Punked!

The last thing I wanted was another urgent "come in right away" phone call. We're getting down to the wire to go on this cruise and I've been jerked around more than a little bit by the Ortho this month. I pried, but the girl calling didn't know anything except the hospital had called and he needed to see me right away.

I had a complete meltdown at this point because regardless of what was coming it couldn't be good news. I took moral support to the appointment. Ortho came in himself and looking more awkward and nervous than usual announced "We have a problem."

Despite the fact that the surgery was now scheduled for the 4th time the hospital had just decided my custom hip was far too expensive. Apparently, a one of a kind titanium hip runs about $15,000 and the hospital is supposed to buy it and get reimbursed partially by insurance and they just decided it wasn't worth it.

As I sat there stunned and hyperventilating the Ortho's cell phone rings. I thought if this ass answers his phone for an excuse to leave the room after a bomb like that! He checked the caller id and announced "speak of the devil" and answered it. After several minutes of discussion which included "she's right in front of me", "I was just informing the patient" and "so, it's ok?" he put the hospital administrator and speaker phone. "It's ok. Just try to do the bare minimum."

That little number cruncher had no idea that in my case a $15,000 hip is the bare minimum. Crisis averted.