DAY 1 MARCH 25
Just an update. Here is the attempt!!
We flew SFO to Frankfurt to Moscow. United (special shout out to Kim B. from United for giving us exceptional customer service!!!) gave us some sweet seats
and that made those 11 hours go much more easily. Transferred to
Lufthansa and got to Russia around 5pm Russia time. Short layover. An
hour but it was delayed an hour too. A driver (Vadin) was waiting to take us
to the hotel. Had wifi in his van.
Hotel is about 40 miles from the airport. Very nice hotel. Called the
Vega but it is a Best Western chain. Clean and big. Had chicken kiev.
Everyone has been super helpful. Not a lot of English speakers though
Where we are reminds me of Philadelphia. Industrial big city with
similar topography.
I report Tuesday 26th at noon local time. Scheduled to come home April 23rd
DAY 2 MARCH 26
Same airport driver (Vadin) picked us up at the hotel and took us to the facility/hospital. About 15 minute drive. Have not quite figured out what this facility is. Apparently it is a University Hospital (public). Russians are treated in the same facility on a different floor but they are covered through their insurance. International patients pay out of pocket. The perception is that this is a private clinic because the people who are not from Russia pay out of pocket.
They checked me into my room. I will post pictures when I figure it out. I am social media/tech stupid. Met with Doctor Fedorenko and Anastasia the assistant. Told me what to expect. Ran a test. Served me lunch. I will post that picture too. Took a short nap.
I will be in this room for the duration of my time here. I will post the schedule and pictures of the room. Private room much like a hospital room in the US.
Lynnette went out while I was napping and met a group of people that are here for treatment from the Netherlands. One is just leaving and the other is just starting like me. Johan is primary progressive just like me. He is 9 years along with the disease. He is a lot worse than me. Gives me a glimpse of what 9 years of primary progressive MS (ppms) looks like. Russia is one of the few places that accepts ppms. Relapsing/Remitting (rrms) is the preferred patient and the majority of HSCT clinics. Dr. Fedorenko is one of the exceptions.
Lynnette got me to go to dinner with the Netherlands group. Very interesting. There was a girl who was treated over 2 years ago that was assisting Johan. She is a wealth of information. Super nice and lots of good things to say. Of course the dinner was Dutch. We went to a swanky Russian restaurant.
We flew SFO to Frankfurt to Moscow. United (special shout out to Kim B. from United for giving us exceptional customer service!!!) gave us some sweet seats
and that made those 11 hours go much more easily. Transferred to
Lufthansa and got to Russia around 5pm Russia time. Short layover. An
hour but it was delayed an hour too. A driver (Vadin) was waiting to take us
to the hotel. Had wifi in his van.
Hotel is about 40 miles from the airport. Very nice hotel. Called the
Vega but it is a Best Western chain. Clean and big. Had chicken kiev.
Everyone has been super helpful. Not a lot of English speakers though
Where we are reminds me of Philadelphia. Industrial big city with
similar topography.
I report Tuesday 26th at noon local time. Scheduled to come home April 23rd
DAY 2 MARCH 26
Same airport driver (Vadin) picked us up at the hotel and took us to the facility/hospital. About 15 minute drive. Have not quite figured out what this facility is. Apparently it is a University Hospital (public). Russians are treated in the same facility on a different floor but they are covered through their insurance. International patients pay out of pocket. The perception is that this is a private clinic because the people who are not from Russia pay out of pocket.
They checked me into my room. I will post pictures when I figure it out. I am social media/tech stupid. Met with Doctor Fedorenko and Anastasia the assistant. Told me what to expect. Ran a test. Served me lunch. I will post that picture too. Took a short nap.
I will be in this room for the duration of my time here. I will post the schedule and pictures of the room. Private room much like a hospital room in the US.
Lynnette went out while I was napping and met a group of people that are here for treatment from the Netherlands. One is just leaving and the other is just starting like me. Johan is primary progressive just like me. He is 9 years along with the disease. He is a lot worse than me. Gives me a glimpse of what 9 years of primary progressive MS (ppms) looks like. Russia is one of the few places that accepts ppms. Relapsing/Remitting (rrms) is the preferred patient and the majority of HSCT clinics. Dr. Fedorenko is one of the exceptions.
Lynnette got me to go to dinner with the Netherlands group. Very interesting. There was a girl who was treated over 2 years ago that was assisting Johan. She is a wealth of information. Super nice and lots of good things to say. Of course the dinner was Dutch. We went to a swanky Russian restaurant.
Love that you are documenting this Paul. We are thinking of you. Can’t wait to hear how it goes. Also, pretty excited for those pictures. 😉 Good luck with the tech stuff.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to follow along and hear how things are going. Love the details and hope we get pics too! You both are in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteI like hearing all the details too, thanks for sharing! That is nice you got to talk to someone who could give you good advice and information. We love you Paul, you are in our prayers ❤️
ReplyDeletePaul, should I comment here, or keep sending you my personal sweet poems...😉
ReplyDeletePaul,
ReplyDeleteKathy and I have been reading your posts and really appreciate you sharing these experiences. We love you and Lynette and hope things are well.
By the way, I've been to Russia - St.Petes, Moscow, Yekaterinburg. Neat place.
Keep it up.
Love,
Colin and Kathy Moore