My name is Jonathan Jacobs.  As my blog title says, I am currently a dialysis patient. I am also a person who loves to travel. This introduction goes back to pre-Covid 2019 and moves forward to the present, the ups and downs as well as the  in-betweens.

Let’s Try This Again

In 2019, we decided to go to Sydney Australia to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2020. Everything was booked. Planning was ongoing. Much time was spent learning about Sydney and environs. 

We went on with various degrees of planning, and the days began to count down.

 Then COVID-19 hit. BYE bye trip. Bye bye life as we knew it.

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It’s three years later, Two vaccinations and boosters later. The world for better or worse, has come out of its shell. There is an attempted return to normality, although Covid is still fighting back. We finally decided to carefully live our lives, and with that a Down Under trip was back on the menu. 

This blog will follow the trip that was postponed for three years. Health and safety considered, this one looks like a go. (12/16/22)

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What has changed 

The cancelled trip was on Qantas, NY— To Sydney, with a stop to change planes in Dallas. There were no non-stops available from NY to Australasia.

In the three years since, plane travel has evolved between NY and Australia and New Zealand. Qantas and Air New Zealand now share a new route, NY direct to Auckland, New Zealand, and then on to Sydney. Each flies the route three days a week (in both directions). 

For this trip we chose Air New Zealand, which allows a stopover in Auckland on our return flight. This enables us to see both Sydney and Auckland on the same trip.

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It’s 2023. At this time in 2020, Covid-19 was still a curiosity. Within a month, all hell broke loose. Soon after, our trip was cancelled. Nine months to go, and it still seems like a long time to worry..

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A Major bump in the road

Today is Sunday, March 26. For the past three weeks I have been in the hospital, and just came home two days ago. My kidneys went out to lunch and have not returned home. I am currently on dialysis three days a week. I am also sporting a Foley catheter (look it up if you wish). Needless to say, the trip is no sure thing at this point. Thankfully, there is time to get better.

Progress as it occurs.     I hope spring progress in the Northern Hemisphere leads to a fun spring in the Southern.

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It is now summer in New York, winter (of a milder sort) in Sydney. As of now the trip is still on. Three months and a week to take off. My day to day health is pretty good. I’ve just finished the paperwork for guest dialysis in Sydney. As soon as the paperwork clears, I can arrange for one dialysis session in Auckland, NZ on the return leg. My motto is “Have dialysis, will travel (anyway!!) (6/21/23)

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Two months to go! Paperwork for dialysis in Sydney and Auckland filed and accepted. Updated treatment data will be sent in September (next month). Nothing else to do other than that of a normal trip. Buy currency and make reservations for in trip tours. (8/1/23)

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A note of thanks before we begin

There are many people who in their own ways made this trip possible.

The dialysis nurses at St. Catharine’s hospital in Smithtown, N.Y. They are dedicated, cheerful, and overall wonderful. I spend three mornings a week with them. They keep me as healthy as possible.

Kimberly Standfast, the Dialysis Social Worker at St. Catherine’s.

Kim has guided me through the process of international guest dialysis. She made the contacts for me, and prepared all the paperwork needed.

She has been my cheerleader throughout the process.

The physical therapists at Jag1 in Smithtown NY. https://www.jagonept.com/physical-therapy-clinics/smithtown/

‘They have worked with me on regaining the strength and balance in my legs, which was lost during my hospitalization. I doubt that I would have been able to travel without them.

Of course, my wife, and travel partner, Gerri.

Gerri has pulled me through these trying times. I’m not the easiest patient, but she’s there when I need her (even if I don’t know it.)

My sons, Steven and Andrew

And then there is nurse, Daisy 

Oh, one last thing…. What is Groucho NYY?

If you are a Red Sox fan, or have no sense of humor, or both, you are still welcome.