THE MEDICINE CABINET
The Good Witch of the North Breaks Her Arm
By Jean Sutherland

     Seven days after the plane ride from Hell, my 86-year-old mother fell. I can hear you now, “cobblestones,” but no it was just loose gravel, on a bit of a slope, she lost her footing and went down.
     Taking herself to a local clinic, they put on a temporary cast then called me to pay the bill. That was how I found out, something my mother does often, because she does not like to worry us. The temporary cast caused much pain as the arm swelled overnight. We returned to the clinic at 5 a.m. for a shot for the pain.
     At 11:30 that morning we saw the orthopedic surgeon who announced she would need surgery. The wrist bones were broken in two places, one a bad break that would require pins. Two options were provided. Go to Guadalajara and operate that afternoon or wait till the next morning and operate at the clinic. We opted for Guadalajara. The doctor was talking general anesthetic. Now at 86 this is not the best option.
     It was at this point I realized I did not have a plan. I had never sat down and considered the possibility of an emergency, and what I would do. I wondered how many people do not have a plan. I have no handy list of local emergency numbers, no idea of what the hospitals in Guadalajara are like, nor any idea of how I would get there. At the very top of my list I should have had a translator. Are you prepared for an emergency?
The orthopedic surgeon drove us to Guadalajara. This was my first mistake. Driving at speeds of 160 km, tailgating and weaving in and out of cars on the road to Guadalajara, I now feared for both our lives. I should have taken a taxi or an ambulance, but things were happening fast, and I had no plan, so I took the ride offered.
     Arriving at the hospital my next challenge: the language barrier. Here at lakeside we are lucky that some English is spoken. In Guadalajara no one spoke English and my poor Spanish was of no help. Even the specialist spoke little English. I signed papers not even knowing what I was signing. I was trying to make decisions on whether to go with a local or general anesthetic and had no real understanding of the implications of either. Trying to make phone calls, I had no phone card and I did not know how to reach an operator. Finally reaching a national operator I told her I wanted to make a collect call. She spoke no English and hung up. I tried 10 times hoping to get one operator who could understand me. No luck. So off I went in search of a phone card.
     In the end I called a friend at Lakeside who took complete charge. She and her taxi driver who is fluent in English came to the hospital and rescued me. He handled all the translation for me. He kept me up to date on what was happening and where mother was.
     Another note: you better have enough cash on hand or credit card to pay or you have another problem. The doctor didn’t take credit cards. Only check or cash. Finally the taxi driver who stayed with me the whole time drove us all home, at a very reasonable speed. So now I’m sitting and writing out a plan. Having all emergency numbers and friends numbers in case I need help. And on top of my list is that wonderful cab driver, who really saved the day for me. If anyone would like his number please email me at mexico4us@yahoo.com. The good witch of the north has come through with flying colors. I, on the other hand, nearly had a breakdown. Have a plan folks, and save yourselves from what I went through.