Chronology
2. Woodhull's Chronicle…
Coming from an ineffective effort to save everything I could from the efforts and work of previous years, I traveled in the last ten days of October 2015 from Mytilene to Athens and immediately afterwards (via Dubai) to Singapore and Hong Kong.
After 2 very difficult days and huge professional disappointment, I returned to Athens via Kazakhstan.
After returning to Athens and 6 hours of waiting, I traveled to Paris for business again.
Unfortunately –due to extremely adverse conditions and unbalanced factors– I could not maintain a very important cooperation, as a contract that was in force was canceled!
After many hours of hardship I returned to Athens the next night, when I managed –fortunately in a few hours– to find a flight to New York via Kiev.
So, the end of October 2015 found me in New York, overwhelmed but ready to create new professional collaborations and prospects…
A proverb says: “ When man makes plans… God laughs! ”
The first day of November 2015 was also the beginning of the end of all that I did not know or pretended that I did not see in my previous life…
The time of truth!
At 19:30 p.m. I shared a pizza (olives, mushrooms, tomato) with 2 other people…
At 01:15 a.m. I woke up feeling heavy in my stomach. I knew very well what would follow…
I got out of bed with severe discomfort, back pain at the height of the gallbladder, burning in the center of the abdomen, towards the chest, and went to the toilet. I did not want to disturb and worry the people who were hosting me and by using my finger, I caused a lot of vomiting.
Around 04:30 a.m. my stomach was empty and I tried to sleep… My face –due to the great pressure– was full of small hematomas and my eyes were red!
The next day (November 2, 2015) I ate only a little rice and slept too many hours. I was “a thousand pieces”…
The third day of November started with apple juice, four rye toasts and some coffee…
In all previous gallbladder crises, I returned to normal and without any other discomfort, usually 24 hours after the incident.
But this time, was… the last one!
The pain started to get intense! I felt burning in the upper part of the abdomen, numbness in the back right part of the back and at regular intervals continuous “stabs” in the respective points!
I tried to calm down and relax… Unfortunately, in vain!
In the afternoon and evening I felt a little better (I probably started to get a little more accustomed to the pain and symptoms).
The fourth day of November 2015 passed in the same “rhythm” and the fifth started with pains that became unbearable in the afternoon!
Thus, at 19:15 p.m. I was taken to Woodhull Hospital Emergency department (New York)…
The emergency department was very crowded and until I could be examined… –although I was constantly “folded” by the pain– many hours passed… (7)
This took place at 02:00 a.m. of the sixth of November 2015 (after previously my beloved friend, Mrs. Yelena Astafyeva took care of my admission to the hospital).
At 02:40 a.m. I was given serum and morphine.
At 03:20 a.m. I saw a two-meter Nigerian doctor approaching the stretcher where I was and in a state of rage he told me exactly:
“Man, are you crazy? What happens to you?” (he was so furious and his voice so loud, that a “deathly silence” was spread for a few seconds in the emergency department).
And he went on to say: “What do you drink and what do you get? Alcohol? Drugs? What?
Do you know that your liver is incredibly swollen and almost does not work?
Do you know that the gallbladder is full of gallstones, and as it is at the moment, it is a miracle that it has not broken yet?
Do you know that your life is in great danger?
I have already contacted the director of the hospital to see you immediately and approve your admission. In addition, we have to do more examinations…”
I replied that I do not drink alcohol, nor do I use drugs, while Yelena next to me was looking at him stunned and obviously worried…
For the next 4 hours I became the “hot spot” of the emergency department… I was seen/examined/visited by a total of 16 doctors* and of course… the director of the hospital!
I had many examinations –some 2 or 3 times– and after the second ultrasound I was told that my liver was almost white (liver steatosis).
Everyone told me about the urgency of the situation, but everyone avoided going into details…
I was admitted to the hospital and was taken by stretcher to a ward, where there was already another patient.
* In Brian De Palma’s film “Carlito’s Way” (1993), the protagonist (Alfredo James “Al” Pacino), telling the story of Carlito on a stretcher just before he dies, states that when they wanted to execute someone in the early 1970s (1973), they chose to do so shortly after midnight. This choice was based on the principle that Chinese doctors on duty in hospital emergency units were on duty, so there was little chance of survival if someone had not died instantly! The only difference, about 42 years later (2015), was that the Chinese trainees became multinationals!
