Another Dongson Adventure

I didn't have this blog the last time I was at Dongson. So, I will give a little history and information before I continue with the latest adventure. Dongson is a Korean hospital. It is very scary. It is like walking back to the 1950s and no HIPPA regulations. There is no privacy, AT ALL. The ER is all open for everyone to see and hear. There are patients laying on bed in the hallways, moaning, bleeding.....they still use glass IV bottles! Do you see where I'm going with this. And on top of it all, not so much English. BUT, there is an International Clinic, where Ms. Cho speaks perfect English. She acts as an interpreter. She will go to the appointment with, etc. Very nice lady. On the first day in question, Ms. Cho was unable to be reached by phone. My little man had an asthma attack that could not be stabilized at our "clinic" on Camp Walker. If you are dying, do not go to the Camp Walker clinic, because you will die. There are NO U.S. military emergency services for us; that is why we go Dongson Hospital.

My little man gets transported via ambulance, oh did I say that my husband was 5 hours away on a training mission and was not supposed to be home for at least another week. Thank goodness for my Ya-Yas! We are in the ER, not able to contact our English speaking person, they tell me that my little man will be admitted, and I run out of minutes on my phone so NO ONE knows that I am spending the night at the hospital! We go to the room, cram in with 2 other patients and 2 other adults. We share the hospital bed. And at 2:30 AM we try to go to sleep. Not very easy. Thankfully, the next day my minutes on my cell phone were reloaded and I was able to make some calls. Ms. Cho finally comes to the room after I talk to our military rep at our clinic. Ms. Cho assures me that we will be moved to a private room, which we were and it was much better. The nurses spoke English, it was brighter, cleaner, more room, etc. And my Ya-Yas were a lifesaver. I could not have done anything without them.

That brings us to the new Dongson adventure. Yesterday I had a mammogram..........at Dongson. My friend went with me, thank goodness. You can do anything as long as you know you have support! First we went to Starbucks to get energized. Then we checked into the International Clinic and the translator walked us up to the clinic. My friend cozied up in a chair with her book and I proceeded to the room. I disrobed from the waist up and prepared for the boobie squish. The technician said, "you hurt, you say." And I'm thinking, "lady, don't you worry about me telling you if this contraption is hurting my boobie. I will reach out and touch you!" Not only did the machine mangle my boobie, the technician manhandled my girls like she was kneading dough! Once she kneaded, she let the machine make pancakes! There were about 6 squeezes and I was done. My friend, who reads very fast, only read 3 pages! So, to celebrate, we met our other friend, the one who is building her empire, at Seomun Market. Dongson Hospital is conveniently located across the street from Seomun Market! Of course, we finished our day with lunch at the club. And because we do know a few people, like the manager of the club, he hooked us up with a fabulous Black Forest Mousse something yummy. What a guy! Anyway, the adventure was over and I needed a nap after all of that. I survived and my boobies survived. Hopefully we will not have anymore adventures at Dongson Hospital before we leave. Unless of course, any of my Ya-Yas have an adventure at Dongson and need me.