Okay, Here is My Hellatious Week!
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Okay, Here is My Hellatious Week!
I mentioned on the other post that we are back, and Mike is recovering from the back surgery. Everything went smoothly with that.
Well, here is what happened last week.
We have been severely broke the past month, due to Mike having to travel back and forth to TX (about 5 hours away) this past month, i.e. gas, food, hotel. He has gone 6 times in a little over a month. It has gotten so bad financially that he actually slept in the van the past few times. You're probably asking, well hasn't the Army paid for this? LOL, well they are supposed to reimburse us, but we haven't seen the money yet. This is b/c Mike's unit was in Arkansas the past month for training (he didn't go b/c of his ruptured disk), and the S-1 (which handles the reimbursement) was out there as well. They just got back and we have filed the paperwork, but we won't see that money for at least a month or two. Okay, so we're broke.
Friday, May 20th Mike got a flat tire - a blowout. He didn't hit anything, it just blew out. Well, we have NO money at this point, literally. So we put the donut on, and over the weekend Mike manages to sell one of our two printers to a friend and then goes out to Chevron and buys gas for people on our Chevron card (which, no, it does not have cash advance as an option) and they give him the cash. So, Mike managed to hustle up the $130 for the darn tire, we get that Sunday. We couldn't find ANYTHING cheaper, and only one place about 20 minutes away had the tire size we needed. Never knew Mike could hustle so well, ROFL. The whole time I'm thinking - I can't believe we are this poor. We normally get by just fine, it's because we've spent about $1200 in the past month and a half on these appointments going back and forth to TX. Okay, so no problem.
Sunday we get a call from the hospital in TX saying that Mike has to be there tomorrow (Monday) to do pre-op paperwork. And his surgery, keep in mind, is Thursday. So, he had to go to work and let them know, he ended up putting the gas and food on our gas card (ate chips and coke for meals) and slept in the van. At this point it's getting ridiculous. Come to find out Thursday that he didn't have to go in Monday, he could've done the pre-op before the surgery that morning. The lady he spoke to told him he couldn't do that, so someone was misinformed obviously.
So, he gets back Tuesday evening. He hadn't even been home for a half hour when the next catastrophe happened. I was putting the baby to bed and I saw our only cell phone cracked and broken on the floor. I'm supposing Mike left the cell phone within Seth's reach and he just had a ball talking on the phone. (sarcasm) So, now what do we do? My mom is going to be caring for my kids while we are in TX for the surgery so I need a cell phone for her to be able to contact me in case of an emergency. So, I call my mom. I HATE BORROWING MONEY! I haven't had to borrow money in a few years now, so this killed me. She wired money into my account and Mike went and got a cheap cell phone. At this point, I'm freaking out. So, Wednesday night, the night before the surgery, the night my mom arrives, and the night we leave to travel, I decide I have to go to the convenience store to buy some milk and garbage bags b/c we're out and I don't want to leave my mom to have to run out and buy these things.
So, I leave, and stop off at the mail box at the end of the street to mail something. I hit a rain gutter on the curb - you know, the big metal ones that are very obvious. I go back home, Mike looks at the tire, says it looks a little low if anything. So, I pick up some fix-a-flat at the store while I'm there. We decided to put it in the tire just in case. I'm on my way home and miraculously - somehow I didn't notice this either - I run out of gas. In the middle of the street! I turn off the engine, turn it back on and slowly get myself to the gas station in view. Make it there just in time! Please note that I have never gotten a ticket and have never gotten into an accident that I caused - so this is not normal for me to be so unaware. I was just shot at this point, felt like a zombie, asking myself the awful question - what can happen next?!?! Bad question, bad Amy!
Well, we leave a few hours later at 11:30pm - have to be in TX at the hospital at 5:30am. Stop off at Denny's to have a cup of coffee and relax. Mike was told not to eat after midnight. So, he was going to have some coffee. The waitress told him that she is a nurse part-time and he should not drink either b/c he could vomit and choke with the anestesia. So, he's aggrivated, but listens. While sitting there, I feel ill for some odd reason, go to the bathroom and throw up. So, this is great, I'm thinking. We leave and make it to the hospital. We got out and notice that our tire is now almost flat. So, Mike puts on the donut so he doesn't have to do it after he gets out of the hospital. Figured we'd deal with the whole new problem of getting our tire fixed after he got released. He went into surgery. All went well, PRAISE GOD. Then, the next day Mike and I were walking around the hospital (per drs orders) and discovered
that our donut was flat. We found out later that the donut can only go on the back of the van, and we had it on the front. We were supposed to have moved one of the good back tires to the front and put the donut on the back. So, we slowly, SLOWLY, try to make it to a Walmart or some Tire place to get our tire fixed. We couldn't find one close and it was getting bad, so we stopped at KFC and utilized our handy dandy ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE courtesy of Saturn - who, by the way, is UNBELIEVABLY OUTSTANDING. You'll see why later. A tow truck comes a half hour later, but decides that he needs to call a flat-bed tow truck, so we wait another hour for that to come. As they are dragging our wounded van onto the flatbed, they break the tie rod ends and rack and pinion steering (don't ask me what that is, all I know is that it costs a total of 5000 with labor included to fix), which wasn't covered under warranty. We didn't know, however, that they broke it at this point. They take us to Saturn about a half hour away. So, at this point in time, we have a flat tire, a flat donut, a bent rim, broken rack and pinion and tie rod ends, as well as having our van COMPLETELY out of alignment due to obvious reasons. They tell us that nothing will be covered under warranty. GREAT!!!!!!!!!! WHAT THE HECK ELSE COULD WE HAVE POSSIBLY EXPECTED?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Well, we didn't expect this: "So, you're in the military. And just had back surgery YESTERDAY. And you're having to DRIVE 5 HOURS just to get home. I think we can fix your van and it can be *under warranty*" Hopefully you get the picture. I LOVE Saturn. I LOOOVE SATURN.
