22nd chapter – Spring Break
Cannes, Wednesday, April 30th, 2025
Today was my second Kine appointment. Again, I noticed some improvement in flexibility.
We noticed the cruise ships are returning to Cannes.
I ordered a patio tent today from Ikea. It will provide better shade than our current setup. I expect delivery on Tuesday.
Cannes, Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
The plumbers showed up today to fix our leaky kitchen faucet. They replaced a hose. Now we can dispense with our drip bucket under the sink. I also ordered a new faucet head from Amazon.
Cannes, Monday, April 28th, 2025
Today was my first Kine (physical rehab) appointment. I’m using the same lady who helped Rebecca with her shoulder issues. We had a good workout. My focus is on flexibility. This was 100% covered by my French health insurance and my supplemental policy.
Cannes, Thursday, April 24th, 2025
Today is our second anniversary of moving into our Cannes apartment. We haven’t regretted a single day.
Mougins, Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025
Rebecca took the bus to nearby Mougins in the afternoon to meet with her book club. They discussed The Lion Women of Tehran.
Cannes, Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025
Rebecca met up with her new friend Suzy for midday tea and shopping. Rebecca scored a few local bargains.
The BIG NEWS is that Rebecca finally received approval on the annual VLS-TS (Visa). They had been dragging their feet for several months and gave her several extensions. She is legal for another year.
Cannes, Sunday, April 20th, 2025
Happy Easter.
Cannes, Saturday, April 19th, 2025
Rebecca caught the train to Saint-Laurent-du-Var (near the Nice airport) to visit the Apple store at Cap 3000, a big Mall.
She was picking up her new MacBook Air. This is a replacement for her decade-old MacBook, which had some significant limitations regarding software upgrades. She also had a chance to browse a few of the many stores there.
Tomorrow we will install her software to get her up to speed. She is excited to have her new computer.
Cannes, Friday, April 18th, 2025
A bit over two weeks ago, when I returned home, I set a goal for myself to be able to walk without assistance (crutches) and take a trip outside of our house. I have been in our flat every day since returning home from hospital/rehab.
To prepare, I set a daily workout routine to strengthen my leg.
Today was that day. Liberation Day 2
We took a morning Uber to our doctor to renew a few prescriptions. The doctor cost 4 Eu out of pocket. I brought a one-arm crutch to get preference on the bus but it wasn’t needed to walk other than to help with balance on uneven sidewalks.
After visiting the doc, we walked to a fabric store to get some velcro supplies for a project I’m working on at home.
Next, we walked to my barber shop for my quarterly haircut.
While there, Rebecca was dispatched to visit our local bank to take care of a few tasks.
We reunited after my haircut, at the bus station to catch the A bus to La Bocca for lunch at a Chinese restaurant I frequent. We also picked up a few supplies at the supermarket next door.
After shopping, we took the A bus back to the Cannes bus station, and then took the 21 bus back home.
It was great to get out of the house and see people on the street for the first time since my accident on March 1.
My goal for the first two weeks was Mobility, the goal for the next two weeks is Flexibility, as my leg is still a bit stiff. I have to find a physical therapist who makes home visits. My doctor gave me a list to contact.
Antibes, Wednesday, April 16th, 2025
Rebecca took the train to Antibes, a short distance away, for a meeting of Democrats Abroad.
They were discussing various ideas, and Rebecca floated having kids under 18 covered by Medicare/Medicaid. It was well received.
She also made a new friend.
Cannes, Sunday, April 13th, 2025
I’ve been very pleased with my progress so far, considering that I have been home from rehab for just over a week.
Here is my daily schedule.
I walk our outside patio 10-12 times, five times a day. Each effort is about 50 steps, for a total of 2,500 steps a day. I also add stretches
I set a goal last Monday of being able to take the bus by Thursday or Friday of this week. This will require me to navigate stairs.
My leg is still a bit stiff, but I’m making good progress. I’m balancing recovery with making sure I don’t injure myself.
Cannes, Friday, April 11th, 2025
Tax Day
I filed my Federal taxes today via Tax Slayer a free program. Highly recommended.
I began walking without a crutch today.
Cannes, Wednesday, April 9th, 2025
Rebecca has dedicated herself to working stairs for exercise both in the building and outside. She reports that it is having a positive effect.
