Veterans of War Find Peace and Healing through SCUBA

ABC ran a piece tonight on a SCUBA program for disabled veterans. The program takes place at St. John's in the Carribean and it struck a cord with me. The healing power of water provides relief from pain and physicial limitations. It also is soothing and peaceful, providing benefit to both mind and body. I had blogged about aqua therapy in my other blog http://camilleinla.blogspot.com/.

I first discovered the benefits of water when my father suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury. Twenty years later, with my own back injury, I discovered being in the water can be the best medicine. "Palliative care" is how a nurse described it - but it is much more than that. I was asked recently, what helps relieve pain and without over analzying - I scribbled, "swimming."

Scuba was great for awhile but I found the tanks and weight belt to be too cumbersome and heavy - snorkeling is a better choice for me - more freedom to move about.

Traveling During Swine Flu

There was only one man wearing a mask on the flight from Sao Paulo to Miami. Swine Flu is the topic of conversation among my colleagues and friends who are traveling around the world. An announcement was made on all my flights regarding identifying yourself onboard if you have symptoms of the flu. Know the symptoms, take precautions and take action as needed.

Time to Say Good-bye

Andrea Bocelli's song "Time to Say Good-bye" is playing in my head as a I prepare to depart from the idyllic Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa. It is apropos to have such a beautiful and bitterwseet song. The last 24 hours I have been avoiding the inevitable - making every effort to savor the experience and be in the present.

With little time left, I am going to sit and enjoy the sunshine from my patio, listen to the bubbling fountain below, take in the fresh air and sit in my bathrobe.

Swine Flu - Update from the MTA, precautions and insights for travellers

I received a bulletin from the Medical Tourism Association and below is part of their coverage of the Swine Flu. While I have been in Brazil, I have not read a paper or watched TV so this update was interesting. Concern about the flu has reached all corners of the world. A physician friend of mine in Tunisia is on business travel to Algeria and her family is concerned for her health such as mine was before I embarked on international travel.

One never knows what to expect practicing good hygience and knowing the symptoms and being prepared in terms of knowing about local hospitals, purchasing travel insurance and having tamaflu in hand helps to expect the best and prepare for the worst.

Steps to Stay Healthy
Stay informed.Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.

As of 11:00 AM ET on April 29, 2009, CDC has confirmed 91 human cases of swine flu in 10 states and 1 death:
Arizona: 1
California: 14
Indiana: 1
Kansas: 2
Massachusetts: 2
Michigan: 2
Nevada: 1
New York: 51
Ohio: 1
Texas: 16 (1 death)

Beyond Expectations at the Kurotel Longevity Center in Brazil

Day 5 and I have a moment to report on my experience at the Kurotel Longevity Center in Brazil, as I sit from my balcony suite overlooking their signature Kneipp water walk path. Below is the sound of a bubbling fountain and the fall air is crisp today.

"This experience is beyond my expectation," stated a guest I met yesterday. I could not agree more. Kurotel, for those of you who are not familiar, is a medically-based wellness destination in the south of Brazil that is in a class all of its own.

From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed in a way in which I felt exceptionally special. The amount of detail that goes into planning each guest's customized stay is exceptional. Greeted the moment I entered the property, Kurotel's International representative, Adrianne Kinzel explained that she would be available to see to every need during my stay. She had mapped out an afternoon schedule based on my estimated time of arrival. However, there was a delay from on my TAM arilines flight so I was already running late to my first appointment and didn't even know it!

Although I had traveled nearly 25 hours and was exhausted, I took one look at the schedule and was duly impressed with the breadth and scope of the afternoon activities. Because of the long trip, Adriane graciously offered to reschedule any (or all) of the 5 appointments but I could not dream of altering a program that beckoned me to immerse myself immediately in Kurotel.

I have kept a travelogue of sorts, send to my family and friends each night and have relished each response and the continuing email conversations about Kurotel. I look forward to sharing more on this blog. However, my afternoon schedule commences now ...so more later.

Traveling During the Swine Flu Outbreak

Just a week before a trip to Brazil, news started to emerge about Swine Flu. Within days, swine flu was on every news channel, every paper and media channel. I hadn't given it much thought until attending a disaster planning symposium sponsored by the Los Angeles Deptartment of Health. There was much adoo about Swine flu. A professional in disaster planning said she wouldn't travel anywhere if she didn't have to. Another suggested buying a mask and wearing it all the way from L.A. to my final destination in Brazil. Another asked if I hadn't gotten tamaflu as a precaution...which, admittedly I hadn't thought of.

After carefully following the travel nurses recommendations about vaccinations for yellow fever, typoid fever, Hep A, and boosters for measles and tetanus - Swine flu threatened a safe trip. My primary care physician was wonderful and after explaining my concern, he prescribed tamaflu. Little did I know how difficult it would be to obtain. There was a run on it. But thankfully, I was referred topharmacy and $50 later - had tamaflu in hand. I read that the US only has enough tamaflu for 16% of its population and many other countries fared less well statistically.

After a long flight, there is nothing like being greeting by a representative wearing a mask handing out warning flyers in English, Spanish and Portuguese. In fact, all the customs folks were wearing masks. There were a few folks that wore mask in the flight from Miami to Sao Paulo but I didn't see any masks being worn 8 hours into the flight. I did see lots of folks with their hand sanitizers. I am happy to report - I have no flu like symptoms and my travel plans have gone according to plan. So far.