Jan. 23, 2008 - Update
Went to India, had the operation and returned Oct 16, 2007 and got an infection which put me into 2 hospitals for 16 days. I am only now getting back on my feet.
I should be OK to go to Florida in late Feb. 08. Had snow here last week and record setting cold, down to 17F one night here at the house.
See also this blog for additional info and more photos: http://harrisphotostorage.blogspot.com
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On 9-15-07 I will drive back to 'home' in Kennesaw where I will remain for a week then on to India via Amsterdam for 12 days or so in the hospsital in Delhi for the heart valve replacement operation.
The car is 90% packed, just the computer, monitor and briefcase remain to load up then a 6 hour drive to Kennesaw. If the operation goes well I should remain in K. for about six weeks then back here for the winter.
Looking forward to seeing what I have waiting for me at the mail drop, just bills and bank and credit card statements. I don't get any personal mail at all, don't have anyone I keep in touch with anymore.
My will has been redone and is with Bay Bank and Trust here in Panama City, Florida, so if I don't make it with the heart operation what I have is disposed of according to that. Nothing was left to my 'daughter' as I don't think she is actually my daughter, some to my son and some to MFB of Nevada.
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Sunday, September 16, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Time for a trip to India!
Yesterday I had a visit from Channel 7, the NBC affiliate for PCB. We did an interview about my going to India for 'medical tourism'. It ran at 6 & 10 PM, the text part from their web site is below and I added the additional comments also on their stations web site
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Panama City Beach Man Traveling Overseas for Surgery
Posted: 5:12 PM Aug 23, 2007
Last Updated: 10:06 PM Aug 23, 2007
Reporter: Kristy Wolski
Email Address: kristy.wolski@wjhg.com
Local Man Heads to India for Surgery
Bill Harris will soon be heading to India for an urgent medical procedure. Doctors recently told him he needs a heart valve replacement within six months.
A Time Magazine article on "medical tourism" peaked his interest in an overseas surgery, and for uninsured people like Harris, price is a major factor.
"It looks like now I can get the operation in India. A single heart valve replacement for probably 15,500 and that's 10 percent, 10 percent of what it would cost here in the states. You can't beat that."
The surgery here could cost up to $200,000. His price includes a 12 day trip, consultation, actual surgery, and recovery time. But of course, there are some risks.
Harris found a company online called Health-Base, which acts as an intermediary between him and the doctor in India, but according to cardiologist Hashem Mubarak, finding a competent doctor isn't the only factor to consider.
"You want to make sure that the whole team is very good, not just the surgeon, but the operation room team, the medical doctor, the whole facility, the hospital."
But Harris says with his condition, he's willing to take the chance.
"Five weeks from now it will all be over. A good functioning heart valve, or I'll be dead, so the problem ends five weeks from now."
Harris is now waiting for his passport to arrive. He expects to get it within the next few days. He hopes to be in India in about a month.
=============== Comments ======================
Time magazine of May 29, 2006 had an interesting 4 page article on medical tourism which compared prices for 9 procedures.
For my heart valve replacement is showed US retail costs as:$159-230,000 with Singapore at $13,000, Thailand at $10,500 and India at $9,500.
Below is the web site for the US company I am using for my trip and the 2nd site is for the hospital group in India that I will be using. The savings is between 90-94% on my $15k costs.
http://www.healthbase.com
http://www.apollohospdelhi.com
=================================================
My renewed passport has been sent on to the Indian Consulate in Houston for a Visa and when it comes back I will arrange for the flight. I will travel up to the house Atlanta and leave from there for a 2 week trip.
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------------------------------------------------------------------
Panama City Beach Man Traveling Overseas for Surgery
Posted: 5:12 PM Aug 23, 2007
Last Updated: 10:06 PM Aug 23, 2007
Reporter: Kristy Wolski
Email Address: kristy.wolski@wjhg.com
Local Man Heads to India for Surgery
Bill Harris will soon be heading to India for an urgent medical procedure. Doctors recently told him he needs a heart valve replacement within six months.
A Time Magazine article on "medical tourism" peaked his interest in an overseas surgery, and for uninsured people like Harris, price is a major factor.
"It looks like now I can get the operation in India. A single heart valve replacement for probably 15,500 and that's 10 percent, 10 percent of what it would cost here in the states. You can't beat that."
The surgery here could cost up to $200,000. His price includes a 12 day trip, consultation, actual surgery, and recovery time. But of course, there are some risks.
Harris found a company online called Health-Base, which acts as an intermediary between him and the doctor in India, but according to cardiologist Hashem Mubarak, finding a competent doctor isn't the only factor to consider.
"You want to make sure that the whole team is very good, not just the surgeon, but the operation room team, the medical doctor, the whole facility, the hospital."
