the help of my husband. Hugs on the wings.

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Deb|EastofEdenCooking.com link
11/16/2019 06:03:36 pm

What a horrible experience. So very happy to hear you made it home and are on the mend!

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Gerlinde
11/18/2019 07:30:34 am

I am on the mend and my cast is coming off this week. I can’t wait to find out how my fracture healed. Thanks for the comment.

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sherry link
11/17/2019 12:09:00 am

oh dear me gerlinde. sounds like a hellish experience. you must be so glad to be home. it's always a worry getting sick when you are away from home. hope you feel better soon. cheers sherry

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Gerlinde
11/18/2019 07:31:59 am

I am so much better, I think I was in schock the first two weeks.

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Jo Nell Huff link
11/17/2019 10:54:54 am

Oh, no! What an ordeal. You are fortunate that the surgeon did a good job even if the room was not so good! We sometimes take the care we get in the US for granted. Take care and enjoy not cooking.

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Gerlinde
11/18/2019 07:35:44 am

Medical care is different in each country but it’s important to get a good surgeon. That’s not always the case , especially on a Sunday afternoon. I am glad my infection healed quickly.

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Healthy World Cuisine link
11/18/2019 04:09:44 am

So glad to hear that day by day you are on recovery. I know it is so overwhelming to be sick or have an injury in a place where you are illiterate. We are all too familiar with this experience and it is not fun. Your husband is a trooper and thank goodness he was there to get you sorted. Take good care of yourself.

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Gerlinde
11/18/2019 07:39:23 am

Thanks for the comment Bobbie, I think of you whenever I see what’s happening in Hongkong on TV. It’s so scary, I hope you and your family are safe.

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Dale link
11/18/2019 04:42:06 pm

I'm so happy this travel tale had a happy ending... I was concerned when your Insta posts mentioned an accident, and that you are home, mending well and being cared for.

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Gerlinde
11/24/2019 05:48:30 pm

I was happy to be home and have a doctor here at home take over my care.

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Liz link
11/18/2019 05:26:10 pm

Oh, my gosh, I knew you broke your ankle, but that was a severe break!! Thank goodness that despite you being halfway across the globe where you didn't speak the language, you got a surgeon who knew what he was doing. Hope your recovery continues on track and you'll be good as new soon! xo

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Gerlinde
11/24/2019 05:52:17 pm

I am recovering Liz, not as fast as I would like it to be but I hope to be able to walk in 2 weeks. I am so glad the surgeon did a good job.

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David Scott Allen link
11/21/2019 08:59:58 pm

Gerlinde - I am so sorry to hear of this horrible happening. I know I said so on Facebook, but the details are truly horrifying. I’m so glad the hotel helped to make the experience afterward as good as possible. Today, my right foot looks just like your left foot. (I didn’t break it, but had foot surgery.) Lucky for me, I was able to look ahead and cut all my black post finish through December! No one will starve. 😊🍽

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Gerlinde
11/24/2019 05:56:53 pm

I am impressed David that you did all your blog posts ahead of time. I tried to post while recuperating but I was unable to come up with something I thought was worth posting. I hope your are doing well with your foot surgery.

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David Scott Allen
12/4/2019 06:08:23 am

Hi - all is going well, and I love my scooter! Thanks for your recommendations and support! I only wish I had started on the scooter earlier. The crutches have made a mess of my shoulders… :(

David @ Spiced link
11/22/2019 04:44:33 am

Oh my goodness, Gerlinde! I can't believe this happened to you. I am so sorry! As you noted, traveling is such a wonderful thing, but it really turns dicey when something like this happens. I have to admit that I'm shocked to hear the story about the hospital/trauma center. Yikes! I can't believe the doctor never came back to check on you. Fortunately it sounds like he did a good job, though. (Of course, I'm not sure the US is much better since it took 5 hours at the Stanford Emergency Center...) Either way, I'm glad you are back home. The upcoming holidays will be a great time to catch up on rest and relaxation. Keep that foot up! :-)

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Gerlinde
11/24/2019 05:59:06 pm

Thanks David, I am keeping my foot up. It has been an interesting six weeks and I am glad when I can walk again.

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Tandy I Lavender and Lime link
11/23/2019 10:19:32 pm

What a blessing that the awful hospital experience ended with a decent surgeon and that all important letter!