I was “examined” by doctors from Hellas, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, USA and … of course China! I do not remember other nationalities, but I am absolutely sure for all of them! The multiple allergic shocks that I suffered from the «care» and the behavior of the doctors prove that the texts of the screenwriter and consequently the words of the protagonist “hide” great truths…
In the morning, 29 doctors, 2 insurance consultants of the hospital and 3 police officers “paraded” in front of me, asking and informing me at the same time about various things/issues. The first police officer was generally very relaxed and friendly towards me, while the other two had the role of detective asking me the same questions over and over again (e.g. what I wanted in New York, when I would leave, who was hosting me, where was I staying etc.).
At noon, a doctor of Hellenic origin was “recruited” to convince me to cut the liver and remove the gallbladder.
They gave me 6000 mg (!!!) of antibiotics (Cipro and Augmentin) on the first day of hospitalization, resulting in an allergic shock (Cipro) –despite the fact that I had informed them that I was allergic to several antibiotics (e.g. Ceclor).
In the first allergic shock I was “lucky” because the doctors happened to be in the ward and they immediately stopped giving the antibiotic, giving me an antidote.
I was given Tramal every 8 hours for the pain. In the meantime (from Tramal), they were giving me Voltaren (it did nothing) and also blood anticoagulants and Lumaren for the stomach. The nurse came almost every hour and gave me something…
After all this, something… did not “fit” me well…
In the evening, the next antibiotic cocktail and the second allergic shock came!
Some seconds after they were given by the nurse, the hand in the supply was numb!
I asked her: “What are you giving me?” and I started shouting! She was very scared and ran away… For the next one minute or so and until the nurse brought the antidote, I thought they were cutting my hand!
She had given me the same antibiotic! (Cipro and Augmentin)
The hospital was very organized, comparing to Hellas and South Africa, where I would be treated later… and everything worked electronically.
All four nurses I met during my stay at Woodhull were “black” 50-60 years old and by “devilish” coincidence Jamaican (all four). Formalists, fearing responsibilities, without personality and the necessary acumen required by their capacity, and loyal followers of the computer that has the stroller with the medical supplies on it.
In addition, they were bothered (?) even by the hairs I had on the forearm of my hand. They mentioned it to me and they all showed it to me with grimaces!
My Angel!
It is 23:00 p.m. (November 6, 2015). To my left in the room there is a round pillar with a diameter of about 60 cm, which is 80 cm away from the wall.
To the left of the pillar there is a dividing curtain and another patient is behind it. Right in front of my bed is the bathroom and in front of me and to the right is the front door.
There is absolute silence and suddenly I feel incredibly calm and I feel the presence of someone…
I turn my head to the left and see a shadow between the wall and the pillar… I realized that I was not alone!
My Angel, was there!
Since then, I have never been afraid for my life! Whatever… happened… whatever they told me…
The next day the “parade” of doctors, specialists, insurance consultants and legal representatives of the hospital and the state of New York continued.
The power and organization of this state is incredible! (I would say it is essentially an independent state within the USA)
In addition to the health problem I was facing, I also went through a regular interrogation! The state legal representatives (accompanied by a police officer) asked me alternately: “What did I want in New York, when would I leave, who hosted me, where did I stay? etc.”… It was the continuation of the previous day so that they could make sure of my intentions and solvency.
⇒ This practice has a reasonable basis because the state of New York treats by law (program) all guests who are within its territory and receive immediate medical care and treatment. This law (program) has found many cunning and financially ill people who try to take advantage of it to restore the health problems that concern them completely free of charge. It is well known that health is very expensive! Insurance contributions in the USA reach or exceed 50% of salary. For example, it is reported that an operation to remove the gallbladder costs $10,000 and goes up depending on the price list and the benefits of each hospital.
When they found out that there was no deceit on my part, they informed me that my treatment would be “completely free”…*
* This meant that the hospital would receive my hospitalization’s expenses through the New York State insurance plan… and practically this translates into more days of hospitalization, more and more specialized medical examinations, transfer to a personal ward, guarded and exclusive nurse, and anything that would bring more revenue to the hospital…
On the second day of my hospitalization in Woodhull, another 2 allergic shocks occurred…
I informed Yelena and she seemed not to believe me… She was very cautious in what I told her.
Then, I asked her to contact my sister and brother-in-law** in Hellas (I did not have this opportunity through the hospital).
** My brother-in-law is called Frank Arjava Petter, he is of German origin and lives in Hellas. He is a very noble, clean and sweet man. His profession is about Reiki. He is one of the best and most famous Reiki masters in the world, with bibliography in many languages and countries. He is a fan of alternative-natural therapies and practices, without negating the most important role of medical science. The practice: “Does an eye hurt? Take it out!”, as well as prescribing drugs unabashedly, he is against it. Especially since it may be an alternative-natural solution… He suggested to me, not to have surgery, to try in an alternative way to restore my health and that the decision is exclusively mine!
