Bad News at Christmas

[Bruce]

Wow- first I heard of this.  I am deeply sorry for you and know how you feel.  Please, do your best to get her out of there and to board certified Dr.'s here.  You are bringing back miserable times for me. 

I wish they would not have even stitiched her there............if they had just cleaned the wounds, put sterile (do they even know what this word means?) dressings on her and shipped her back to you here, you could rush her to board certified plastic surgeon. 

Still, bring her to a good plastic surgeon here and things probably will work out fine. 

My wife had much swelling, but after it all went down she was lucky, no problems.  Her skin was intact.  I was most worried about her teeth, but they came back fine as well.  It is what the Russian hospital did for her neck injury - they basically strapped her head and body to a board, kept her alignment totally straight and made her piss into a pan hooked up to her for nine days.  It is called traction.  Did it make a difference for her.  Upon MRI review of her whole back when she came to the USA the USA board certified specialists - and she saw a radiologist, a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon all believe she never had more than severe muscle damage and the sequelae from it.  If they had good pain relief medication, a proper diagnosis and potent anti-inflamatory drugs she would not have needed to go through the midieval treatment in totally unsanitary Frankensteinian conditions.  The were nice in the Tver hospital and tried their best.............but it was a really bad experience for all of us.  My wife looks back at child birth in the American hospital with glee.  She continues to rave how great the hosptial was where she gave birth and how nice she was treated, and she did not even have an epidural when she gave birth to our daughter.  If that is not testiment or what to the quality of medical care in the USA or Russia I do not what is.

I shudder to think what is going on in Ukraine.  Please Simoni, go there and get her out of there if you can.  I know it may be impossible, but please try.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Simoni, let me know if there is anything I can do.  I am still in Odessa and will do what I can to help. 




Thomas

[Jet]

Simoni,
REALLY REALLY sorry to hear about this, you two are in our thoughts as well. Although we've not had the pleasure of meeting yet, it was easy to understand what a wonderful woman Marina is, from our phone conversation back in October. Liliya saw one of these bus accidents (bus skidded off embankment and everyone went to the hospital or the morgue) last year in her town over Christmas and it scared the hell out of me to think she was that close to being involved, so I can only imagine what you must be going through. My heart really goes out to you, and your Marina    Please wish her well for us.

[Simoni]

I shudder to think what is going on in Ukraine.  Please Simoni, go there and get her out of there if you can.  I know it may be impossible, but please try.

Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes and prayers.  Bruce-- I did think of you when this happened.

I will get her back here as soon as possible; have tickets for the 30th but will advance them if at all possible.   I do have here mother to contend with, who is telling her to stay longer until she is "well."  So it's not a simple situation.

I have not heard from Marina in 14 hours now.  We have a 7 hour time difference, so there is a small window of time when we are both awake.

Marina has written she is thankful that her teeth were not broken and that she was not wearing her glasses with the crash occurred.

She goes back to have stitches out next week.  Guess we will know more then...

[Gator]

A few words about Marina as a person. 

Those who have met Marina, praise her.  This past summer, Marina and Simoni came to my house where we played a little golf with my sons, had some wine and beer, and talked.

As a testament of the inner quality of the woman, my 27-yo son told me the next day, "Dad, as you know I have always questioned your adventures with Russian women.  After meeting Marina, I feel much better about what you are doing.  She is a delightful person."

My Swedish friend and girlfriend said the same after an evening together.  The Swede, an intellectual and lively 68-yo retired professor with a girlfriend in every port, spoke aloud to himself, "Maybe I should look into the  Russian women..........Nej, I am too old and I have too many now."

Simoni, I know you are torn up inside about this.  In one week she will be here and you can place her in the skillful hands of doctors who will speed her 100% recovery.

[tim 360]

Simoni,  I like many others are saddened to hear of Marinas accident in Ukraine.  My hope is for a full recovery and my prayers are with you both,  Best wishes, tim360

[IAmZon]

Simoni, I know you are torn up inside about this.  In one week she will be here and you can place her in the skillful hands of doctors who will speed her 100% recovery.

DIDO

[Shadow]

Simoni, you also have my full sympathy, and I wish for a full recovery.
From an accident that happened to a person in my office, I request you to let the doctors check up Marina very thoroughly.
check for hidden fractures and internal swelling.
Also let her family check her concentration and memory regularly. This to find if there is any kind of hidden damage.

[Simoni]

Just got about 15 sms emails from Marina.  The messages were not going back and forth.  She was not receiving mine nor me hers.

I asked about how she is doing today:

She writes at 9 p.m. eastern time:

 "Much better;) eyes opened almost;) yellow color appeared on my face it means it is getting better;) "

She also was able to take a short walk with her mother today.

She still has a head ache and that concerns me.  It has never gone away since the crash.

___________________

A few words about Marina as a person. 

Those who have met Marina, praise her.  This past summer, Marina and Simoni came to my house where we played a little golf with my sons, had some wine and beer, and talked.

As a testament of the inner quality of the woman, my 27-yo son told me the next day, "Dad, as you know I have always questioned your adventures with Russian women.  After meeting Marina, I feel much better about what you are doing.  She is a delightful person."

My Swedish friend and girlfriend said the same after an evening together.  The Swede, an intellectual and lively 68-yo retired professor with a girlfriend in every port, spoke aloud to himself, "Maybe I should look into the  Russian women..........Nej, I am too old and I have too many now."

