Jose Francisco finally gets his stones removed

Good lord, nearly 7 years later, it is finally done. 

Jose Francisco came into our household one night in 2015 when suffering in some pain that he did not understand.  After listening to his symptoms, I thought, “That sure sounds like kidney stones…” which is something I’ve suffered with for decades, but I wasn’t for sure he was telling the truth (he’s a bit of a drama queen).  After a couple of hours of non-stop complaining, I decided to take him to the hospital about midnight… and sure enough, about 5 a.m. the doctor came in and said, “Yes, he a kidney stone too big to pass. He’s going to have to have surgery.”   He was telling the truth!  Thus began an adventure that would span 6 more years.

How do you schedule and pay for medical care for someone who has no insurance or ability to pay?  Simple answer: you can’t.  Despite all the rhetoric about ‘illegal aliens getting free health care” in America, it really isn’t true.  The only way to get ‘free’ health care is show up at the emergency room (where no one is legally turned away because of inability to pay) and screw them out of service.  When you leave, just never pay the bill.  There is nothing the hospital can do about it.  That is how ‘illegals’ (or anyone, for that matter) can get ‘free’ health care.

But fortunately, in Houston, there are private and public services that DO pay for medical services if you apply and wade through their process.  I helped Jose apply in late 2021 not thinking it would make any difference… but much to my surprise THEY PAID OVER $40,000 WORTH OF BILLS REGARDLESS OF HIS CITIZENSHIP STATUS!!!!  Holy crap!!   How do I get this kind of medical assistance??!!?? 

Around Christmas-time, Jose began complaining again of intense pain in his kidneys.  It was so bad that I took him to the hospital and he ended up staying 6 days.  Why??  Because of sepsis – his kidneys were failing and seeping waste into his body rather than out.  It was a serious situation, but the doctors fixed him up (temporarily) and said you MUST get this fixed!  If not, you will die!!  So we scheduled an appointments at both Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals (county government hospitals in Houston) to get this kidney stones removed.   Jose grumbled and complained,… even when the time came to attend the appointments… but he finally conceded… and as of 4/22/2022 he had a 3 hour operation that fixed all of his problems. 

Wow, so glad that is over with.  The people at LBJ hospital did a FANTASTIC job… even though there was some communication confusion at one point… and battling rude security guards and their STUPID fake COVID precautionary rules at the front entrance (screw you, Dr Foochi)… still, I was like, WOW, y’all did a GREAT job and I’m soooo appreciative!! Thank you, even, for putting up with my pushy questions, and Jose’s bitchy attitude!  Fantastic job!!

Jose Francisco is now recovering and grumbling and complaining every minute of the day.  Because he is a diva and baby.  But he will be fine in a day or so.  No more kidney stones!!  Hopefully forever.  Healed!  Fantastic.