The «trip»...
All second night I felt and had a strange anxiety…
I tried to put my thoughts in order, to think about what had happened… and to decide “what would be born”…
In retrospect, I recalled all the events I experienced from the moment I was admitted to the hospital. The doctors, the way they behave, the allergic shocks, the nurses, everything!
I realized that I was a big income for the hospital. The more examinations, treatments, etc. I had… the more money it received from the state insurance program. Confirmation was not long in coming (the next morning)…
When I «slept», something shocking happened! I saw and understood everything!
I was transported, traveled and “was lost”… in the beauties of nature!
I could not breathe and move on this “trip”, and that “scared” me strangely …
I flew fast over green or snowy mountains, flowery meadows and steep slopes. I saw the trees, the springs, the lakes, the rivers, the animals, the birds! Alive and with bright colors! I was flying over the sea and then I was sinking in the oceans!
I saw everything! Very clearly! But… without breathing, without understanding how, what and why. Without having control of my body and mind…
I traveled with the supreme being on a truly magical journey! A breathless journey!
The next day, was examinations day…
At 12:10 p.m. I “ate” after 5 days.
Two cans of apple juice (2 x 220 ml), a can of Ginger ale (220 ml), a can of jelly (150 grams) and a cup of yellow beef broth (it smelled awful, but I ate and drink them all).
In the afternoon, I went for an MRI examination.
As soon as I laid down and half of my body entered the «tunnel» of the machine, I sweated and “ F R O Z E ” !!!
Then, I shouted loudly to the operator to take me out… The operator (a very gentle Polish) pulled me out and when he saw me… he was scared!
I was “white” and my heart was going to “break”!
He immediately called the doctor in charge and informed him that he was not taking responsibility for my examination!
When I got into the machine – “coffin” I felt just like in the dream last night. I could not breathe!
The incident was followed by a “parade” of doctors with verbal terrorism:
“If you do not do an MRI, we will not know exactly what you have… and… and…” (the test is very expensive and we lose revenue, I translated it).
Towards the exit…
The third day in the hospital followed this pattern, with regular medical visits and bullying conversations. The woman doctor of Hellenic origin was “recruited” again to convince me…
At noon, I was transferred to another ward. It was a personal one and there was a guard outside… (?) They justified it to me, telling me that I was being transferred for fear of infections from other patients…
The fourth day was to be the decisive one for my final decision.
I was given a new cocktail of antibiotics, which caused me the fifth allergic shock! (Yelena also happened to be present at the incident).
I told the nurse that I had been given the antibiotics again and I had an allergic shock. The nurse did not listen to me!
Without paying attention to me, she connected the antibiotic sacs to the supply and immediately the symptoms started…
Then Yelena realized that I was telling her the truth and urged me to leave the hospital immediately!
So it happened! The next day (15:00 p.m.) I was discharged –of course on my own responsibility and signature!
I also signed that I am obliged to return to Hellas in a reasonable-short time.
Previously, I ate –after consultation with the dietitian / nutritionist of the hospital– some white grilled fish and a few steamed vegetables.
After leaving the hospital, the doctors gave me antibiotics for another 10 days. I went to the hospital pharmacy and decided –after a discussion with Yelena– not to get the antibiotics and not to continue it (marginal choice, because my health condition was critical)…
Love «attack»!
I returned home for the next few days and until my return to Hellas, I had a very conservative diet with apple juice, fruit jelly, chicken broth with some rice, tea, whole meal toast, fruits and plenty of water.
In the evening of November 9, 2015, I contacted my sister.
She told me that my brother-in-law had made a post-appeal on facebook (to his students and to the Reiki community in general) about my health problem and urged them to send me a Reiki treatment remotely…
It was 23:00 p.m. I was alone at home, lying on the bed. Straight in front of me there was a large window with a dark color curtain.
All of a sudden I started to feel absolute well-being, a sweet-warm calm and an incredible feeling of joy-love flooded me!
Countless light-shining spheres (some like balls and others like comets with bright tails) illuminated the dark room!
It was the biggest “attack” of love that one could experience, accept and feel maybe… and in his whole life!
Return...
In the following days, I tried to find a flight to change my return tickets to Hellas without success (but my beloved Yelena did it perfectly, with another airline)…
I traveled at noon on Saturday (November 14, 2015) via London to Athens (under very strict security measures, due to the terrorist attack that had taken place in France, and specifically in the heart of Paris -BA TA CLAN)…