There are many breeds of land sharks and I have over the years been attacked by a few varieties. The used car salesman who sold me a dud mini moke, the real estate agent who assured me that he had checked the references of the tenants in my house and I shall never forgive my brother in law (may he rest in peace) who convinced me to buy shares in some South American gold company from a grey nurse shark - well his hair was grey .
Our group of 6 had all planned to spent 3 days on Nusa Lembongan hoping to get some R & R from the hustle of Legian & Kuta. We had all packed our snorkels & goggles and were looking forward to doing a bit of underwater exploring. The 3yo was having breathing problems and was not eating or drinking for a few days - the traffic pollution seemed to be affecting him but we decided that even thought the clean air of the island would be much better we were more concerned about taking him away from medical help and a nebulizers . So it was decided that Nana and the 2 teenagers would go.
We drove to the Scoot Boat office in Sanur and paid for our pre booked tickets. It was $35 US adult and $29 US student for return tickets. We then drove to the beach area and waited for the boat. The boat was fairly full for the journey across and was fast and quick . I don't suffer sea sickness so I can't comment on any squeamishness. No one seem bothered by the trip but it wasn't rough or much swell. Only took about 30 minutes.
We were met on the beach by Bruce the hotel manager and we all squeezed into a golf buggy - now this was a sight to see - the boys are both strapping footballers and nana's no fairy - we all had large back packs and a bag containing our snorkelling gear. Here at home you would demand that they make 2 trips but not in Bali - we all overlapped with the manager/driver and the bags.
Changed rooms at the hotel - didn't bother to unpack and set out to explore the island. Had a beautiful lunch at Mushroom Bay- can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was right on the water. We were in a narrow lane and I was looking at construction work and the beautiful resort that was being extended when I slipped and fell down onto parked motor bikes and a few steel bits that the builders were using. I panicked and tore my leg free which left an gaping hole. Instinct kicked in and I thought 'not good Di -cover it quickly and stop the bleeding'. I grabbed for my mini back pack and found a small towel. All the workers had gathered around - none could speak English but they did understand 'dokter cepat cepat' . I firstly said 'dokter hati hati' and realised - wrong !!!.
Then along came a knight in shining armour -Troy and a good looker at that ( my pain didn't hinder my eye candy judgement). He was the manager of the resort where the work was happening . He took control. Rang one doctor who wasn't available then arranged for a buggy and got me loaded in it. He drove me to the other doctor who was waiting out the front of his house. He looked at my leg and said 'mainland' - in Indonesian. I went a little faint a few times and Troy kept talking to me and telling me to take short breaths. Troy arranged a speed boat to take us back to Sanur - speed it was- it was even quicker than the Scoot boat but it was a lot rougher as the breeze had sprung up.
The ambulance waiting on Sanur beach attracted quite a crown and when we pulled up I thought 'Oh no look at all these gawkers', but because it was Bali I just grinned and thought that this was the norm for anything unusual.. It was fairly rough close to shore and it proved a difficult mission to get me from the boat to the stretcher on the beach. One porter was so dedicated (he seemed to be in charge) that he nearly drowned hen the waves dunked and thrashed him against the boat. He put his heart into getting me off safely so I will return and find this hero next year and formally thank him. The gathering around the stretcher was 100 plus and they all looked local peering down at my pathetic flat carcass on the stretcher on the beach. Very daunting as we are given so much privacy here- but I had to grin and could resist the temptation to announced - "Big shark, big shark' and outstretched my arms as far as possible. Got little reaction at first then I realised that most couldn't understand what I was saying and then the words were spread in Balinese/ Indo and people were frowning and shaking their heads. Had to grin as they loaded me into the ambulance.
I had a doctor and a nurse in the back of the ambulance and the trip to BIMC was pretty quick- bit bumpy - not quite the same grand suspension that our ambulances here have.
What a wonderful facility. I was lucky to have a team leader there called Dyane - an Aussie who coordinated the ER. First to take a look at the offending oriface was a Dr Abraham (almost a George Clooney double). He was busy looking at the blood and gunk and I was looking him over thinking what striking features and nice aftershave. Didn't have the nerve to ask what brand but I think it was Aramis- could have been swamp water and on him it would have smelt heavenly. Two more nurses/interns took a look and then I gushed- from the leg - not at George .He called out 'We've got a bleeder' and I grinned and thought of the bloke in There's Something About Mary' who had the accident with his fly. People rushed, applied all sorts of things and then George said call Dr Putu Anda Tusta. They then asked me about any medication.
Just a few bits of advice. Know the name of the medication you are taking and the number of grams etc. How bloody embarrassing knowing why you are taking certain drugs but having no earthly idea of the name or dosage. I took photocopies of my prescriptions with me but they were back at the hotel and when the doctor asked me at the hospital I got this vague look and thought about saying 'I know my horoscope sign but I don't think that will save me.' When I told them I knew my blood group I am not sure if they were amazed or just frustrated but it sent them into a spin. My blood group AB+ is not shared by many but I commented that at least it's not negative which is even less popular. They were concerned that I was taking asprin - again I didn't know much - just that I took 1 a day 2 weeks before I fly - so I had been taking them for 3 weeks. I have since been told that this practice is useless to prevent blood clots- aw well I have been doing it for years - will look into it a bit more later.
