How would you cope with this scenario?
How would you cope?
You are booked into public hospital to have a large portion of your lung removed. The Doctors have found a tumour sitting between two sections of your lung which requires urgent surgery. The first date for going into hospital was postponed on the day, so you had a weekend reprieve you convinced yourself. Now you are being brave for your family as you lay in the bed, but this is your second major surgery for Cancer, having had a double mastectomy and chemotherapy three years ago.
You have been admitted into hospital the night ahead due to the serious nature of the surgery so have had plenty of time during the night to think things over. You are sitting there, scrubbed up, prepped for surgery, second on the list for the day with an expected time for the operation to be around lunchtime. You watch as the first person is wheeled off early in the morning which has made for a very long morning waiting for your turn, hungry too as nil by mouth. The Nurse walks into your room to wheel you into theatre close to lunchtime – except he is saying words you can’t believe you are hearing “I’m really sorry but we have had to cancel your surgery today there has been an emergency patient come in” You can go home for the afternoon! What would you say to that?
This happened to a friend of mine, her words were fairly colourful at that news to say the least. She phoned me to relay this story as she was leaving the hospital for her few hours, knowing she must go back to go through it all again tomorrow. How do you think you would you cope with that? How would you cope if it was your partner or child going through that?
Private hospitals provide you with security. You are booked in and surgery happens on the day you were booked to have it. You get to decide on what date would be convenient for you to have the surgery and your family can all be organised to work around that date with you. For those who have had the experience of waiting to be wheeled into surgery, you know all too well the state of apprehension prior it’s gruelling waiting for your turn. You want to know it is going to happen and not have to go through it all again.
Why do we promote medical insurance – because we know first-hand what it is like. All of the team at Lifetime have private medical insurance through our Group Health Scheme. There have been plenty of claims in the last few years and often we have found that the younger people are doing a large portion of the claims.
Medical insurance is so much more than just paying for surgery. It is paying for you and your family to never have to answer, ‘How would you cope’ with the above situation. Hopefully by the time the next newsletter comes out, my friend’s surgery will be over and a success. Now I make sure I talk to all my friends about medical insurance, it’s horrible to watch and know things should have been different had that discussion happened.
If you or any of your friends need information on how to protect your families with medical insurance, please give one of our advisers a call today. It’s a discussion everyone should be having.
Lifetime Book Club: Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday
In a world that rewards speed, noise, and constant movement, this book offers a different perspective. One that suggests clarity, better decisions, and a more meaningful life do not come from doing more. They come from slowing down.
This is not a productivity hack or a call to retreat from real life. It is a thoughtful reminder that stillness is not weakness. It is a strength.
Mastering the New Year: The Psychology, Power, and Precision of Goal Setting
For many, the beginning of a new year signifies a fresh start, a blank canvas upon which we can paint our aspirations and ambitions. Goal setting is not just a yearly ritual; it is a powerful tool that empowers individuals to strive for personal growth, achieve milestones, and lead more fulfilling lives.