When thinking of moving to a new country, one of the first things you wonder about is the quality of health care. We certainly did. We were told that Malaysia has excellent care, US and UK trained doctors and first rate facilities. We trusted what we heard but hoped we would never have to personally check it out.

Last week, Allie and Will’s son Grant became very ill….high temperature, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. After two days of this they went to the doctor. (We happen to have a very nice hospital just across the street…Gleneagles.) The emergency room staff weren’t completely sure what it was that was bothering Grant but gave them some medicine and sent them home…same as they do in the USA. Of course visions of malaria, dengue fever, typhoid all skip into your brain. That night the fever rose to 105. A rush to the hospital and admitted immediately. Blood tests were taken as well as stool samples. For the next few days he seemed to be doing better during the day but at night all the symptoms would return with a vengeance. Poor Grant could not keep anything down, was given an IV to keep him hydrated. It was a stressful time. It turned out to be Salmonella, luckily not the Typhoid type. We think perhaps he got it splashing with the elephants…water got into his mouth and onto his face. After four days in the hospital Grant was able to come home.

Overall the care was very good. The doctor knowledgeable and willing to explain. The nurses extremely friendly but under strict orders to follow the doctor’s orders to a T. The total bill…four days in the hospital, all medication, all supplies, doctor visits, etc. etc. came to $1700.00 US. I think we look at the care here like we would in Wenatchee. Most everything can be taken care of right there at Central Washington Hospital or the Clinic (or whatever they now call them both)…but if you are in doubt you head to Seattle. Same here…Gleneagles can probably take care of most our needs…but if we want more we can head to Singapore or Hong Kong.

One thing we found out right away was the level of support we have here with our staff/faculty. We are all away from home and thus we become a “family”. We look out for each other, care for each other, offer whatever is needed. Grant was deluged with well wishes, with toys, balloons, cards…all from people he hasn’t even met. They sent their well wishes, their thoughts and prayers, their love. It was quite an outpouring.

One homemade book sent to Grant (minus the pictures):
BRAVE GRANT

There once was a boy named Grant who
lived in Washington state in a city called East Wenatchee.
He lived with his mother and his father.
He had many friends.
He went to a fine school and had good teachers.
He had lots of legos.
He was very happy.

But one day, his mother and father said, “What would you
think about moving to Malaysia?”
His mother and father showed him where Malaysia was on a map.
They told him about the big towers in a city called Kuala Lumpur.
They told him about a wonderful school named ISKL.
They told them about flying in an airplane, about elephants,
about the ISKL principal and the principal’s wife.

Grant thought about it
and
thought about it,
and he said,
“Okay”.

Grant
was
BRAVE!!!!

So one day his mother and father packed up all their stuff
(including the legos)
into a big wooden box.
Then they packed up their suitcases full of clothes
and said goodbye to everyone,
and drove to Seattle.
There they loaded onto a plane and flew to
Vancouver,
to Hong Kong
and
to Kuala Lumpur.

Grant
was
BRAVE!!!!!
And he was tired.

Grant lived in a hotel room for 10 days
and explored the city with his mother and father.
Grant learned how to cross really crowded streets.
He learned to ride a monorail.
He went to some Ginormous Malls.
He looked at some REALLY scary homes and condos.

Grant
was
BRAVE!!!!!
And he was glad they found
a really cool place to live with a room for the legos.

One day he went to a busy,
busy street called Jalan Alor.
Everywhere there were people,
and lots and lots of food.
There was even a fruit called durian that smelled really stinky.
Grant smelled the durian.

Grant
was
BRAVE !!!!!
He was also
SMART
because he didn’t eat any durian.

Grant went to visit the elephants.
He got to feed the elephants.
He got touch the elephants.
He got to get in the muddy,
muddy river and wash the elephants.

Grant
was
BRAVE!!!!!
and very, very wet.

After the elephant trip, Grant got sick.
He threw up and worse.
He had a fever.
He went to the Hospital and had to have an IV.
His fever got worse.
He had to eat icky medicine.
It was no fun
but Grant knew he had to be brave in order to get better.

Grant
was
BRAVE!!!!!
And he got better.

Now Grant is ready to start school at ISKL.
He will meet kids from all over the world.
He will also have to meet the ISKL principal
and the principal’s wife.

Do you think Grant is worried???

Of course not!!!!!
Because……

Grant
is
BRAVE!!!!

Yeah Grant!!!!
Brave, brave Grant.

Going Home Happy!!!!

Group Hugs all around!!!!

Another MAJOR concern when moving to another country….will I be able to get my hair colored, cut, highlights added??? (unless of course you are follically challenged) Before we left we made some inquiries….the name Kenneth came up….co-owner of …ISH Salon. Heidi had little trust in someone she didn’t know…it wasn’t the same as going to Kim and Tangles!!! So, she decided to color her hair the night before and just have Kenneth add some highlights…..big mistake. After two attempts Heidi had what could best be described as a dusty, musty, London sky colored hair. We went to …ISH and Heidi confessed her misdeeds to Kenneth, asked for forgiveness and put her hair and faith into his capable hands. He turned out to be part magician, part artist and just sickly talented. Heidi felt like she was a movie star…at times there were two people working on her. Heidi exited…ISH a happy woman with happy hair. She has complete trust in Kenneth will leave the coloring to him. While it didn’t have the same warmth as Tangles…it was the next best thing to being home.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.