Designated Defenders

As we travel through this journey, we call life, we are often presented with pivotal moments. A moment in time, where the decisions we make put us on a path that changes our lives forever. One of these pivotal moments occurred for me on March 10th, 2019, when my father Ramsay suffered a severe debilitating stroke while on a humanitarian home build in Lampang, Thailand. 

This story is a true account in journal form of the events that occurred following Ramsay's stroke, and the numerous challenges encountered along the way, from repatriating Ramsay back to the United States through the culmination of his passing.

With over twenty-five years in healthcare, from a staff nurse up through Director of Nursing, I was shocked with the number of challenges and frustrations that I encountered along the way. I consider myself well-educated in healthcare, with a vast array of experience in caring for patients, as well as administrative experience in the delivery of healthcare. With all this knowledge and experience, I still encountered many barriers, frustrations, and roadblocks with Ramsay's care.

Many times, throughout his experiences, I wondered how others navigate the waters of healthcare, without having something to fall back on to guide them along the way. Who was their advocate? Who was their sounding board? Who was their Designated Defender?

This story is written for myself and my family, as a reminder of all that we went through together, to bring Ramsay safely home. It is also written for anyone else that is needing guidance, support, or encouragement, to know that you are not alone. There are advocates and defenders out there that can help you find the answers and solutions that you are seeking. You don't have to accept the status quo of what is happening to your loved one. If you feel that something isn't right, speak up. If you feel that something is missing, let them know. If you feel that you aren't being heard, don't be ashamed to raise your voice as loud as it needs to go, until you receive the answers you are seeking.

Join me in this story, as I journal for you in "real-time", bringing my father back from Lampang, Thailand, to his eternal home.