I’m walking much better, challenging myself to terrace walks and only lightly using one crutch. My goal is to be crutchless by the end of next week. The leg is still a bit stiff but getting better.
Cannes, Tuesday, April 8th, 2025
I occasionally like challenges to keep myself busy. Today, I decided to clean my keyboard, which had been neglected for over four years.
It began by using a key puller to remove the keys.
Then, using A Q-tip I cleaned the keyboard, removing all the crud.
Next, I washed each key and dried them.
Then, each key was replaced.
All of this led me to a challenge for you.
Despite being a relatively good typist. By memory, I had no idea where each alphabet key was placed,
Can you place the alphabet keys in the correct position without cheating? Please print this out and give it a try.
Here is a hint.
The alphabet begins on row three with a Tab key, followed by these letters QWERTY
Cannes, Sunday, April 6th, 2025
It was a beautiful day. I did some walking on the patio. My leg flexibility is increasing each day.
Rebecca devoted herself to the flower pots.
Cannes, Saturday, April 5th, 2025
First full day home. Cut off my beard.
Relaxed and practiced walking. Becoming less dependent on crutches.
Made a pizza.
Life is good.
Cannes, Friday, April 4th, 2025
Home Run
Today is Liberation Day. I’m heading home.
RECAP:
March 1st- Accident & Surgery Cannes Hospital
March 17- Transfer to Rehab in Mougins. Told to expect 3-4 weeks in rehab
March 24- Trip to Cannes hospital for xRays and consultation.
March 25 – Cleared to begin walking. Told to expect 3-4 week
April 4th -Discharged from rehab and sent home
I was up at 8 AM, packed up my stuff, and sat in a chair waiting for my ride, which was scheduled for 10 AM-noon. Finally, at 11:30 AM, I rang for the nurse. I was concerned that the order had not been executed. At that very minute, my ambulance folks entered the room.
The body snatchers had arrived.
They loaded me into the ambulance and headed home. It was great seeing life on the street.
When I arrived, they carried me up the front stairs, and I took the elevator to our 4th-floor unit. It was bright and such a contrast to the last 4 weeks’ hospital room.
Rebecca had the place clean and bought a rotessarie chicken. Real food for a change.
Spent the first night home in over a month.
Mougins, Thursday, April 3rd, 2025
The final full day here. Did several walks in the hall, getting more flexibility each day.
My physical therapist had a funny line. Today was our last session together. He said goodbye and “I helped make Bachler Great Again.” I cracked up.
I met with my physical therapist for the final time. All good to go.
Liberation time tomorrow 10 AM- noon by ambulance home.
My last lunch here.
Some home equipment was delivered by Amazon today.
Here are some people who helped me with my recovery at rehab..
COUNTDOWN Last full Day
Mougins, Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025
Rebecca reports that our patio petunias are coming back to life. She visited the local nursery and received some care tips. She also picked up a few new plants, including a large raspberry plant.
In Rahab, I did several long hall walks with my new arm braces.
COUNTDOWN Day Two
Mougins, Tuesday, April 1st, 2025
Sweet Rebecca made the trek here today and brought some provisions, including Ben & Jerry’s ice cream Cookie Dough. She is a saint.
My physical therapist (KINE) brought me arm braces to switch from the walker. We took them on a test run down the hall.
Counting down to Friday. I ordered a few home things to help me at home, like a shower chair and a wall brace.
COUNTDOWN Day Three
Mougins, Monday, March 30th, 2025
BIG NEWS
Time to GTFO
I met with my doctor today and convinced him that I should go home on Friday. He agreed,
My mobility has significantly improved.
The wheels are in motion.
COUNTDOWN Day Four
Mougins, Saturday, March 29th, 2025
The weekend is a quiet time at the hospital. Not much going on.
I made it a point to get out of bed and walk several times for exercise.
Mougins, Friday, March 28th, 2025
Let’s start with Rebecca today.
She went to Velbonne with some of her gal pals for lunch and market day. It was a nice spring day.
I’ve been craving good ice cream (Stracciatella), so Rebecca found some in Valbonne for me.
Because Mougins is on her way back to Cannes, her friends dropped her off at my hospital. Unfortunately, due to some bags being consolidated, the ice cream treat was left in the car, which she discovered just after they dropped her off at rehab.
I gave her an A+ for effort.