Did I say,
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE SATURN!
Well, they figured out that the tow truck was responsible for part of the problem b/c they asked how we were able to drive all the way to TX with a broken rack and pinion. Obviously, we hadn't broken it. The tow truck did, when our tire (which was at a 45 degree angle when being put on the flatbed) caught on the edge of the flatbed.
Saturn fixed everything, even gave us a new tire and rim, and it cost us nothing, but a few hours. Oh, did I mention that the secretary at Saturn even drove Mike to the pharmacy while we waited so that he could get his prescriptions filled? I'm telling you - Saturn has AWESOME customer service.
Well, we got home and have been laying around ever since. Mike's recovering from surgery, and we're both recovering from last week.
So, how was your week? ;)
{{{{{{{{{{{AMY & MIKE}}}}}}}}}}}} !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have learned, and learned the HARD way, do NOT say *What can happen next*!
I'm so sorry all this happened. How are you both today??????
{{{{{Hugs}}}}} I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I'm happy to hear that Saturn helped you out like that. Yes, how are you both today?
(((((Amy & Mike)))))
OMGoodness, what a nightmare! Good thing the kids weren't with you. Boy, I surely hope Mike's surgery did the trick after all that.
Oh my gosh what a week!! I am so glad that it is over for you!!
And, I have to agree with the Saturn in wonderful part of your post. We had a Saturn for several years and in all that time, I can't say anything but wonderful praise about them. I always took it there for the oil changes etc and they were always great. Everyone that works there seem so happy to be there.
All that I can say is WOW and I am glad that you both are home and resting.
Geez... sorry your week was so rough. I'm glad Mike is ok, and that Saturn fixed everything "under warranty". I hope you are still resting and recovering from such a week!
WOW!!! Saturn sounds amazing!
Amy and Mike...superheroes!!! Oh man, I don't know how you didn't scream!!! So glad to hear he is recovering well. Be the "squeaky wheel" when it comes to those reimbursement dollars, okay? Military reimbursements are awful!!
Glad Saturn was so sweet to you guys...they ARE wonderful people to work with!!
(((HUGS))) to both of you. I can't believe you made it through all that. Saturn IS great, we have one now and they do have the greatest customer service.
Mike & Amy,
I am so glad you made it home safely. I can't believe Saturn was that great to you guys! Can you imagine if they werent....UUUGGGHHHH
Hope Mike feels better soon. Take care of yourself.
Many e-hugs 
OK, so I had to grab a cold beer/frosty mug in the middle of reading your post. ;)
Goodness!! That was a heck of a week. I am glad you are back home safely and Mike is recovering well from his surgery!
It sounds like Saturn's Cust Service were your angels last week.
Conni - isn't that the truth?!?!
Well, today has been an overall good day. Mike is still in a lot of pain after the surgery. It's hard to say if the surgery helped any b/c he is still suffering from the pain caused by the surgery itself.
We watched "Meet the Fockers" today on DVD for the first time. Loooved it! Just what we needed - some humor!!!! Then Mike wanted to get out of the house, so we ran a few errands. Came back home and had a good pork roast dinner that had been in the crockpot all night and day. I'm catching up on emails and MV (sorry if I'm not posting replies to other threads, just reading for now.) Mike is playing his Playstation. I'm going to go straighten up now and relax. Think I'll pick up a book tonight....
Wow, what a week!
Oh My GOD! What a horrible week!! I'm glad everyone is safe and well, I hope things stay calm and cool for you now!!
Wow, Amy! What a week. I am glad that everything went well with Mike's surgery. Hopefully, he will be painfree soon!
It is just wonderful what Saturn did for you!
(((AMY))) I hope things looks up! Hang in there!
