Hello all, I wanted to give you an update on my progress and let you know that even though it’s against everything I would like, I have to start a Go-Fund Me.

First, let me tell you what happened. I was walking Cooper on the stairs that go from the Malecón down to La Isla. I thought my foot was firmly planted on the step so I began to turn around. When I began to turn, my my foot slipped off the edge of the step and I landed on my leg. I have what is called “Broken femur at the subtrochanteric area”.

After 4 days in the hospital awaiting surgery, they woke me at midnight on Sunday to let me know I would be having surgery at 6 AM Monday morning.

And right on time they came into my room at 6 AM, and took me back to my room at what I thought about 4:30 PM. In reality, we came back at 7:30 - over 13 hours between leaving and returning.

I entered the hospital on Wednesday, July 17 and was finally taken home late in the evening of Wednesday, July 24.

I am now starting the road to recovery. Unfortunately for me, this is going to take a lot longer than one might expect. The femur is broken in an area that has a low ability to create bone density .

So for one month I cannot do anything but lie on the bed. After one month an assessment will be done as to whether bone fusion has begun to occur. If it appears bone fusion is beginning, but at a slower pace than expected, then they will hold off physical therapy until I can have it. Once it is determined the fusion process is happening I should be able to start physical therapy, what type(s) and for how long. Normal normal recovery time is usually between 4 -6 months.

I had hoped I could pay my way but in reality I am in way over my head. Even though I have IMSS insurance, one of its conditions is no coverage for Orthopaedic issues like broken bones for the first 2 years. There is no doubt that IMSS provided the most basic services that would never have been acceptable in a private hospital. But there is no way I could afford private insurance. That is why I had to go to IMSS

Once I stepped out of the hospital all other costs are on me. This included the ambulance taking me home, hiring a home-care person to be with me everyday for 8 hours until I can do it myself. This at least going to be 2 months, probably closer to three. And then I can begin with a physical therapist.

(Note: this has been added in an update. And unexpected expenses just keep happening, including a round-trip hospital ambulance ride for assessment, a hopeful -but expensive - treatment to encourage bone fusion, the need for a doctor coming to the house for an unexpected medical problem, a now 2 month - hopefully not longer - hospital bed rental, etc. End of update.)

I also have all the costs associated with Cooper, including the people giving Cooper a good home for the next two weeks - and then someone to walk him for the next 12 weeks. This is why I have to use this platform to raise the funds.

The total cost - to me, is astronomical. However, I also need to remind myself that if this had occurred in the United States, the final bill would be probably four or five times this amount.

Sometimes a person is not in position to help out. I totally get that because I have been in that position several times when a friend needed help and I really had very little money to give. I totally get that and it’s not an issue.

Finally, I need to give a huge “thank you “ to all of you. The Facebook messages and comments, and WhatsApp comments, have been overwhelming. And they have done a whole lot to lift that sensation of “alone, on my own”.

There are no words that can sufficiently express my thanks.