Friend In Coma ....1 Week Now

[bigmove]

hi everyone,

last june 03 my friend was brought to the hospital because of high blood pressure. she collapsed in the sky train on the way to the church and some thais brought her to the nearest hospital chulalongkorn.the nurse called me to informed me what happened that she has a blood clot on the left back side of the brain.up to now she is still in coma (1 week now) and have her family from the states come here. They are thinking of bringing her to US because her mother is very old and can't take care of her alone plus her sister needs to go back to work as soon as possible.They have no family here in bangkok because she's only here to visit some friends.Anyone experience bringing a sick person back to his own country?if so, what is the procedure and how much approximately will it cost?

thanks,

bm

[chakatee]

Hi bigmove,

First you need to know from the treating doctors IF your friend is fit enough to fly and if she is, with which medical equipment/staff. Your friend having a blood clot in the brain might not be allowed to fly at all (pressure changes when taking of and landing etc)

The criteria are different for every airline in deciding who they let on board and who not or under which circumstances. They all have special Mediforms for this to be filled out by the treating doctor.

Repatriations are very expensive, especially such a distance as to US.

If it has to be an ambulance flight, we are easily talking about a few million thai baht. They also usually can only fly a few hours (2 or so) before needing new kerosine so it will be a loooong flight with landing and take of every 2-4 hours and very hard for the patient.

If a commercial flight is sufficient, then 600000-1000000 gets you a long way (flight tickets, medical staff, equipment, ...).

Good luck for your friend!

[Wash]

Hi BM,

I respect your effort to provide assistance to a friend in need and commend you for your concern. I would suggest contacting the US Embassy for any assistance they can provide or advice they can give you. They have experience dealing with such issues and are by far more qualified to advise you than most.

Good Luck to you and your friend.

Wash

[Sheryl]

The first thing you need to look at is whether she had travel health insurance or other insurance that would cover medical evacuation. If she does, contact the insurance provider and they will guide you from there.

If she doesn't have insurance that will cover this then it will indeed be very costly if she is comatose (I assume not on a ventilator, or is she?). The airlines would almost certainly insist on a medical escort at the least. And the family might need to purchase a row of seats so she can lie down.

If she is on a ventilator, or requires oxygen, then things get more complicated. Still possible, but complicated and costly.

The following company provides assistance with this type of thing:

International SOS Services (Thailand) Limited

93/1 GPF Witthayu Towers, Tower B

11th Floor, Wireless Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok, Thailand 10330 Thailand

Admin Tel: 662 205 7755

Admin Fax: 662 256 6340

Alarm center

Bangkok

Open 24 hours a day

International SOS Services (Thailand) Limited

Tel: 662 205 7777

Tel (Japanese): 662 205 7866

Fax: 662 256 7151

[bigmove]

The first thing you need to look at is whether she had travel health insurance or other insurance that would cover medical evacuation. If she does, contact the insurance provider and they will guide you from there.

If she doesn't have insurance that will cover this then it will indeed be very costly if she is comatose (I assume not on a ventilator, or is she?). The airlines would almost certainly insist on a medical escort at the least. And the family might need to purchase a row of seats so she can lie down.

If she is on a ventilator, or requires oxygen, then things get more complicated. Still possible, but complicated and costly.

The following company provides assistance with this type of thing:

International SOS Services (Thailand) Limited

93/1 GPF Witthayu Towers, Tower B

11th Floor, Wireless Road

Lumpini, Pathumwan

Bangkok, Thailand 10330 Thailand

Admin Tel: 662 205 7755

Admin Fax: 662 256 6340

Alarm center

Bangkok

Open 24 hours a day

International SOS Services (Thailand) Limited

Tel: 662 205 7777

Tel (Japanese): 662 205 7866

Fax: 662 256 7151

Thanks for all the reply.Her situation is really complicated. Last monday she undergone an operation in the throad and they put a tube on it. They say the tube is better so her chances of getting complications is not that high.The family paid THB 50k for that opration alone. Now the doctor said there's water in her head that needs to be operated again. Another thing is her family went her on a VOA and if she will be in a coma they will have to go out of Thailand to get a visa or a stamp. Her mother is 65 years old(with rheumatism) and her only sister will be back in US this 22 because she can't be on leave for too long. Needs money to support her too so needs to work.So the mother will be here and her uncle who is a doctor also but old too.I worry about their situation now. My friend who I met only last december don't have a tarvel insurance and just recently i found out that she is working here illegally doing part time teaching jobs. She is a Filipino citizen but has a pending approved application to the US since 1998.

