This morning Rod and I went to the Gelre Hospital in Apeldoorn to go through pre- surgical screening meet and then meet with Dr. van Praagh. Both of us hit a panic moment when we were sitting with the pre-surgical nurse who was struggling with her english. She asked Rod what he was allergic to and Rod said "Iodine" . "What is that?" she inquired, "how do you spell it?" In a strange way both of us were hit with the realization that we had come half way around the world to have surgery done in a country where we didn't speak the language and many of the meds had different names. As we waited to see Dr. van Praagh, we exchanged doubtful glances and took a deep breath.
As soon as we entered Dr. van Praagh's room, we were offered a cup of tea or coffee. "I have read all about you and it is good to finally meet you" says v. Praagh as he shakes our hands. We apologize that he has had to read so much... to which he assured us that it had been very helpful to have all the reports.
Without a doubt Dr. van Praagh is an extreme gentleman and immediately puts his patients at ease. He had obviously read and was thoroughly acquainted with Rod's history. The ensuing discussion put any lingering doubts we may have had to the side. Dr. van Praagh was thorough in his explanation of the procedure and his technique, was open to questions, and went out of his way to make sure we understood the upcoming procedure.
When we returned to our little house in the woods, it was with a renewed sense of assurance that we had made the right choice. Now Rod has one more day to rest before the surgery. Yesterday Rod's had an 8 hour stretch of stabbing pain, which thankfully did not last through the night. Rod says: "I am ready, let's get this over with!"
A big thanks to Alice de Tombe (Tante Tobia's friend) who drove us to the hospital and waited for the morning. Tante Tobia is quite ill with a cold/flu bug and really regrets not being able to be with us today.
As soon as we entered Dr. van Praagh's room, we were offered a cup of tea or coffee. "I have read all about you and it is good to finally meet you" says v. Praagh as he shakes our hands. We apologize that he has had to read so much... to which he assured us that it had been very helpful to have all the reports.
Without a doubt Dr. van Praagh is an extreme gentleman and immediately puts his patients at ease. He had obviously read and was thoroughly acquainted with Rod's history. The ensuing discussion put any lingering doubts we may have had to the side. Dr. van Praagh was thorough in his explanation of the procedure and his technique, was open to questions, and went out of his way to make sure we understood the upcoming procedure.
When we returned to our little house in the woods, it was with a renewed sense of assurance that we had made the right choice. Now Rod has one more day to rest before the surgery. Yesterday Rod's had an 8 hour stretch of stabbing pain, which thankfully did not last through the night. Rod says: "I am ready, let's get this over with!"
A big thanks to Alice de Tombe (Tante Tobia's friend) who drove us to the hospital and waited for the morning. Tante Tobia is quite ill with a cold/flu bug and really regrets not being able to be with us today.
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