[TEAMspinella] I love my Taiwan part 2

I know some of you were praying specifically for my surgery. Thanks. I just want to follow up and say, "it's over." Experiencing China Medical University Hospital as an inpatient was both entertaining and surprising, but never really scary. My Center for Counseling and Growth buddies stayed with me every step of the way, and I received excellent care as well..

The ENT surgeon, respectfully referred to as Professor Lin (Lin Chia-Der) by all the medical interns etc, was even so kind as to show me the "friend" I've been carrying around. Don't click on the attached pictures if you don't want to see it!

So now I'm back to my other purpose, looking for those good conversations, which are also happening, making this seem like a wonderful trip. However, I'm done with fitting in rides along our favorite bike routes in the mountains, as I am not to do vigorous exercise for two weeks. I am also to avoid caffeine, so I'll only be ordering fruit juice at the tea stands this next week. (As one person here said, this is the land of coffee and tea, so this is a bit of a sacrifice.) Maybe I can get a second opinion on this from a US doctor?!

The total price including the two nights in the hospital came out to just under $2400 USD, so we saved $3000 or more while Bright Health (our high deductible affordable care act plan) saved about the same as well, based on the price of the surgery in network in Colorado and our insurance coverage (about $9000 quote with a $6650 deductible). Still, I realize that living a couple blocks away from the hospital for 15 years gave me a level of comfort most foreigners wouldn't have.

So I've had my health care adventure, hopefully for this year at least. And squeezed in one more international ministry trip! In that regard, I still have a wonderfully full schedule with lots of great people to be alongside until I leave Tuesday morning, when my first flight is curiously scheduled to leave at exactly the time my last flight is scheduled to end--1135am. We'll see what actually happens.

Thanks for praying.

Steve (and Laura)

PS Remember, don't open the attached photos before meals or bedtime.

PPS Apparently I didn't send this correctly yesterday, I apologise if you got it twice...and of course, for the pictures.

Steve and Laura Spinella

US: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920

mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <

lauraspinella@gmail.com>

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