This is the hardest task of my life
asking for your help to pay my medical bills
I need to come up with $21,000 more than I have and the insurance will cover.
Here is what happened:
In June I had a compound fracture on my right lower leg while working in the garden.
This injury bears a strong risk of bone infection and amputation.
First surgery went well - except the wound did not want to close.
The amputation risk increased.
We scrambled to put a team of doctors for reconstructive surgery together. Nothing in Mexico is easy.
They took a portion of muscle and skin graft from my stomach to cover the fractured area.
I am at home now and doctors are watching carefully to see if the leg will stay with me.
I might need one more surgery.
Outlook:
3 more weeks in bed. Physical therapy after that.
If all goes well, I will walk again in September.
So, can you please help me pay those bills? Even the smallest amount will make a difference.
No extra fees involved if you use PayPal (sending money to friends and family)
Use my address to place the donation - harald.pietschmann@gmail.com
Photos of Harald (in yellow shirt) on Ken Cooke's 2015 Pole Line Road Group trip:
Campfire, night 2.
Showing me a support cable for one of the 1942 phone poles.
TW and Harald on first cobblestone section of the 1942 road.
Thank you for thinking about Harald, 4x4abc!
This last photo from Harald's Facebook page is of me and Harald on that trip...
[Edited on 7-29-2017 by David K]chuckie - 7-29-2017 at 03:04 PM
Grumpy old FART that he is...I am in for 100 bucks...Whats the Paypal address...GET WELL! Never mind..I see it
[Edited on 7-29-2017 by chuckie]EnsenadaDr - 7-29-2017 at 03:15 PM
This tremendous cost could have been avoided if the patient had signed up with Seguro Popular instead of paying a private hospital in Mexico of which
I suspect was what happened given the enormous cost. Most of the time the bill has to be paid upfront before surgery is done. I don't know all the
particulars but if the Nomad is American then he should have gone back to the U.S. to have the work done. That is a phenomenal bill by Mexican
standards. God Bless and I hope you heal well.chuckie - 7-29-2017 at 03:20 PM
Kick in a few bucks Doc..Talk is cheap....David K - 7-29-2017 at 03:24 PM
Harald has authored books in his native German on how to drive 4WD vehicles (hence the handle 4x4abc)...
In English, he maintains how to sites for four wheeling information: http://4x4abc.com/
EnsenadaDr - 7-29-2017 at 03:29 PM
I'd like to hear more details of where the surgery was done. Also if he needs more surgery I suggest he go to a public hospital or go back to
Germany. I had a German patient that lived in Mexico and they do all surgery for free over there.David K - 7-29-2017 at 03:31 PM
I'd like to hear more details of where the surgery was done. Also if he needs more surgery I suggest he go to a public hospital or go back to
Germany. I had a German patient that lived in Mexico and they do all surgery for free over there.
His email is posted, just ask him. If you are using Facebook, here is his page with all the details: https://www.facebook.com/harald.pietschmann.1BajaBlanca - 7-29-2017 at 03:39 PM
oh my gosh - this is awful.
I bet he can still get seguro popular NOW since he may need further assistance. Anyone in La Paz who can help?
oh Harold, may God take care of you and make your leg better.TMW - 7-29-2017 at 03:47 PM
I'm in, get well soon Harald. We miss you on the trail.chippy - 7-29-2017 at 04:17 PM
Maybe sell the gwagon and the jeepswillardguy - 7-29-2017 at 04:23 PM
thats one gnarly gardening accident! get well our friend! chuckie - 7-29-2017 at 06:33 PM
PaypalDanO - 7-29-2017 at 06:44 PM
I'm in for a Benjamin. chuckie - 7-30-2017 at 01:12 AM
CMON~
Paypal problem
AKgringo - 7-30-2017 at 03:18 PM
The problem is with my account. For some reason I can not add or send money at this time. I haven't used it in a while, and it may take a couple of
days to straighten out, but I would like to help.
It is the least I can do after trolling some of Harald's posts! Intended good natured ribbing sometimes comes across all wrong in print!
[Edited on 7-30-2017 by AKgringo]David K - 7-30-2017 at 03:21 PM
You guys are great!
I will spend some time with Harald soon and hope to add some positive Baja exploring vibes to his situation.AKgringo - 7-30-2017 at 03:28 PM
Thank you DK for posting the info here. I would never have seen it otherwise!pauldavidmena - 7-30-2017 at 03:41 PM
I'm a Nomad wannabe (for now), but I always appreciate Harald's posts. I just sent in a donation via Paypal, which was extremely easy. Thank you DK
for the info.4x4abc - 7-30-2017 at 05:52 PM
Thank you all for your contributions! They will help to get my life back in line (and online).
You and my other friends raised $11,000 in one day. Wow!
Some of the larger donations were from this group.
Only $10,000 to go.
Thank you!
Paypal no problem!
AKgringo - 7-30-2017 at 08:05 PM
It was me, all me! I had to update my information, then tried to do business by hitting the 'back button'. What I had to do was log out, then back
in. Probably every one on this board except me knew that, but I got'er done!
Harald, 11k in one day is amazing! Hope you are up walking (and driving)soon, and maybe I can meet up with you in October.
[Edited on 7-31-2017 by AKgringo]Mexitron - 7-31-2017 at 07:29 AM
Here's to getting better!
Question about Seguro Popular--can a US citizen get it even without living in Mexico? Or do you need one of those FM documents. bajaguy - 7-31-2017 at 07:58 AM
You need one of those pesky FM documentsMexitron - 7-31-2017 at 09:05 AM
Thanks!bajalinda - 7-31-2017 at 12:40 PM
Harald - Best wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery.
Here's to getting better!
Question about Seguro Popular--can a US citizen get it even without living in Mexico? Or do you need one of those FM documents.
You need to have a CURP number, which means you need to be at least a residente permanente. (I don't know if you get a CURP as a residente temporal.)
You also need to show a comprobante de domicilio - a water bill or an electric bill.