About an hour later a better looking bloke than George was beside my casualty bed. He asked for xrays so off they wheeled me for these procedures. No broken bones - I could have saved them the trouble . Gorgeous Dr Putu ( who was a surgeon) announced that he needed to operate.
Then began the fun and games. I sort of knew about my Travel Insurance and with Dyane's help it was established who to contact. From the ER bed I spoke to a doctor in Australia who wanted to know about my injury. Holy hell how could I explain - I read doctors reports daily in my job but I found it difficult to discuss the extent and nitty gritty of my mishap except to say that I had severed an artery and had a couple of gapping gashes. This quack on the phone then tells me that he's not impressed that they are going to operate- I was gob smacked - I wasn't quite in control of the situation and if they wanted to give me a head transplant I was willing to agree. Dyane got back on the phone and explained that the wounds were deep, full of dirt and possibly contaminated and that they would need to debride the wounds to avoid infections. She put me back on the phone to the quack and he again managed to inform me that he 'wasn't happy with the proposal'.
You know the story of the camel and the straw -well this bloke dumped a 4x2 on this old camels back and I snapped. I yelled 'listen buddy - who incidentally is thousands of miles away and making a decision about my treatment over the phone - if you're worried about the bloody money , I will cover myself and sue you lot when I get home'.
I handed my Visa card to Dyane and the theatre and surgeon were booked . I am not sure what they do if you are unconscious - bit hard to establish how you're going pay.
Good thing my Visa has a $30,000 limit on it cause the first charge was 27,000,000 about $3200.
I was taken to the second floor to a nice large private room - the nicest hospital room I have been in (I have been in a few private & public hospitals). The ensuite would give Crackers a run for its money. The attention was continuous. The checks before anaesthetic and theatre were thorough. The anaesthetist nurse Suri was another stunner - he was very attentive and was amazed at the number of operations I had previously survived. He told me that they were considering a subarachnoid block (spinal block) rather than general anaesthetic. I pleaded with him to beg them for me as I preferred the option of not having total knockout .
At 10.45pm I was wheeled off to theatre. I was informed that a spinal block was decided and the sweet Suri asked me if I wanted something to put me to light sleep. Well I had a good look around the theatre and decided it was a bit bare in comparison to the ones I had been in previously. I did notice the large clock and wondered why theatres and labour suites always have large clocks on the wall - do we go blind with the pain or something? I had every confidence in the anaesthetist jamming a large needle in my spine - Suri stood beside me very gently stroking my arm. It was much newer looking room and I thought to myself that perhaps the old golden staff hadn't found this place yet so on that reassuring thought I nodded off. I awoke looking at the big wall clock which had mysteriously gained time - it was showing 1.20 when I stirred. On my chest was a large upright shield (think that was to same the sexy surgeon from seeing my old wrinkled face or maybe it was to stop me seeing what they were doing . I whispered 'I can see you' as I looked at the reflection in the glass walls. 'Nearly finish' came the reply . Suri came back to my shoulders and said 'all very good, big clean out and lots of stitches'.
Back to my room and I slept soundly till 5.30 (which is a sleep in for me). I was yearning for a cuppa and the night nurse was back in a jiffy with the best cup of tea I have ever had in Bali. I told her that and she giggled accepting the comment as if it were a wonderful compliment. Breakfast was great - and then I needed to get out of the bed. Oh how I wish that I still had the walking frame but Smudge had picked it up earlier in the week. They found me a pair of crutches but the minimum height was 5'10', I am 5'9' so what's an inch. -well I brought crutches over last year and they would have fitted better - Murphy's law isn't it.. So with tubes hanging from me I mastered the large crutches and felt grateful that I was up and about.
Each day Dr Anda Tusta visited and did all my dressings (not sure why he wouldn't let the nurses do it) maybe because I told him he was 'very handsome'. The hotel sent flowers and Davey the driver arrived for a visit. He wanted to peel back the covers and look at the 'damage' but the look on his face said it all when all he saw was lost of bandages and tubes. Every Balinese visitor I had wanted a look and were all disappointed when there was nothing to see. Lisa visited and did my nails - I felt like the Queen of Sheba sitting up in bed getting all this attention. It was also a novelty to visit this 'very xpensie'place.
I was discharged after a few days and had to return each day to get the dressings changes and inspected by Dr Anda Tusta . My discharge papers instructed that I could fly Business class so I set of to the Garuda office to get an upgrade - 3,888,200 IDR. I managed to get around on the crutches and finally on 1 crutch.
So here I am almost six weeks later - still seeing the doctor daily - slowly healing -and finally got the travel insurance sorted. I would never hesitate to return to BIMC- it is a marvellous facility.