I've just gotten back to Virginia, from Casa by Linda, after a surgery with Dr Luis Suarez at CER Hospital. (That will be my next VERY positive review.) From the minute I walked into to Linda's beautiful home, I felt welcomed and completely cared for. I am not one to accept help very easily, but being fresh from a tummy tuck, breast lift, upper arm lift, and fat-transfer to my booty (lol) there were things I just could not do for myself. The young ladies there took such sweet, gentle care of me, I always felt like I was being embraced in a warm, fluffy robe, which they actually do provide. These ladies work 12 or 24 hour shifts, helping with showers, bandages, teaching us to put on our compression garments, cooking and serving (on the main floor, or in our rooms, our choice.) They all speak mild to moderate English, but are open to learning new words and easily translate through their phone if something can't be figured out. They have each of our pills in separate containers labeled into times to be taken. My one precious gal would bring my antibiotic at 6am every morning, even though I would try to convince her I would live until the sun was up to receive it! She would bring me in a (glass) plate with toast and jelly on it, so the pill wouldn't upset my stomach and then she would WATCH me eat it! They were like little mamas. They were precious.
Now, onto Linda herself. Linda is from Canada, and speaks English, which made the initial contact on the phone easier to get questions answered and details ready for the trip. After arriving on Thursday night, spending the night in my plush queen sized bed, Linda drive me to the hospital at 7am the next morning. I was scheduled to stay one night, then go back to the house for the rest of the week for recovery. I ended up staying in the hospital two extra nights because something wasn't quite healing the way they would like and they wanted me to have a few sessions in a hyperbaric chamber (good oxygen...look it up) and it was easier for them to get me through these sessions and keep watch if I was, physically, at the hospital. (Side note about CER's awesome review, they did not charge me an extra penny for those two nights nor the 3 chamber visits...try that in the US.) Linda picked me up when I was released and took me to the house. The two housemates were so sweet, saying they'd been waiting for me and were worried about me! Just being able to sit and talk about what we'd all been through, and how we were healing had a cathartic effect. It was especially nice that we were doing it while overlooking the ocean!
Two days later, I had to go back to get my final release and get drains removed. It was on my way with Linda that it occurred to me to ask about how Dental works in Mexico. I had heard it was state-of-the-art, and there were billboards all around, but I wanted her wise opinion. Linda truly knows everything without acting like she knows everything! She told me, ironically, when she started this venture, years and years ago, she would bring down many people from Canada, specifically, for dental work. She spoke so highly of the whole process and said she would make a call while I was in for my appointment. I came out at 9:40 and she said we had an apt at 10! HERE is where I typed 1,000 words regarding how well the dentist went, but the Yelp word police put a cap on my exuberant quantity of words.....and I really wanted to focus on Linda.
The day after the very successful dentist trip, I was determined to sit on the balcony outside my room and just rest before I flew home the next day. A nod to how well I was healing, I had the idea to go out..anywhere in Mexico. It was too beautiful a day to sit still for long. I texted Linda and asked about a driver. You can hire one of her three drivers to take you anywhere. She said she'd be right over and we'd find someone. Within a half hour, Bogart arrived to take me ...wherever. This sweetheart took me all over the beautiful countryside, then into the bustling city (think NYC-like) and we souvenir shopped and got ice cream and shared a few laughs despite our language barrier. He opened doors, carried my packages, and walked slowly to accommodate my healing self. I got home to another warm, delicious meal. After waking up, getting my last assisted shower, bandages done, clean clothes delivered by my ladies, and tight hugs by my housemates, Linda whisked me off toward home. The whole experience could not have gone better. read more