Desperado

So to pick up where I left off yesterday -- in brief, as I don't feel like talking a lot about it anymore -- when I returned to my hotel, I insisted on speaking with the manager on duty. I know that food poison can happen anywhere, so I wasn't bothered by that as much as I was by the feeling that there was some kind of collusion between the hotel and the clinic/hospital. I had to ask three times before the manager would speak with me; if I give him the benefit of the doubt, I'll say it was because he didn't speak English. He said that to help with my medical bill would to be assume responsibility and he wouldn't do it. (He said this, and everything else, through the desk clerk/translator, who I think would have preferred to be anywhere but there.) He would, he said, speak with the doctor about my dietary allowances and provide my meals through room service, free of charge. Overall, he was quite dismissive.

The next morning I had to be in the lobby early to cancel my excursion for the day. Maybe I could have gone -- I was feeling a little better -- but I was unsure of how well my stomach would hold up. I didn't want to slow down the group, or worse yet get out in the middle of nowhere, if I needed to get to a bathroom. While I was in the lobby, I asked to see the "real" manager. He was just getting in, and the young clerk, one who had been on duty the previous night, called to let him know I'd like to see him. Within ten minutes, he was in the lobby to escort me to his office. He was upset by my story, or at least he claimed to be, and he made copies of my paperwork from the hospital and said he would make some calls to see how he could help. A few hours later, I received a call from the concierge saying that the manager would like to treat me to spa services. She offered to bring the gift certificate to my room, but I was sleeping and said I would pick it up later. It was very fancy and large. At that point, there was still no word about whether anyone could help. I scheduled my free massage for the next morning.

I felt well enough to go to breakfast on my last day there, and on my way out I ran into the manager, who introduced me by name to the general manager accompanying him. He asked me to let him know when I was leaving so he could say goodbye. I did, and I told him that whether or not he had actually been able to do anything to help me, I was so grateful that he had wanted to. I had felt helpless and desperate, feelings to which I am (fortunately) unaccustomed, and to feel that I had an advocate meant a lot to me. In the end, I was told that my insurance company will reimburse me (which I will verify directly from the insurance company tomorrow); the manager said to let him know if they didn't and he would "reassess the situation". He asked that I contact him anyway, just to let him know how I am. While I would have preferred that none of this had happened, I will always appreciate the kindness of the manager and the for listening to me and trying to help. Having just one person who came to my aid when I felt so alone is a bigger deal than I can find the words to express.