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The following is a true account that happened to someone I know during August 2010 while vacationing for the first time on Ambergris Caye. I told him I would not use his real name, because it is not important to the events that happened. I assure you it is all true and not made up and can be verified by others.

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During a certain week in August does any one on the island remember Tropic Air making a night flight? This is highly unusual, so I'm sure someone remembers.

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Sid was staying at Captain Morgan's with his son and his son's girlfriend. Now Sid is no "spring chicken" and has a minor heart problem that is very manageable.

Day 2 they take the all day trip to Lamanai. All in all an excellent trip, but very hot and humid. The group runs low on water but there is plenty of cold beer.

Now older guys think they can do all the things they did 20 years ago (me included).

Day 3 afternoon - They kayak out towards the reef for a couple of hours, but Sid forgot to put on sun screen.

Day 3 - evening - Sid starts experiencing heart palpitations and is feeling very weak. The Captain Morgan crew contacted Richard (last name ?) who contacts Doctor Rodriguez and arrangements are made to take Sid to town. Captain Morgan takes Sid, his son and girl friend by boat to town. Doctor Rodriguez meets them at the pier with his golf cart and transports them to the clinic.

It is now 9 or 10 o'clock. Doctor Rodriguez opens the clinic and hooks Sid up to an EKG. Sid says "the EKG was going beep, beep, bop, bing, beep. That's not good is it Doc?" Doctor Rodriguez contacts his nurse who comes from home and hooks up an IV.

Sid starts feeling a little better. Doctor Rodriguez explains to him that there is no hospital on the island, only in Belize City and gives him a choice to stay in the clinic or go to the hospital. Sid decides it may be better to go to the hospital and the Doctor agrees. Doctor Rodriguez then explains that Tropic Air does not fly at night, but he will see what he can do. He makes a call and within a few minutes the Manager for Tropic calls him back and says they fly him to the International, but there is only one problem to work out: They need to contact International and get the lights turned on! A few minutes later Tropic calls back and says they are ready to go!!!!!!!

Sid says the flight over was great. How many have ever seen the Cayes and Belize City at night from an airplane?

Sid is 6'5" and there was some difficulty getting him from the doctors office to the airport by wheelchair and on and off the plane but it all went well. Doctor Rodriguez went with him along with his son and girlfriend.

Sid couldn't believe it when the small plane approached the airport and all the lights were on just for him. There was a ground crew waiting and an ambulance on the tarmac. (Note: I don't have the least idea on how many people it took to bring the airport operational-WOW).

Then came an interesting ride to the hospital (Belize Medical Associates), but on arrival Sid was amazed. He was wheeled into a modern emergency room with new equipment. The Doctors, Nurses and staff were great, professional and knew their medicine. After through tests the Doctors determined Sid had a combination of heat stroke and dehydration that was affecting his heart and wanted to keep him over night for observation.

Sid was again surprised when the hospital said they also had rooms for his family. The rooms were very large with nice décor and very comfortable. At breakfast and lunch all 3 of them were severed "an 8 course meal" and it was delicious.

That afternoon he was discharged and was taken over to the Municipal airport to fly back to San Pedro. The same pilot that flew him over last night was his pilot today (just a coincident I'm sure). Captain Morgan was waiting for him at the airport and took them back to their condo.

Sid spent the rest of his vacation relaxing under a palm tree enjoying the gorgeous view of water, sand, sky and the reef!! When I ask Sid if he would go back to Belize, he said "you bet, I didn't get to snorkel Ho Chan and Shark\Ray Alley!!".

Now so many people have inquired about medical care. You can't get better than this, in my opinion. Now to the cost: Come on make a guess and include everything from the time Doctor Rodriguez met him at the pier until landing back in San Pedro. A little over $3000 USD! Yes that's not a typo: $3000 USD!!!

But most important of all is not the cost, because you are willing to pay anything in those circumstances, but the wonderful, caring people of Belize. Sid is not a celebrity or a millionaire, just a tourist no one knew. Amazing treatment from wonderful people!

A very special HEART FILLED THANK YOU to all involved for the care you gave an old American tourist:

Captain Morgan's Crew - For taking the lead
Richard (someone please add his last name) for the arrangement
Doctor Rodriguez - Way above and beyond
Tropic Air - Could not have done it without you: amazing service!
Goldstone International - One heck of a response (would never have happened in USA)
The Doctors and staff at Belize Medical Associates - Best of the Best


Board members, please help make sure that all these great people get a copy of this THANK YOU.

I'm so glad to hear everything went well and Sid is doing fine. A happy ending all around!!

That is a wonderful story.

To add to that, a little personal experience - when my baby was gravely ill the international airport was opened for the medivac plane that came in from the US - that meant having customs and immigration there too. Everybody was so gracious despite being awakened in the middle of the night to come to work. When we arrived in the US the doctors at the NICU stated categorically that the Doctors in Belize did all the right things and saved our baby's life.

Let's hope that we continue to enjoy wonderful, caring, competent doctors and nurses. We all know that the monetary gain is not wonderful so be sure and give the doctors and nurses a great big thanks whenever you can.

On a side note, the San Pedro Poly Clinic, where Dr. Otto Rodriguez works tirelessly is currently in need of urgent repairs to the roof. The cost of repairs, labour, materials, etc. is $40,000 Bz. The ministry of health has committed to $8,000 but we, as a community need to raise $32,000 Bz.

At the moment the island is served by a number of private doctors, but the majority of the residents depend on the government poly clinic. If anybody can assist with financial donations please send me a PM.

We hope to have the funds pledged within the next week or so - then we can order the materials which will take one month to arrive on the island and then the repair is a 2 week job. This is URGENT - there is risk of severe damage to the structure which could result in the need to close the clinic. And we can't afford to have that happen.

Thanks.

Captain Morgan's Crew - For taking the lead
Richard (someone please add his last name) for the arrangement
Doctor Rodriguez - Way above and beyond
Tropic Air - Could not have done it without you: amazing service!
Goldstone International - One heck of a response (would never have happened in USA)
The Doctors and staff at Belize Medical Associates - Best of the Best

The only Richard is the bartender for the timeshare units. He goes my the name of Shabba. His full name is Richard Mckoy.

Round of applause for all.

Awesome efforts by all! Just another reason iluvbelize

Really nice to see such a positive post on this board,thanks AZ. Wasn't that the name of the airport on the Flintstones? LOL

Scuba I believe you are correct. I must of been thinking of ice cream also. To correct my typo it is:

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

Couldn't pass that one up Bob

that is just great!! Good job to everyone!