This is an amazing incredible story of an American patient who suffered pain and misery due to bad knee and hip joints for more than ten years and then took a brave decision to fly alone all the way to India to Wockhardt Hospitals at Bangalore. He spent eight weeks at Wockhardt Hospital and underwent three major joint replacement surgeries by the star orthopedic surgeon Dr Sanjay Pai.
Brad, 52, a former building contractor from New Mexico has been an arthritic for last 18 years. He first started to suffer acute pain in his left hip and was advised hip replacement fifteen years ago. He spent almost all his life savings of 40000 US dollars and in 1993 got a total hip replacement done at local US hospital.
However the nature of construction work coupled with arthritis made his condition deteriorate and he started to get joint pains in his other hip as well as one of the knees too.
It was not long before the left hip that he got replaced a few years ago also started to bother him.
Life became a tough journey for Brad. He went to a number of local hospitals in US and they told him that he needs a revision of his earlier left hip and a new replacement for his Right Hip and left Knee …all of which would cost him 120,000 US Dollars. Brad just could not figure out what to do as there was no way that he could manage to pay this huge amount of money
Since day to day activities like walking and climbing stairs became so difficult, Brad quit his construction work and he started to give more time on his favorite pastime of singing and music. He joined a local radio station as a music presenter and singer.
However his health was causing him great concern as days passed and he started to limp as the implant on one his hips which was operated many years ago dislocated and the other hip and one of his knees too lost ligament due to arthritis. Brad had to find a solution to get back a life, but he did not have the astronomical sum of 120000 US dollars
Providence firmly on his side, Brad happened to meet one of his neighbors who while visiting India had a sudden heart attack and was taken to Wockhardt Hospitals in Bangalore and they managed him so well, not only his life was saved he spent a very small amount for his treatment. Brad started to search for Wockhardt on Google and Yahoo and he reached www.wockhardthospitals.net
Brad was amazed to find that a large number of uninsured Americans have chosen Wockhardt Hospitals and the website had a number of video testimonials of American, British and Canadian patients singing praises for the services and excellent medical outcome received at this world class hospital. Also Brad was impressed with the hospitals affiliation with Harvard Medical International based at Boston and also the fact the at the hospital meet the high standards set by the Joint Commission International of America, the same organization a part of JCAHO that accredits the top hospitals in US.
Brad was really excited and he sent an email to Wockhardt Hospitals explaining his condition. To his surprise, he got a response within an hour and then started a series of email exchanges and telephone calls. Each of his numerous queries were answered promptly by the International Patient Coordinators at Wockhardt. They even provided him surgeon’s and some past American patients mobile phone nos so that Brad could assure himself fully and then decide. The hospital helped him sort out all logistics like applying for Indian Visa, arranging airport pick up, bookings for his room, surgery and gave him one package price for the whole service.
On 26th January, 2008, Brad took a flight of faith and landed at Bangalore, India. He was so happy to see a well dressed chauffeur standing with aboard with his name on it just as he stepped out of the airport. At the hospital he was settled in without fuss in a five star hotel like suite complete with a Computer connected to Internet, A large TV with all Cable channels, Gourmet food service and everyone from doctors, nurses to guest relations personnel …all speaking good English and make him feel at home in this place thousands of miles away from home.
Over a period of next six weeks, Brad underwent three joint replacements – a revision of his Left hip which had gone and after the first replacement 15 years ago which according top his surgeon Dr Sanjay Pai was a difficult one and then after one week replacement of his second hip joint. After two weeks Brad started to walk and the hospital Physiotherapists worked hard on him and motivated him to put in his best effort in to the rehab program. Both his new hips now in fine form, Brad was ready for his left knee replacement which happened almost five weeks after his arrival in Bangalore. One more week of rehab and Brad was feeling like a new man altogether. He decided to check out of the hospital and stay outside in Bangalore for a few days and explore a little nbit of the garden city.
All through his stay at the hospital in Bangalore Brad didn’t stop with his radio show “ Timeless Journey” and his friend and well wishers made it a point to speak to him, ask questions and send a endless stream of greetings to keep him motivated and so happy. To hear these radio episodes , you can log on www.kedu.us/
On 24th March 2008 – Brad walked out of the Wockhardt Hospital ….tall, lean and muscular …..radiating an abundance of vitality and energy. Brad really felt that he was taking leave from his friends and family and it was an emotional farewell from the hospital All the nurses, the doctor and guest relations people shaking his hands warmly and wishing him a great painless and healthy life again.
He said and we quote – “ Thanks to Dr. Pai who made me a new man. I never really had the fear of operation after I read the testimonials and met Dr. Pai. The surgeries went off very well. I am very pleased with care I got at Wockhardt , the doctors here are warm and build personal bonds. This country is great and people are fantastic. Thanks to the hospital for bringing great change in my life.”
You can watch a video of Brad talking about his experience on the Wockhardt Channel on Youtube.com - weblink below
http://www.youtube.com/
Wockhardt hospitals Group. has partnered with Harvard Medical International (HMI), Boston, USA, in establishing a chain of super specialty hospitals across India. Several new hospitals / facilities are in the pipeline. With latest technology, multi-disciplinary capability, state of the art facilities, world class infrastructure and excellent patient care ambience and processes, Wockhardt Hospitals is poised to become the most advanced and progressive healthcare institution in this part of the world.
Joint Commission International (JCI) - the international arm of JCAHO which accredits top hospitals in USA has audited Wockhardt hospital at Mumbai in 2005 and approved it.
In 2006 , Wockhardt opened a new 400 Bed Multi-speciality hospital in Bangalore – among Asia’s most advanced super-specialty hospitals – it’s a state of the art facility equipped with latest technology and truly World class Clinical Talent dedicated to the whole range of Cardiac, Orthopedic, Neurosciences, Minimal Access Surgery and Women & Child Services
Wockhardt Hospitals attract a large number of overseas patients from UK, USA Canada and Middle East and they have all gone back very happy with our high quality services at very low cost. Please check out the file attached and our website www.wockhardthospitals.net for details of our international patient services and testimonials.
