Yesterday, Dad found-out he had insurance authorization to leave the hospital and go to a rehabilitation facility. As with most things we have experienced, this was a very frustrating process since we spent several days waiting for the insurance approval since he was medically ready for the next step of the recovery process after the long ordeal of transplant surgery and it's various complications a couple of days ago. I really do not understand why the insurance company would drag their heels like this (which I heard is very common) as it would only add to their bills, but I am trying to avoid this blog diving into the health care debate at this point.
To make it even more interesting, we literally were told at 5:30pm on a Friday that we had the green light to make the move from the hospital to the rehab center. Really? 5:30pm on a Friday? When there is no one around to have basic questions answered? When there is not enough time to grab some clothes at the hotel for Dad and try to arrange for a rental car for me? Yes. We were told at 5:30pm on a Friday.
Well, I am happy to report that there is yet another milestone. Really. I think we still have quite a bit of recovery before things are closer to 'normal' for Dad, but the rehab facility seems great after just one day at the facility. He should get intensive physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy which he needs after all that he went through the past several weeks. There are a few logistical problems (of course!), however with the facility.
To make it even more interesting, we literally were told at 5:30pm on a Friday that we had the green light to make the move from the hospital to the rehab center. Really? 5:30pm on a Friday? When there is no one around to have basic questions answered? When there is not enough time to grab some clothes at the hotel for Dad and try to arrange for a rental car for me? Yes. We were told at 5:30pm on a Friday.
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| Transferring from the hospital to rehab in style |
One: Dad still needs to go to the hospital for clinic on Mondays and Thursdays. Which means that his therapy schedule at rehab must constantly be shuffled around these visits. This also means that I have to wake up at the crack of dawn to be with him during these visits. Boooo.
Two: The rehab center is 8 miles from the hotel. The free shuttle has a limit of 3 miles. I needed to rent a car. Seems easy enough, particularly in Indiana, right? Not only that, but there is an Enterprise Rental Car (from which I can get a corporate discount) less than 2 miles from the hotel. Well, of course that would be WAAAAY too easy.
Remember I was concerned about the Superbowl interfering with my ability to get to Indiana? Well, the Superbowl is nothing in this town. The Races are not to be ignored, however. Now that it's May, we are now starting The Races. I was told by a local that The Races (culminating with the Indy 500) are a series of events that lasts for several weeks that bring-in over 1,000,000 people to the city and 300,000 for the actual race. The Superbowl brought-in ~100,000 for the actual game, I believe. I may be making up numbers at this point with my fried brain, but the general concept is correct.
Anyway--today marked the first day of events in May in Indianapolis--the Mini Marathon, which is the country's largest half marathon. Oh, and the Kentucky Derby was today, which means many people in the area rented cars to get to those races a few hours away by car. What does this all mean? Normally, it is no problem to get a rental car. Today? Almost impossible. Just what I needed after almost 4 solid weeks of pretty solid stress....Seriously, every car rental location in this area know me by name now. After several hours of hair-pulling conversations going nowhere, I decided to walk to the nearest rental location (to blow-off steam, of course!) and was fortunate enough to get a car that did not exist 10 minutes earlier.
Car crisis averted.
Bring it on, Indy!
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