Simoni, I know you are torn up inside about this.  In one week she will be here and you can place her in the skillful hands of doctors who will speed her 100% recovery.

To RWD members Gator, JB, Eduard, Groovestk, Dar, Henry, and Tim, who know Marina in real life-- thanks for your kind words.

Thanks also to all the others who have sent well wishes.  They are greatly appreciated.

[Simoni]

I request you to let the doctors check up Marina very thoroughly.
check for hidden fractures and internal swelling.

Those are good points, Shadow, and things that we will certainly check out when she gets home.  Thanks!

[Simoni]

I also had an immediate conversation with Scott when this happened.  Scott uniquely knows medicine in both Ukraine and the US.  I asked him about what treatment she was getting, and he gave me some good feedback. Hopefully, he will post some of that here.  Emergency treatment in Ukraine and the fsu is a topic all of us think about.  Hopefully, not many will have to deal with it.

[Taz]

Wow, just read through the thread. I hope Marina is doing better. Unfortunately I have first hand experience with the emergency medical system in Russia and I have no desire to repeat it ever again. If it wasn't for their President Putin, I'd likely be dead but that is a story for another day.

I wish Marina a speedy recovery and that life will return to normal as soon as possible.

[USCFAN]

Simoni ... haven't been on the board much lately and just read about your news ...

You must be going crazy being here and Marina there ... my deepest heartfelt wishes for her safe recovery and may you two be united together again soon ...

... 'stay strong and keep the faith' ...

[Shadow]

I also had an immediate conversation with Scott when this happened.  Scott uniquely knows medicine in both Ukraine and the US.  I asked him about what treatment she was getting, and he gave me some good feedback. Hopefully, he will post some of that here.  Emergency treatment in Ukraine and the fsu is a topic all of us think about.  Hopefully, not many will have to deal with it.

Simoni as I understood you already had all possible help, and this was in Ukraine I do not know if it could have been of assistance.
But if such a thing would have happened in Moscow or other places in Russia, a call to my parents-in-law would have opened doors to the best possible treatment. This for anyone who travels there and gets in to such unfortunate trouble.

[Simoni]

Thanks, Shadow.   She is stable now, so we will just wait until she thinks she can fly.  Gator has given us a good contact for an excellent plastic surgeon in our area.  I'll also take her to a sports doctor to examine the other injuries.

[Eduard]

Simoni, if you will be looking for a plastic surgeon in Moscow, let me know. My cousin is one of the top plastic surgeons who does amazing things. I've see her work (photos of before and after) on soldiers who had half of their faces blown off in Chechnya and many other type surgeries . She is a professor and gives lectures all over the world, including demonstrating her technics to American plastic surgeons at Sloan Catering Hospital in NYC a few years ago. So if Marina can get to Moscow give me a call and I can put them in touch.

[Simoni]

Thanks for the kind offer, Ed.   

I think it's best for her to get HOME so she can rest and recover in our condo here. 

I can't wait to get her home!

[Eduard]

Thanks for the kind offer, Ed.   

I think it's best for her to get HOME so she can rest and recover in our condo here. 

I can't wait to get her home!

sure, I understand! well we hope that she'll feel good enough to get toghether for new year's. If not, we'll see you guys when she feels better.

[Simoni]

Ed:
We'll have to forgo New Year's together with our Tampa area friends this year.  I think it will be 3 or 4 weeks before Marina will let anyone see her poor face.

But we'll get the whole Tampa area Russian/American community together when she is well and after you get back from Russia.

[Simoni]

Greetings from Kiev.

Yes, I decided to get on the plane and come to her to see how serious things were.  I was delayed a few days because my mother was in the hospital.  When it rains if pours.  But I am here now, and things are good.

We'll be here in Kiev for a week, then head home.

Her face is a mess (and she is really really concerned about it), but the healing is coming about and we will see a specialist to make her perfect again when we get home.

She counts her blessings she was not killed, and I think we both value our relationship even more after this close call.

We wish everyone a happy and blessed 2008.

~Si & Marina

[jb]

All I can say is: "Thank you, God", she's OK.   Every relationship suffers a few bumps, bruises, and in this case, even a few scars,,, but her real beauty is on the inside.  That part will never change.  Just think, a year from now all this will just be a bad memory, even though right now it's hell on wheels emotionally.  Hang in there, you did the right thing by going to her now.  She'll remember that when you screw something up later.

[Simoni]

Thanks, JB.  Your words are greatly appreciated.

And you are correct-- she is SO HAPPY I came to her. 

So are her friends.  When I told Marina I was coming, she texted me

"no one can believe my man is coming for me it is a great news i still cant believe its true i am a very lucky girl i love you;)"

So I'm improving the image of American men for those guys still in the hunt 

JB-- it's 11 a.m. here in Kiev; 4 in Texas!  What are you doing up at this hour???

Cheers, and Happy New Year!

~Si

[jb]

JB-- it's 11 a.m. here in Kiev; 4 in Texas!  What are you doing up at this hour???

I have a nasty cold and can't sleep.

[viking]

Simoni

I am just picking up this thread now. My prayers for a speedy recovery for your Marina.

Greg

[vwrw]

In Russia we have such an expression; “if you want to know the correct solution… Listen to woman and do on the contrary of her words.” 

I wish Marina to have quick recover!