A 12-year-old from Switzerland diagnosed with diabetes in Lipsi – his mother sends letter of gratitude to the mayor

A missive of gratitude was sent to the politician of Lipsi, Fotis Maggos, by the parent of a 12-year-old lad who, portion staying connected the land a fewer weeks ago, was diagnosed by the island’s agrarian doc arsenic having diabetes mellitus.

Until then, neither the parent nor the household knew astir the condition. The incidental led to the contiguous mobilisation of the Ministry of Health’s exigency mechanisms, and the 12-year-old was safely transported archetypal by vessel from Lipsi to the infirmary of Leros, and past by Chinook chopper to Rhodes, wherever helium received the indispensable care.

As the politician notes successful the missive that arrived from Switzerland, the boy’s mother, Maria Pinardi, writes among different things that Greece has highly susceptible doctors and a nationalist wellness strategy that does not look astatine the patient’s wallet, but astatine the idiosyncratic themselves.

A fewer weeks earlier, successful Lipsi, agrarian doc Giorgos Kalogerakos diagnosed diabetes successful a kid who, until then, neither helium nor his parent knew helium was suffering from.

Such moments amusement the worth of quality beingness and the dedication of those who service their assemblage with commitment, the politician concludes.

In the aforesaid letter, Maria Pinardi besides acknowledgment the residents of Lipsi who supported them successful each imaginable mode during the hard days she and Carlo went through.

The Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, besides commented connected the case, writing:
“From the missive sent by Carlo’s parent from Switzerland to the Mayor of Lipsi. Read what she says, and however importantly much generous the Greek National Health System is compared to Switzerland’s wellness system. I person been saying it repeatedly: anyone who criticises the NHS each day, if they were to beryllium treated for a time successful Northern Europe, would travel moving backmost to the Greek NHS. By acold the astir generous wellness strategy successful Europe…”

The mother’s letter

“Dear Fotis,

I americium penning these lines successful German, but my lawyer volition construe them into Greek. I would similar to convey you from the bottommost of my heart, arsenic good arsenic truthful galore radical from Lipsi. You each supported america incredibly during Carlo’s superior wellness issue.

And erstwhile I accidental ‘incredibly,’ I genuinely mean it. I was profoundly moved and positively amazed by however overmuch enactment we received and however galore times I felt your applicable help. You, Fotis, spoke with maine galore times and personally ensured we could spot a specializer – I understood however hard that was successful specified a abbreviated time, arsenic you had to woody with galore refusals. And each this portion we hardly knew each different beyond a elemental ‘hello.’

And past the radical of Lipsi: for example, a household who happened to beryllium successful Rhodes came to sojourn america and brought america caller homemade nutrient truthful we could person thing healthy.

Many friends and acquaintances from Lipsi perpetually messaged us, asking however we were and offering help. They knew we had to permission our rented workplace successful a hurry to spell to hospital. They adjacent urgently sent america indispensable items via courier by vessel truthful we could instrumentality them to Switzerland.

I person ne'er experienced specified willingness to assistance and quality warmth – it moved maine deeply. Even the information that the island’s doc instantly recognised the concern and organised the transportation to Rhodes was remarkable. I person nary words, lone gratitude.

The transport was besides impressive: ambulance to the port, subject vas to Leros, and from determination a Chinook chopper to Rhodes. Despite the shock, everyone was highly benignant and supportive, and Carlo has kept a affirmative representation of it all.

As a Swiss citizen, I was genuinely amazed by however good exigency healthcare works – and supra each that everything is done for the payment of the kid and the mother. Cost was not the priority, arsenic I americium utilized to successful Switzerland.

In Rhodes hospital, discussions began astir our instrumentality to Switzerland. I realised for the archetypal clip however otherwise Switzerland works: determination was disagreement betwixt doctors astir whether Carlo should question unsocial oregon with me. The Greek paediatric doctors insisted helium indispensable question with me, portion Swiss authorities tried to propulsion for a cheaper solution.

They adjacent made a young doc cry, portion the elder doc kept repeating: ‘He indispensable beryllium transferred with his parent – afloat stop.’ It was precise hard for maine to witness.

The doctors successful Rhodes told me: ‘Now we recognize wherefore you are truthful affluent successful Switzerland – you effort to prevention wealth everywhere, adjacent astatine the disbursal of patients.’ Eventually, our security arranged our return, but lone due to the fact that the Greek doctors insisted.

I notation each this due to the fact that I cognize you are a person and the Greek wellness strategy is often criticised. I tin lone accidental a immense convey you to you and everyone involved.

Even successful hospital, Carlo was treated with large flexibility – helium could take his meals, remainder more, etc. Everyone showed large knowing toward maine arsenic well.

Finally, I would similar to accidental that we were yet picked up from Rhodes by a precise benignant Swiss team, which helped america hide the difficulties. However, determination remains a bitter feeling, arsenic without the insistence of the Greek doctors, we would not person received the aforesaid help.

I person learned that I americium not the lone 1 who has experienced thing similar this. There are different Swiss citizens who, contempt insurance, conflict to beryllium repatriated aft aesculapian incidents abroad.

I anticipation we volition soon instrumentality steadfast to Lipsi truthful that we tin convey you successful person.

With lukewarm regards,
Maria”