Bad Things Come in Three

We've had a spate of bad fortune this week --- three trips to the emergency room in seven days! (And this after we have had such good health). One reason I thought I'd write about the incidents is their comparison with the costs of the American medical system.

Last Friday afternoon, I accompanied one student who had been having severe stomach pain to the hospital on campus. She was seen by an admitting doctor, seen by a specialist, had lab work done, and was given three prescriptions. It took about three hours, and it cost 50 yuan (or about $8). Kathleen seems to be better.

Then Sunday night Jim was called at 10:30 p.m. as a different student was being taken to the hospital by ambulance for severe stomach pain. Jim jumped in a cab and met her at the main hospital in downtown Beibei --- Jui Yuan, Hospital No. 9. He came home about 2:00 a.m. only to receive a call that they wanted to operate. He went back to the hospital where they operated at 3:00 a.m. She had a perforated appendix which was about to burst (but hadn't). Josipa was discharged today. Her hospital stay of five nights, the surgery, her labs, and her dismissing prescriptions came to about $1000 US total. (As a comparison, this is less than the co-pay we paid for Emily's hospital stay of one night!)

Jim and I were invited to eat at a local Chinese host's family on Tuesday night. To make conversation, I mentioned that some people who are superstitious think that bad things happen "in three" and mused aloud who might be next. Did I find out!


Last night, while the students were decorating for the Halloween party they are hosting tonight, a plaster ceiling tile fell onto the head of Heather. I have always heard that head wounds bleed profusely; I can now personally attest to that fact. Blood gushed everywhere. So she, I and Ethan hopped in a cab and went to jui yuan for another emergency room visit. She required three stitches in her head, but the worst part for her was that they had to cut a swatch of her hair off right in front, as she has long, dark hair. On the plus side, her head is completely bandaged up, making a "ready-made" costume for the party tonight. (I know, it's not funny, but we teased her by saying she'd do anything to make Halloween gore more realistic.)

If bad things happen in three, we should be safe from here on in! (Connie)