Landing + appointment at INPER

I landed on Tuesday at 6:30pm, I arrived home around 8:30-9 to organize all the documents requested by the institute to have the possibility of entering; From Cozumel I focused on putting the originals, making copies, because I knew that landing means traffic, arriving late.

I didn't realize how many papers I had to organize until I'm struggling with fatigue to put everything in order, check it twice, make sure nothing is missing.

The next day:

I taught classes happily, had a quick breakfast and got on the road to arrive in time in case any chaos, strike or whatever the city could surprise us with.

How incredible that you can pass by a place several times and never pay attention to what it is, until you require the use of that place: it was an area that circulated a lot when I lived in Condesa teaching there, I obviously passed by by bicycle and there had never been noticed that it was a hospital, until finally registering it as such.

We parked the car, passed by a variety of Garnacha stands of all kinds, with an impressive number of customers, finally the hospital is so large that we passed by the door where we had to enter.

What I didn't tell was that they would tell me to train on the street and that my mother couldn't accompany me (ouch!), which made me a little upset but I breathed, I was grateful to have this option and they also told me that it was a very good hospital, the ideal option for my case in terms of care, economy, etc.

So, to embrace their ways, protocols and avoid getting ahead of myself in judgments.

I must have waited about 15-20 minutes outside, they let a group of people in, they told us to line up at a window to register, then another line to enter with a first social worker, I was in those when a girl before me tells me: “I'm nervous, I hope they welcome me”…

I had not thought that there was a possibility that they would not receive me! To which I told him, they don't have to: if you don't have IMSS or ISSTE, I don't think they will say no to us...

I go in with the worker (Alejandra), she receives a document with the printed appointment, she asks me if I am married, obviously not, ok, write down the legend “blah, blah, blah” and tells me “if they accept you, we will meet again, otherwise it would be all “… and my heart, stomach, guts, everything disappeared for a second, gulp!

She sent me back to the counter where they ask me why I'm going, they ask me for a study that says the diagnosis and sends me to have a doctor evaluate my case in the office area.

There were a couple of ladies from the group I entered with and the offices were alone... we had to wait patiently and it didn't occur to me that we would wait long: I didn't have a book!

I stayed in the middle of the two ladies, but when I detected the urgency of one of them to share her case, to ask about the others... I elegantly left saying that I was going to a place where I could sit cross-legged without them. get in the way... Indeed, they began to share their cases in great detail in which I put on my headphones to sing, dance (mentally) and get out of the hospital environment for a bit.

That was a waiting period between 40 minutes or almost an hour... it became a good exercise in introspection.

While waiting, I realized that there were already fewer of us than those who entered at the beginning, at the window they probably rejected some and among them, the girl who was before me with the social worker... my heart went a little crazy for her and For all those who no longer entered, I gave thanks for me and asked in my own way that I hope they find a way to resolve their case.

Apparently the hospital staff had several meetings and sent a doctor to treat us. I was the third to pass, he asked me several questions, how it all started, the diagnosis, he asked for the studies, why I went, how I found out about the institution, etc, etc...

I wrote down and wrote down on the computer, I told him that I was able to cover the surgery privately thanks to my family and friends, my heart filled and I felt that each one was with me… ugh, how nice!

I also told him that I was already at zero.

She left, came back, wrote down more things on the computer and handed me a sheet:

“You take this sheet to the counter, you will be accepted in the oncology area. Right there they will tell you what else to do”…obviously I thanked her…she was already celebrating!! …but it wasn't time yet and I didn't know it.

At the counter they give me a guide sheet for the order of documents to be delivered to the first social worker... In that case I see that they are asking for a copy from a person on whom I depend and I didn't know if they were responsible for me... so, I call my mother who answers When the lady comes out, she asks me to follow her and give her the papers in order. I ask her about the identification. All stressed, she told me: “No, if you don't depend on anyone, you don't need that.”… I simply hung up on my mom because The young lady was already very pressured and asked me to wait in the general room.

I settled in, I call my mom again to explain what happened.

The chatty ladies were there... I smiled at them and sat far away...

Let me tell you, the place was not that full, the waiting chairs were quite comfortable and it did surprise me: I was observing the cleaning staff, continually cleaning each area, smiling and super hard-working, the security guards, the counter staff, the very serious social worker came and went, came and went, very pressured but never faced, some like doctors and possible nurses from time to time; Women came out with their babies in their arms, their partners waiting, I saw everything quite well... I found it much better than what I have had in some of the IMSS.

Anyway, there came a moment when I thought: how many times do we complain about many things that are poorly done in our Mexico, but with those generalizations we erase spaces like this one, which offer an option of excellent quality and the only thing we have to resist, It is the bureaucracy or its forms, but they are for a reason and every person I saw working there was giving their best. It made me sick that my situation leads me to live this beautiful Mexico, the part that is important to recognize, that it is not only the institution that someone created a project so that it exists, is sustainable, but the people who works and makes it possible on a daily basis.

UFF!! Thank you!!

… I continued philosophizing, and I resisted the urge to go to the bathroom… I distracted myself with a mini Pilates practice in the chair hahaha… and now, there came a time when I couldn't take it anymore, but well, there wasn't much movement and I had already been about an hour.

I came back, I realized that it was too late for my mom to eat... I sent her options of restaurants that I saw nearby "this is going to take a long time mom and I don't see clearly"... I asked a lady if she had any idea if I would still have to see More people after the second social worker, and then sending my mother to some warmer place (which was threatening to rain), answered me that the authorization of said social worker was still missing to be able to enter the institute... What??!! I had already celebrated!!!

Once again I got very nervous... and I calmed down: I'm already doing my part, the rest is just letting go, trusting, waiting...

A group of social workers returned and after a while, they started calling people... most of them because they were missing something or because there was a discrepancy in the data.

It was around 4:30 when the lady called me, who by the way was my namesake… she reviewed all the documents, during which she began to ask me several questions and every so often she told me “this is how I put it: 20 av between 25 and 27 south ”? And me, yes… hahaha…

He was surprised by how addresses are officially written on the island, but I didn't stop myself from telling him what it was like there... and outside of Mexico City because in Temixco, there were also other very local ways.

She started off a little serious, but she became more and more cheerful and when she told me that she was formally admitted to the institution, tears of happiness came out of her excitement and she let me hug her… Ugh!! hahahaha.. she was not cool, I think she just didn't expect it.

hahaha

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?? The expenses of everything: surgery, chemo, I will have the support of the institution... I will stop being a burden and I will be able to focus on generating what I require from my personal expenses, external therapies, supplements, etc. but it is no longer that hyper pressure with which was since all this started….

I also think that the tears were a bit of releasing so much economic burden that I had been carrying inside since March... and that I saw this would be even more and I didn't know where...

I went to the window, they kept my card and gave me an appointment to create my file for August 1st…

My mom managed to get in just there and from there we went to the supermarket so I could buy something to eat and return home:

With so much excitement, waiting and handling everything that was going on in my head, I ended up quite tired.

MORE THAT YES

VERY VERY HAPPY!!…

I notified my doctor and I know that he will be doing everything possible to ensure that everything goes on time for the next surgery, then the chemo...it's just a matter of being patient.

I HOPE YOU CELEBRATE WITH ME because this puts me in another situation in terms of medical care and expenses, it was so liberating... maybe you understand a little the anguish I had that it would be another surgery, chemotherapies and not only is it what it implies for health, effects secondary... if not expenses and I don't want to be a burden for anyone!

I continue teaching, I continue finding ways to continue with what I love and share the journey with those I love, care about, are with.

I repeat, complete gratitude that this institution exists!!!