Every year a group of vintage racing enthusiasts come to Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico from Colorado. Some of them former or present GMC owners. A couple of nights ago one of the group (not a present or former GMC owner) suffered a massive stroke. While she is still alive, the prognosis is uncertain. She had to be taken by ambulance to an emergency treatment facility here, then by ambulance to the border where a helicopter from a Phoenix medical center was waiting. If not for the circle of friends here and their kids ability to come on a moments notice, no telling how the spouse could or would have been able to handle everything associated with her care and getting their motorhome, tow car and dogs up to the Phoenix medical center.
This happened in the middle of the night and everything had to be paid for in cash - the ambulance ride to the emergency facility, the cost incurred there, the ambulance ride to the border, and getting across the border which is closed during the night. I have no idea about the costs for the helicopter or the Phoenix medical center where she still is. They are not members of FMCA.
I post this because it is a reminder to all of us that one of the potentially most important FMCA member benefits is the medical assistance while traveling 100 or more miles from home benefit. Had they been members of FMCA (as all of you who belong to a GMC club are) the spouse could have made one phone call and had an immediate medical ombudsman who would have made all the arrangements for them including the transport of both of them, their coach, tow car and dogs. And many of the costs would also be reimbursed including the cost for a friend to drive your GMC if the professional driver assigned by the ombudsman refuses to do so because of the age of our GMCs. You receive this benefit just by being an FMCA member. There are no additional costs or sign ups required.
But, you do need to have readily at hand the phone number to call and your FMCA member number for validation. The phone number is in the magazine and a detailed description of this benefit is on the FMCA web site. I also think it is important to have your passports at the ready along with identification information for you both and a stash of emergency cash. I sure know this has caused Sharon and me to rethink how important it is for all of this to be in one ready to grab and go bag in our motorhome. We hope neither we nor any of you will ever need this but it is comforting to know it is there if we ever do.
Our prayers go out to the stroke victim and her family and friends.
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
http://jerrywork.com
This happened in the middle of the night and everything had to be paid for in cash - the ambulance ride to the emergency facility, the cost incurred there, the ambulance ride to the border, and getting across the border which is closed during the night. I have no idea about the costs for the helicopter or the Phoenix medical center where she still is. They are not members of FMCA.
I post this because it is a reminder to all of us that one of the potentially most important FMCA member benefits is the medical assistance while traveling 100 or more miles from home benefit. Had they been members of FMCA (as all of you who belong to a GMC club are) the spouse could have made one phone call and had an immediate medical ombudsman who would have made all the arrangements for them including the transport of both of them, their coach, tow car and dogs. And many of the costs would also be reimbursed including the cost for a friend to drive your GMC if the professional driver assigned by the ombudsman refuses to do so because of the age of our GMCs. You receive this benefit just by being an FMCA member. There are no additional costs or sign ups required.
But, you do need to have readily at hand the phone number to call and your FMCA member number for validation. The phone number is in the magazine and a detailed description of this benefit is on the FMCA web site. I also think it is important to have your passports at the ready along with identification information for you both and a stash of emergency cash. I sure know this has caused Sharon and me to rethink how important it is for all of this to be in one ready to grab and go bag in our motorhome. We hope neither we nor any of you will ever need this but it is comforting to know it is there if we ever do.
Our prayers go out to the stroke victim and her family and friends.
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
http://jerrywork.com
