Jmack66,
I think there is a facility somewhere in Birmingham that is for folks who are coming there to get treatments that live out of town. It's a place that you can stay & spend the night. I cannot think of the name of it but if you are interested I could probably find out the name of it. I want to think it was a charity based facility but I could be wrong there.
Let me know if you are interested and I will try to find out something for you.
UAB has many places in B'ham but they do stay full.
I have stayed at the UAB "Condos" and while not the best of places(kinda nasty and had a bug problem) but it was free. I also or I should say my wife, got to stay in an Apartment right across the street from the 4th Ave parking garage that leads directly into UAB and is just a short walk to the Kirklin Clinic. This Apt was very, very nice and is for the families and patients being treated at UAB for a variety if issues. There are several Apartments that they or the Doctors own in that one complex.
All we had to do is ask My Patient Navigator to find us lodging on such and such date and she made it happen.
My first ever visit to UAB, I went to Dr. Carrol at Kirklin Clinic to get diagnoses confirmed and on the way home a woman, Diane Williams, called and said she was my Patient Navigator and would help me and my family go through this ordeal. They have offered and provided things such as $100.00 gas cards, Rooms and apartments, food coupons for free meals at the UAB cafeteria and at local restaurants, and a myriad of other services that I just can't recall because we were fortunate to have never had to use them.
Shen worked with the American Cancer Society to find Funds that are paid for using certain Drugs. I got enough through them to pay my Medical Insurance premiums while I was on Chemo. All I had to do to qualify was to show the Bill with the drug listed that provided the Foundation the Money. This was a big help especially when I could no longer work and while on company paid disability I had to pay my own insurance premiums.
Even now with just follow up visits we still can get reduced room rates, $49.00 a night, at the Redmont Hotel.
I have also made the drive to an afternoon appointment at UAB from Ft Walton Beach and then driven back home that same evening. My last two visits were in the same week, one on Monday and the next on Friday. We stayed overnight for the Friday visit as it was an all day affair but drove up on Monday morning and then back home Monday afternoon.
Jmack if I can be of any help just PM me. I have been there and done that....twice now.
I still offer up prayers for you, your family and the Doctors that will be treating you.