She called her friends to let them know about this mishap so the frozen treat would not melt in their car. Miraculously, they offered to fight rush hour traffic and return to the hospital to reunite us with the frozen treasure. It was well beyond the call of duty and extremely appreciated. It tasted SOOO good.
Rebecca was a real saint for all her efforts on my behalf.
End of Week Four
As for me, I am walking with a walker much better than earlier in the week. I’m gaining much confidence and mobility. I made it a point to get out of bed several times a day and walk. My improvement in just one week has been remarkable. I hope to return home soon.
Mougins, Thursday, March 27th, 2025
Today, my rehab guy brought in a mechanical device to increase my flexibility.
I was able to get out of bed on my own and walk around the room several times using a walker. I’m very pleased with my progress this week.
Rebecca made a train trek to Nice to have lunch with our friends and pick up her replacement coffee machine. It was ordered over a month ago.
Mougins, Wednesday, March 26th, 2025
Another day of progress at rehab. I’m increasing my mobility significantly each day.
The beard continues to grow. No decision on its future. TBD after I return home.
Rebecca met with her book club in Antibes. She met some new folks at the club. There are about a dozen members from around the world.
Mougins, Tuesday, March 25th, 2025
The original plan was for Rebecca to snag a pizza from a local restaurant and bring it in. It seems that the selected restaurant was both farther away and closed when she arrived. Plan abandoned
Rebecca did come by the rehab center, and we had a nice chat. She was able to witness me walking for the first time using a walker. My left leg is a bit stiff, but I was able to circumnavigate my room with little help.
After my walk, Rebecca went to a local boulangerie and snagged a slice of pizza for me. It was delightful to have some familiar food.
Today was a very productive day filled with optimism.
Cannes/Mougins, Monday, March 24th, 2025
Travel Day
Today, the body snatchers took me by ambulance back to the Cannes Hospital for x-rays and to meet with my original admitting doctor. It was nice to get out of bed and hit the road.
The prognosis is that I seem to be healing as expected for three weeks after the accident. I have been cleared to begin walking therapy.
My goal is to gain enough mobility to be self-sufficient at home. They are projecting 3-4 more weeks in rehab.
Rebecca had a nice coffee meeting with her international Women’s Group today.
Tomorrow, we will repeat Operation Pizza when Rebecca visits me. I’m looking forward to it.
Mougins, Sunday, March 23rd, 2025
Operation Pizza, delayed
Our covert plan to deliver some contraband pizza to me had to be suspended unexpectedly.
The planning was brilliant. We located the pizza restaurant, coordinated its lunch hours, and devised the appropriate delivery container to convey its contents.
Rebecca’s execution was done with great precision up to one fatal flaw. The Sunday bus schedule.
We hadn’t factored in the greatly reduced bus schedule for Sunday transit. Rebecca arrived at the pick-up point 7 minutes after the bus had left. The next bus wasn’t until an hour later, and the return trip was even more challenging.
With great regret, we concluded that the only appropriate action was to redistribute the pizza to a local street person for their luncheon delight.
We will attempt again in the week when the bus schedule is more accommodating.
Mougins, Saturday, March 22nd, 2025
I discovered that there is no physical therapy on the weekend. Seems that the PT guy is off.
I did manage to convince the nurses that I should sit in a chair for a few hours. It was liberating. One can accomplish great things when the adults are not around.
I read on the interweb that Pizza expedites femur healing exponentially. I’m a willing test subject. Rebecca and I are conspiring to smuggle a pizza into the hospital tomorrow as part of a professional science experiment.
Watch for my upcoming article in the Journal of Femur Recovery if successful.
A smile for today.
I was a bit bored in my room so I decided to visit the Hospital blood bank to make a deposit.
Just as soon as I entered, I received a ton of bad attitude.
They demanded to know where I got the blood and asked why it was in two five-gallon buckets.
I didn’t realize they were so picky.
Mougins, Friday, March 21st, 2025
Rebecca, being the gem that she is, lugged my laptop here today, which is why I can update this blog. It really lifted my spirits and will be a great distraction as I count down my incarceration here.
Today was a liberating day. I was able to spend two hours in a chair rather than be prone in bed all day. It was an invigorating Out-of-Bed experience.
Funny story.
I was scheduled to have an x-ray taken at the Cannes hospital next Monday. I figured that being here, I should cancel it as they have the same equipment. I emailed the Cannes Hospital, notifying them that I was canceling it.
