Ron's Thoughts on Bosnian Health Care

1.  It should be avoided at all costs.  If you are going to do some bodily injury, do yourself a favour and finish the job, as Bosnian funerals are probably more fun than Bosnian hospital stays.

2.  As previously stated, Bosnian hospitals are bare-boned.  There are no frills whatsoever - TVs, gift shops, coffee, forget it.  On my 10 ward floor, there were no computers.  None.  Not even for staff.  There was one toilet, no showers.

3.  Bosnian hospitals are dry.  If you want liquids - juice, coffee, hell, even fresh water, get your visitors to bring you some because you're not getting it in the hospital.

4.  Bosnian hospital food - no words.

5.  With the possible exception of Nurse Ratchet and her partner Ilsa the she-bitch of the SS, the staff was amazing.  You have Christian sisters working beside Muslim sisters working beside practical nurses working beside teenage apprentice nurses.  They are all hard-working, dedicated and helpful.

6.  The star of the misadventure was Dr. Disdar the orthopedic surgeon.  A Swiss-trained Bosnian, he was amazing, in spite of his limited English and my total lack of Bosnian.  He spent a lot of time explaining what had happened to my elbow and what he was going to do to fix it.   He was also a warm and helpful man - there was nothing he wouldn't do to assist.  Also, he was my co-conspirator in springing me from this hell a few days early.   He even gave me a gift to take to my wife and daughter, AND with the help of google translator, provided me with all the after-care info I would need.

7.  While I was waiting in the pre-dawn darkness for my taxi, the call to prayer wafted from the nearby minarets and the feral dogs joined the Iman howling in 3 part harmony.  Hopefully, this surprisingly pleasant moment is foreshadowing better times.