But Harris says with his condition, he's willing to take the chance.
"Five weeks from now it will all be over. A good functioning heart valve, or I'll be dead, so the problem ends five weeks from now."
Harris is now waiting for his passport to arrive. He expects to get it within the next few days. He hopes to be in India in about a month.
=============== Comments ======================
Time magazine of May 29, 2006 had an interesting 4 page article on medical tourism which compared prices for 9 procedures.
For my heart valve replacement is showed US retail costs as:$159-230,000 with Singapore at $13,000, Thailand at $10,500 and India at $9,500.
Below is the web site for the US company I am using for my trip and the 2nd site is for the hospital group in India that I will be using. The savings is between 90-94% on my $15k costs.
http://www.healthbase.com
http://www.apollohospdelhi.com
=================================================
My renewed passport has been sent on to the Indian Consulate in Houston for a Visa and when it comes back I will arrange for the flight. I will travel up to the house Atlanta and leave from there for a 2 week trip.
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Back in Kennesaw for a bit-!
The time in Panama City Florida is:
I got back to Kennesaw on Friday June 15th. I don't know how long I will remain before going back to the Florida condo. Might stay until Nov. or go back in a week.
The lawn service was by today (Sat), said 'lawn service' consists of a nice old guy who speaks no English and his wife and daughter. The girl is the only English speaker, glad she showed up today as I wanted to get them paid for July ($160 cash) just in case I go sooner than I think I will.
Top photo is Kennesaw, below is the living room/dining room. I have a decent new desk, initially I was going to get a more expensive roll top desk but the measurements just didn't seem to work out as there is a thermostat on the wall under the photo and all the roll top desks were higher than that, so no luck, but the desk I did get is pretty decent for about $260 or whatever I paid for it.
I will miss having a nice pool to lay around in, that is a big plus for the Florida condo, it is suppose to be heated during the winter. Just the last week I was there they decided to paint unit numbers on the parking spaces - stupid idea. I have a space further away from my unit than I like. When I get back I will see what I can do about getting it changed.
I got back to Kennesaw on Friday June 15th. I don't know how long I will remain before going back to the Florida condo. Might stay until Nov. or go back in a week.
The lawn service was by today (Sat), said 'lawn service' consists of a nice old guy who speaks no English and his wife and daughter. The girl is the only English speaker, glad she showed up today as I wanted to get them paid for July ($160 cash) just in case I go sooner than I think I will.
Top photo is Kennesaw, below is the living room/dining room. I have a decent new desk, initially I was going to get a more expensive roll top desk but the measurements just didn't seem to work out as there is a thermostat on the wall under the photo and all the roll top desks were higher than that, so no luck, but the desk I did get is pretty decent for about $260 or whatever I paid for it.
I will miss having a nice pool to lay around in, that is a big plus for the Florida condo, it is suppose to be heated during the winter. Just the last week I was there they decided to paint unit numbers on the parking spaces - stupid idea. I have a space further away from my unit than I like. When I get back I will see what I can do about getting it changed.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
May 2007 - New Condo in Florida
Here are a few photos of the condo which I purchased in Panama City Beach, Florida in April 2007
Shown are the living room & kitchen.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Photos of the new condo in Florida.
This is part of the outside of the condo. I have an additional window on each side, what is visible here are the 2 windows for the living room and the single window for the 'bedroom office'. The windows are a bit darker than the ones above me as mine are tinted and I now have the better horozontal wood blinds rather than the cheaper plastic vertical blinds.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Vacation Time Is Almost Up!
Counting down to going back to Kennesaw, a month and a week is left on my 7 month Florida condo rental.
This particular condo is now up for sale. It was put on the market about a month ago at $150,000. Spoke to the realtor and he was here to take photos to put online. In this complex there are at least 20 for sale out of about 160 units.
I did look into the possible purchase both of this (owner paid $123,000 2 yrs ago for it) and also at a new 2/2 condo at $150k at Nautilus Cove in Panama City Beach. Unfortunately the math just won't work on the Landmark condo and the Nautilus one is under consideration for now. I might consider a loan against the equity (100% paid for) of the Kennesaw home to pay for a P.C. area condo. Remains to be seen what/if anything I will end up doing.
This particular condo is now up for sale. It was put on the market about a month ago at $150,000. Spoke to the realtor and he was here to take photos to put online. In this complex there are at least 20 for sale out of about 160 units.
I did look into the possible purchase both of this (owner paid $123,000 2 yrs ago for it) and also at a new 2/2 condo at $150k at Nautilus Cove in Panama City Beach. Unfortunately the math just won't work on the Landmark condo and the Nautilus one is under consideration for now. I might consider a loan against the equity (100% paid for) of the Kennesaw home to pay for a P.C. area condo. Remains to be seen what/if anything I will end up doing.
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