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Bannister Family HouseRescued Twice!
April 2024 Rescued Once My husband Geoff developed an unexpected serious medical issue in April 2024. We were retired and lived part time in California (in the Bay Area) and lived the rest of the year in Puerto Vallarta on the West Coast of Mexico. We were living in Puerto Vallarta at the time. His medical insurance policy could only be used in the United States so immediately we booked a flight up to the Bay Area to get help. The flight had a change of planes in San Diego. However, when we landed in San Diego, Geoff had become so ill that he was unconscious. It took 6 or 7 big paramedics to carry Geoff off the plane and into a waiting ambulance. The ambulance driver asked me what hospital they should take us to. Wow, I had never been to San Diego and had no idea what to say. Plus, I was in a total state of shock. So, the ambulance driver suggested a couple of hospitals. The UC San Diego hospital in Hillcrest sounded really good and that is where we went. This was the perfect decision. When we arrived at the hospital emergency he was taken right away to a room to be checked out. It was determined that Geoff had a severe kidney infection and anemia. They gave him a small transfusion to stop the infection and treat the anemia. He ended up staying in the hospital for 9 days. Unfortunately, paying for a hotel room for me during Geoff’s hospital stay would cost a small fortune and our car was at home in Mexico. In Geoff's hospital room the only place to sleep was on a small, metal chair. After 5 nights of sleeping sitting up on the chair, I put 2 chairs together to make a surface to lie flat on. But in the middle of the night the chairs split apart and I fell between the chairs to the floor. It would have been comical if I hadn't been so exhausted. Geoff called the nurses for help. As the nurses helped me get up off the floor, I heard them mention Bannister but they were doubtful that there would be availability. Bannister - I had no idea what a Bannister was? And then my cell phone rang a few minutes later. It was Trisha - an Executive Assistant from the Bannister Family House. She said that if I could come over right away there would be a room for me for a few days until Geoff was released from the hospital. The Bannister Family House was right across the street from the Hillcrest Hospital and I ran all the way! Trisha made it so easy to check in to the Bannister Family House. The best part was when she showed me the very comfortable guest room where I could stay, sleep and shower for a few days. When I checked out of the Bannister Family House, I mentioned that Geoff would be going back and forth to the Hillcrest Hospital during the next 6-8 months for multiple tests and surgeries. Trisha told me about their website where I could complete and submit an online form to get on the wait list for housing. I submitted the form but never really thought much about it. Who has the incredible luck to get Rescued Twice? The Bannister Family House provides a home away from home for families of patients undergoing long-term care at UC San Diego Health in Hillcrest. Conveniently located near the UC San Diego Health Medical Center in Hillcrest. Actually it is right across the street and is a very short nice walk. Bannister Family House features:
August 2024 Rescued Twice! Geoff was scheduled for more tests to be done in June and July at the Hillcrest Hospital in San Diego. At this point, it would be best if he stayed close to the hospital to get ready for the multiple tests and surgeries he was scheduled for. The middle of August came around. It was then that we realized we were quickly running out of funds to pay for a hotel every night as well as transportation and food expenses. We desperately needed a major miracle. In the back of my mind, I remembered submitting a form requesting housing assistance from the Bannister Family House, if possibly available. Of course, I knew this was a longshot but I also sent an e-mail asking if we were on the wait list and if by any chance there was housing available. Immediately I received an e-mail response from Michelene, I believe she is Program Director. She wrote that unfortunately there was currently no availability but she would definitely keep us in mind. She was very positive and easy to chat with. One afternoon we were between tests and sitting outside the front of the hospital when I received her message about no current availability. It was so scary...with an extremely sick husband and running out of funds. For a few moments we just sat there mulling over our situation. I glanced down at my cell phone to see there was a new message from Michelene. She wrote that she had found a guest room for us and asked if we could be at the Bannister Family House the next day to check into our guest room.
I told Geoff about Michelene's new message and that we had been Rescued again! We both were so incredibly grateful and couldn't help but shed a few tears. We stayed at the Bannister Family House for a total of 141 days from August 2024 through January 2025. Some days were good but of course some days were very stressful. Michelene and her staff were always so welcoming. They provided a wonderfully warm family atmosphere. We will never forget their love and kindness and the forever-friends we made here! |
