In August 2019, I spent my holiday on the island of Corfu in Greece with my partner. As we own a holiday home there, we visit the island regularly and feel very much at home there. We always really enjoy the time we spend there, but unfortunately, things don't always go as we planned. On 30 August, I had to be hospitalised in Corfu because of breathing problems. As if it wasn't bad enough to be in such a situation, even more so on holiday, I received miserable service and no helpfulness from the staff in this hospital.
After the first checks, the diagnosis was clear: a heart valve was causing problems, which had also led to pneumonia. So the situation was acute. As we are members of the CMCM, my partner immediately contacted the CMCM Assistance in order not to lose any time and to organise a repatriation. They were very helpful and assured us that they would take care of my situation as best they could.
At 2am we received a call telling us that everything would be taken care of by CMCM-Assistance and that we would not be going to Luxembourg but to Athens to a private clinic.
My partner and I were picked up the next day and taken by ambulance to the airport, where a small plane was already waiting for us, equipped with all the medical equipment and nursing staff. After a 30-minute flight, we arrived in Athens, where the next ambulance was already waiting for us. Everything went smoothly.
When we arrived at the Medical Center of Athens, we felt as if we were being carried on shoulders. We had never experienced such good service in a hospital, it almost felt like a hotel. After the bad experience at the Corfu hospital, this was of course a great relief. Without wasting any time, the various experts immediately carried out various checks. They came to the conclusion that the mitral valve had to be replaced and that the operation should take place in Athens to avoid further transport. Since my partner wanted to stay by my side during this time and I urgently needed his support after the operation, the CMCM also took care of his stay on site.
On 9 September, after numerous preliminary examinations, the operation was successfully performed and on 20 September, the flight back to Luxembourg was imminent.
I flew in a small plane from Athens to Luxembourg, with a short stopover to pick up another patient. Unfortunately, my partner could not make the flight, so he booked a normal scheduled flight to Luxembourg, which was also reimbursed by the CMCM.
After landing at Findel, I went to the hospital in Ettelbrück for a few days. After they isolated me, which is usual when you come from a foreign hospital, various checks were carried out and on 8 October I left for Germany to a rehabilitation centre. Of course, these costs were also fully covered by the CMCM. On 28 October, I was finally able to return home. For my partner and me, it was not an end to the holiday as we would wish. Therefore, I am even happier that the CMCM helped me so well and that the experience at the hospital in Athens was extremely positive. Of course, this is also thanks to my partner, who immediately took the initiative and contacted the CMCM.
So with the feeling that we will be helped in any emergency situation, we have absolutely no qualms about continuing to go to Corfu to our holiday home as usual.
Lucien THILLENS