Emergency Surgery in Greece Fund

Hello,

I’m Trent Schlesinger, and I am reaching out to provide a cautionary tale and ask your help for my mother JoEllen Schlesinger who has experienced some emergency medical and related costs. She had always dreamed of taking a Mediterranean cruise, but it was always out of reach for her. So, when I had the opportunity, I was very happy to be able to invite her and cover the cost for her to join my family on a trip to that part of the world.

One of our stops was the island of Santorini. If you happen to visit and find

yourself in the town of Fira, please avoid taking the “Karavolades” stairs. Donkeys travel up and down the steep stairs and their poop makes the stairs very slippery. We tried going down the stairs as the small gondolas were backed up for 2.5 hours and we would have missed the boat. Another cautionary word of warning - watch out when there are multiple cruise ships on Santorini - the island cannot handle that many people. :(

Unfortunately, my Mom slipped and broke her ankle in three places and dislocated her leg from her ankle. The only way to get her treatment was to pay for us to leave the tour and travel at expense to a major foreign city hospital. Her injury required surgery and recovery for three days in the hospital. She incurred additional transportation costs to get back with the rest of the family.

A big thanks to Doctors on both Mykonos and Athens for the care!! We couldn't have manuvered around the country without their help.

The total cost of this emergency is about $20,000 to date, and she does not know how much, or if any, of that total will be covered by insurance becasue on foreign soil (I suggest travel insurance if you are going out of the country).

Sadly, my Mom cannot afford to cover even a part of that amount on her fixed income and the costs were put on a charge card.

Please consider donating what you can to help my Mom cover some of the costs of this medical emergency.

If we can recoop back above the losses, we will contact named donors and reach out for reimbursement.

Many thanks to all who donate or consider donating. Please do not feel obligated and only help out if this does not place a hardship upon yourself.

Thank you – very much. God bless.

Trent