{{{Amy and Mike}}} Wow. That sure puts things into perspective for the rest of us Remember that saying "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger"? Well, you guys are SUPER STRONG now. I'm sure that makes you feel better, right? Just kidding...I'm so glad that week is OVER for you (made me tired and stressed out just reading about it) You guys certainly deserve some R & R (Rest and Relaxation or REWARD and REIMBURSEMENT, whichever you prefer)
Wow I am stressed out just READING your post, good gravy. You get a gold star for hanging in there.
Oh my, that was an awful week! I hope this week is a million times better!
Oh my and I thought I was having a bad day! That was great of Saturn. I hope things start going your way!
I am having a mixed reaction. I am really, really sorry about all the car and money woes - and oh yes, do I know what you mean about not wanting to borrow from your mom. About 5 years ago I had to ask one of my sons for a cash-flow loan, and oh boy, that hurt.
But, my mixed feelings come from my fear, at first, that your hellofa week was because of Mike's surgery and problems with that. Yes, the hospital goofed by having him come when he didn't have to, and that cost you more money, but the surgery itself went well, and that is a major relief to me, and I'm sure, to you.
I can understand Mike feeling he has to "get out of the house", but he has to be really careful not to overdo and mess up what the doctors have done. He won't be able to tell if this has helped his back problem for several weeks. The tissue has to heal, and the nerves themselves have to heal, and that takes time. So he has to just resign himself to still having a bad back for a while, and give it time to heal.
And yes, that was great of Saturn. I wouldn't write a letter of commendation, though, because if they bent the rules a bit you don't want to get them in trouble. You can just sort of generally sing their praises without going into specifics. I've heard good things about Saturn, and really wished I could have afforded one when I bought my car last winter. Oh well, maybe the next one.
Oh, Amy - what a string of headaches to go through! I'm so sorry, but so glad that things came through for you.
We are going back out to TX on June 10th, next Friday, for a follow-up appointment. We are planning on stopping by Saturn while we are there to bring them a big basket of homemade cookies and brownies, with a card that will say something like, "We want to thank you for the excellent customer service we received here while having repairs done on our Relay." Or something to that effect.
Most of the time, Mike is laying down taking it easy. But, about once a day, he feels the need to get up and move about, get out of the house or whatever. He seems to be trying to take good care of his back. Sometimes I do worry that he may overdo himself - he has always been the type to try and take on everything himself, not ever asking for help. So, I'm always keeping an eye out so that he doesn't get the chance. ;)
Amy, please, please, tell Mike to listen to whatever it is the doctors have told him to do or NOT to do.
As a veteran of two back surgeries, I learned the hard way, it is crucial to your recovery!!!!! It may seem like a lot of doing nothing for a while, and I know it drives him nuts, but there's a REASON they may want him doing nothing!!!!!
My first back surgery, I listened to everything my doctor told me. It was a slow and painful recovery, but I recovered fully.
The second one, I figured it was unnecessary to do nothing for so long, and after a couple weeks I started doing stuff around the house, things I was told NOT to do. I have never gotten back to where I was before that.
Tell Mike to PLEASE listen!!!!! The number ONE reason you hear so many horror stories from people following back surgery is because they didn't do what they were supposed to do following the surgery!
My doctor always said the nerves healed at a rate of one millimeter per day. That is slow. He also told me that normally, you will experience the full result of your healing by one year, and after that, any further healing wasn't likely. He was right, both times.
I'll make sure to have Mike read this, Karen. Also, the dr told Mike to wald 4 blocks a day, does that sound similar?
Amy - Mike: that is WALK - not jog, not speedwalk, not run. Just a nice leisurely stroll around the neighborhood looking at the flowers. And it is 4 blocks - not 6, not 8, not "oh a few more won't hurt". Listen to Karen as she has BTDT.
Yes, it means walk, at a normal pace. Walking is GOOD! It's the best thing to do, early on, and after recovery. That's the first thing I was told to do.
Bumping up for Mike - Amy, please make sure he reads this, OK????
Wow, Amy! I haven't been to MV in several weeks, but had to stop and read this thread. I sure hope things have settled down for you and best wishes for Mike's recovery.
Just wanted to let you know that service writers can extend warranties and occasionally bend the rules to help a customer. A letter written to corporate stating the name of the service writer and simply how wonderful he was and how you hope to come back to him should problems arise again would be a great thing. As someone else mentioned, do not state that he gave you things you should not have had. Letters are vital as are filling out surveys with the highest praises. Service writers have to have a certain percentage of customer service surveys or they can be written up for not meeting the companies goals. Always fill out surveys and go the extra mile and your service writer WILL go the extra mile for you and help you get unwarrantied work done on your vehicle.
Amy, I am glad things worked out and I hope Mike has a smooth recovery!
Oh my!! Hope things are on a more even keel now and that Mike is making a good recovery and following dr.'s advice.
It could be a movie it was so exciting. Hope things calm down and the surgery was a sucess!
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