hello from Sydney

hey everyone,

My name is Marisa, I'm a 24 year old from Sydney living with Thal Major.
I've decided that 2007 is the time for me to travel and am hoping to do a working holiday in Canada.

Was hoping to hear from any of you that have travelled and received blood transfusions in other countries and how much it has cost you and whether you were able to obtain insurance to cover the transfusions.

Can't wait to hear from you.

marisa x
 

Hi Marisa and welcome to the group 

You can try contacting the national thal associations of the countries you'll be visiting.

In Canada, contact

Thalassemia Foundation of Canada

Mailing Address:
338 Falstaff Avenue,
North York, Ontario,
M6L 3E7
Canada
Tel/Fax: (416) 242-THAL (8425)
Email: info@thalassemia.ca

Head Office:
901-3300 Highway No.7,
Vaughan, Ontario
L4K 4M3
Canada

If you'll be in the US for any length of time contact

Cooley's Anemia Foundation
330 Seventh Avenue, #900
New York, NY 10001
(800)522-7222
Fax: 212-279-5999
Patient Services Manager: Eva Chin-Li    eva.chin@cooleysanemia.org



This question arises from time to time. I know some of you have traveled and worked in other countries. What did you do to get your treatment while traveling?

Hello Marisa!

Welcome to the family! I hope that you will have a great time here and find this site very useful.

If you are planning to travel then take a look at the list of the treatment centers with their contact information on this page of the site:

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?board=9.0

I hope you will find the treatment centers for the places that you are going to visit.

Take care, Peace!

Thanks Andy and Sajid,

I've spoken to my specialist here about it and he has no problem organising my bt's in other countries, it's just the cost that I'm trying to get around.
I've emailed the foundation in Canada but haven't heard back from them yet...fingers crossed!

Thanks again, Marisa 

Welcome Marisa!!!

Thanks Christine 
All the best with little Lauryn 

Marisa,

Welcome to Canada, You need to be aware of the rules in Canada. I am not sure how much it would cost you, but I am assuming one blood tansfusion may have a substantial cost. Depending on how many transfusions you are getting here that adds up. I am only guessing but the cost may be upto couple of thousand dollars or more for two or three transfusions. Thalassemia foundation of Canada can tell you exactly how much it will cost you. You need to arrange your BT center prior coming to here, nobody will entertain you unless your doctor in Australia have already arranged a bt center in Canada. Make sure you bring your doctors letter re. Desferal and the reason you are carrying it. Also it depends where are you visiting, in Toronto there is one Adult thalassemia center in Toronto General Hospital. Regarding your insurance, you have to get private policy to get you covered. I have heard about Blue Cross Insurance company which is pretty reliable. You can find them on the web. Contact them and see what they have to say.

Regards

 


Hi and welcome Marisa,
Im also from sydney and im a 27 year old.would love to hear more about you and where do you go for treatment also?
As for working holidays i have been over to the uk and there if you are an australian citizen treatment costs nil but you have to apply to there NHS for a medical number like our Medicare scheme.hope this helps!
sydneygirl

hey sydneygirl,

thanks for the details! 

I originally went to the Prince of Wales Children's hospital in Randwick, under the care of Dr Berdoukas. Surprising as it may sound, I have lots of fond memories of the time I spent there with all my little 'Thal pals'.

When it came time to move to the adult's hospital I decided to go to a hospital closer to home, which in my case was a bad move. I experienced some nasty nurses there (one who told me that I was going to run out of veins soon and they'd need to stick them in my head!!) and a very stupid doctor who was not specialised in Thal and insisted that I was irresponsible and wasn't doing my desferal as much as I should have when I was!!!
Consequently I moved back to the Prince of Wales hospital in the Adults Haematology ward where the nurses are LOVELY and know all about Thal. I'm under the care of Dr Lindeman who I find to be fantastic!

Where do you go for treatment sydneygirl???

hi marisa,
im also at the prince of wales hospital and under dr lindeman also,im been there also from birth 1st the childrens hos with dr berdoukas now the adults also.thats a coindience maybe we have seen each other? what days so u go for blood normally?

that is a coincidence!
I go every 5 weeks on a Saturday, so I don't miss out on work.
U??

wow it is! i normally go every 4 weeks on a thursday, we may have seen each other and have never known it! its  a small world

Hello Marisa,

 I know who you are...you were a little girl when I used to go over to the childrens hospital..I know your mother as welll...but we havent seen your or your mother in years...

I am glad that you have found this site...

Sydney Girl Hello How are you?

We are all over at the adults now...Under Dr Linderman..

Hope to speak to you again soon..

Take care..
theodora

now I remember you Theodora, you were vaguely familiar in the photo but now that you said your name I know who you are 

i went to St george after I was too old to go to the Children's hospital, then started back at Randwick a couple of years ago. So glad that i'm back at Prince of Wales!

Hope you're well
x

Welcome to the forum, Marisa!    Great to have you here with us!   

It's so awesome to see our members connect through this forum, after not seeing each other for a long time.   Awww.