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Gerlinde
11/24/2019 06:03:58 pm

It was a blessing and luck that I ended up with a good surgeon and that he knew to write “fit to fly” on my report . It would’ve been really something if we had to book another flight.

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Pamela link
11/24/2019 05:39:42 pm

I felt sick reading what you went through. A nightmare that miraculously turned ok. But. Oh! Such a scary event. I wonder how the pain has been. I hope it won’t be long before you can walk around your beautiful town. Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Gerlinde
11/24/2019 06:05:26 pm

Pamela, I can’t wait to walk again. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving with your children and gorgeous grandchildren.

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Ron link
11/25/2019 06:16:53 am

I'm a bit late to the news of your ordeal, so I'm hoping your healing coming on well. I can certainly relate to being in a hospital in a foreign country whilst not speaking the language. My worst experience was in far western China in 1999. At the time, all I could think of was that the blood the gave me would kill me. Well, it didn't and now I look back and find humor (and memories of pain and fear) in the event. Hang in there and get better.

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Gerlinde
11/27/2019 11:21:01 am

I would have felt the same way about a blood transfusion in China. I’m OK hobbling around on one foot; I hope I get to walk soon. This is getting old.

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Frank link
11/27/2019 04:53:37 am

What an experience, Gerlinde! And not in a good way, unfortunately...

So sorry to hear your ordeal. It's funny how one wrong move and your life can change dramatically, at least for a while. It's happened to acquaintances of mine, and sadly with even more serious consequences for them.

Hope to see back in action soon, but in the meanwhile, try to make the best of it and get good rest.

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Gerlinde
11/27/2019 11:26:25 am

It’s amazing how quickly life can change. From now on I will appreciate being able to walk and not take it for granted. One thing I can say, cooking with one leg on a knee scooter is no fun.

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Gloria Roa Baker link
11/30/2019 01:58:03 pm

Only I want to know how you feel about your leg, hope you feel better Gerlinde ! hugs

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Gerlinde
12/1/2019 06:58:26 pm

It’s getting better Gloria, after seven weeks I can now stand but not walk on my leg. Thank you for your concern.

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Jean | Delightful Repast link
12/1/2019 01:25:25 pm

Gerlinde, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, but glad you're okay. We don't often give enough consideration to what might go wrong when traveling.

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Gerlinde
12/1/2019 07:00:04 pm

This was a rude awakening for me Jean. From now on I am going to travel with a different mindset .

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Abbe@This is How I Cook link
12/2/2019 08:02:33 pm

Well, what an adventure. Hope you at least got to see some of Budapest. I had a girlfriend who in college went with her mother to Egypt. She had an appendicitis attack and had to have it removed there. I will never forget her story just like I will never forget yours. Take care!

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Gerlinde
12/2/2019 09:14:10 pm

Thanks Abbe, this puts a different spin on traveling. Budapest is an interesting town with a lot to see and do.

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Karen (Back Road Journal) link
12/15/2019 11:14:52 am

I'm so glad that you did this post Gerlinde so that everyone can give a thought of what might happen when out of the country. I broke my foot on the second day of a trip to Italy but thankfully didn't have to have surgery. I did have to go to the Siena hospital where no one spoke English either and the hospital itself looked like something from a movie from the 40's. When I got to the American Airlines checkin counter to fly home, they really didn't want to let me fly because of the risk of a blood clot. My husband informed them that he had been giving me a daily shot of a blood thinner during our trip and they finally let me board.

Now whenever we travel, we buy trip insurance that covers doctors, hospitals and emergency air evacuation. We've not had to use it but it makes me feel more comfortable knowing we have it as a simple accident can sometimes create bad results. Wishing you a healthy return to life as you knew it soon. 😘

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Gerlinde
12/15/2019 02:51:49 pm

Karen, I will definitely look into traveling insurance. My insurance paid my hospital expenses. Booking a single business class return ticket was expensive but United Airlines gave us a break. My doctor here in the States told me how lucky I was not to have a serious infection with dire consequences. All in all I think I got lucky.

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Inger @ Art of Natural Living link
1/11/2020 01:01:13 pm

Something almost identical happened to a friend of mine a couple years ago including the surgery and first class flight home with her leg extended. She unfortunately had to fly a doctor with her however. I'll be forwarding this to her. Glad you are doing well!

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Vrishen Kumar link
6/2/2020 03:34:48 am

Very Helpful Article

Reply



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