I realy don't know how can I be of help to them since I cannot be with them everyday because I have work too.

all your advice would be much appreciated.

thanks.

bm

[chakatee]

With a medical certificate (in Thai language) from the treating doctor and a statement from the hospital that her mother and friend take care of the patient, they should be able to obtain an extension in the Migration Office (incl. all the usual paperwork as extension application, passport pictures and 1900THB per person of course).

[hellohello]

I’m sorry to hear about your friend.

But I can share a similar story that might offer some hope. My now Thai husband about 15 years ago suffered a stroke - due to HBP. He collapsed and was rushed to hospital in Phitsanulok. Luckily his employer had insurance (AIA) and they flew the best doctor up from Bangkok- They operated on him and put in 3 "plugs” on his broken brain blood vessels. He remained in a coma for 2 1/2 months. One night he woke up. He was fine. He has all his facilities except short-term memory problems and navigation. (navigation yeah-he's Thai and a Man so-- so you know )

He now takes HBP meds- but he lives a normal life.

BTW-The total cost billed to AIA was about 1 million baht.

PM anytime if you wish to talk

HH

Edited June 14, 2007 by hellohello

[hellohello]

also: You mentioned church? Perhaps a little fund drive for her expenses?

[Sheryl]

The hole in the throat is called a tracheostomy. Is it connected to a breathing machine (ventilator) or is she breathing by herself?

When you say she is in a coma: does she ever respond at all to anything?

Also: does she have health insurance in the US? Because if not then there would be an even greater problem in terms of money if she goes back there.

Her mother can avoid the need to leave the country if she gets a letter from the hospital and a medical certificate and goes down to the Immigration Bureau.

This is a very difficult situation. It would help to know more about her exact condition and prognosis. I have some contacts at Chula. Why don't you PM me your phone numbera and I'll get in touch, maybe I could go see them.

[Sheryl]

P.S> I am not sure what "approved application" means re US citizenship. Does she have a green card? Is her mother a citizen or green card holder? If answer to any of those is yes then they need to contact the US Embassy as soon as posisble. The Embassy has a medical unit which can help find out all the specifics of her condition and advise on options.

If howveer neither she nor her mother are citizens or green card holders then would have to go to the Philippine Embassy, which doesn't have the same resources but at least could help re talking to then hospital, getting the needed paperwork from the hospital etc.

[lingling]

http://www.medicalwings.com/

[bigmove]

P.S> I am not sure what "approved application" means re US citizenship. Does she have a green card? Is her mother a citizen or green card holder? If answer to any of those is yes then they need to contact the US Embassy as soon as posisble. The Embassy has a medical unit which can help find out all the specifics of her condition and advise on options.

If howveer neither she nor her mother are citizens or green card holders then would have to go to the Philippine Embassy, which doesn't have the same resources but at least could help re talking to then hospital, getting the needed paperwork from the hospital etc.

Thanks, for all the reply. Her mother and sister are both american citizen but my friend is Filipino citizen and was told that her application for american citizenship was approved last 1998 and just awaiting for the advise of the US embassy in the philippines. Her sister already went to the Philippine embassy and what they say there is really not helpful. They say that the government is poor and even by the time that the patient is in the philippines the government's finacial support will still be pending.Not good for a family who has been to much lately.

So if her mother comes here on a VOA, she can just extend in the immigration provided she has all the doctors certificate and all and not leave the kingdom to extend for another?

Thanks for all the help guys,

Regards,

Joan