Less than an hour later, my rehab doctor appeared in my room, a bit animated. It seems that the Cannes Hospital doctor called him to find out why he was canceling his consultation with me. The rehab doctor had no clue that I had sent the email.
So, on Monday, they will transport me back to the Cannes hospital so my Cannes doctor can x-ray me and check on my progress.
I’m hopeful that they will agree that my leg has healed enough to allow me to begin some walking exercises. All of this is toward the goal of returning home, becoming a burden on Rebecca, and rejoining the world of recognizable food.
End of week three.
Mougins, Thursday, March 20th, 2025
The additional cost for a private room is 80 eu/day of which 60 euros is covered by my Mutulle. Easy decision. I asked to be moved.
Interesting story. I was verbally given a price of 85 eu/day for a private room. I emailed the hospital admissions for a cost and was quoted 120 eu/day. I wrote back, informing them that I was told that it should be 80-85/day. They then confirmed a price of 80 eu/day,
I was moved to a private room which is nice.
My next-door cell neighbor is Thomas, a gent from England who has lived in France for 30 years. He is a charming fellow. He is in for some heart work.
Lunch today. Animal, vegetable, or mineral? Tomorrow, perhaps the Vietnamese POW classic -fish heads and rice.
Mougins, Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
I requested physical therapy twice a day to speed up my recovery. The morning session uses electrical stimulation to exercise my muscles. The afternoon is kinetic movement to improve my flexibility.
They rolled in a roommate today, which made me appreciate my privacy. Here are the nurses who helping me. One teaches me a new French phrase each day.
My beard is progressing.
On the home front, Rebecca found a new French tutor on italki who she really likes.
Kudos to Rebecca for her efforts in challenging this complex language.
Mougins, Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
This facility is farther than the Cannes hospital so getting Rebecca here is more of a challenge. Fortunately, the French bus system is very good.
We studied the timetables, and it seems that a 663 or 664 bus is her best bet. She can pick it up near the trans station and get dropped off right at the hospital. It is a better option at 2.2 Eu vs a 25 Eu Uber ride.
Mougins, Monday, March 17th, 2025
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Today, the body snatchers arrived and took me by ambulance to the Rehap facility in nearby Mougins.
Rebecca was on her way to the hospital via Uber and had to reroute mid-course to meet me at the new facility.
I briefly had a roommate in our shared room. When we arrived, he was on the crapper and decided that he was best served by a private room. I was moved to a double and had to myself, which suited me fine.
Cannes, Friday, March 14th, 2025
The rumor seems to be true, I’m off to a rehab facility on Monday. Things don’t happen on weekends, it seems
End of Week Two
Cannes, Thursday, March 13th, 2025
I had heard rumblings that I could be moved to a rehab facility tomorrow.
I finally found an insurance broker and signed up for a Mutulle policy to begin today. It was a challenge providing my documents via my iPad but I pulled it off. Anticipating my upcoming treatments, I opted for a more generous plan than I might have normally considered. The monthly cost is 130 Eu per Month.
I’m beginning to suspect that the hospital morgue may have a contract as a food supplier here, but it cannot be confirmed other than by just empirical evidence. France is devoted to recycling.
Cannes, Tuesday, March 11th, 2025
I have a French health care card Carte Vitalle, but I have no idea how much this little vacation will cost me. Essentially 70% will be covered. I’m not too concerned because the cost of French health care is significantly less than in the US.
The French also allow people to get supplementary insurance (Mutulle) to cover the gap, rather like a Medicare supplement.
I am researching this and note they are not allowed to apply pre-existing conditions on acceptance or cost.
Cannes, Monday, March 10th, 2025
Well, it has been 10 days into this inconvenience. I’m beginning to feel like an astronaut lying on my back all day.
The help here is very good and friendly. Here is part of my team
I’m hearing that they want me out of the hospital and off to a rehab facility. They are calling around to find an opening.
I can’t complain about the view from my room.
Cannes, Sunday, March 9th, 2025
We all appreciated the skills the French have with food, especially sauces.
I can honestly report that those skills have not yet migrated to the hospital system here.
Here is my lunch today.
I typically prefer my food to have a dramatically different appearance going into my body as opposed to how it looks coming out. This did not meet that test.
Cannes, Friday, March 7th, 2025
End of week one
Cannes, Thursday, March 6th, 2025
Rebecca and I are working on a few more hypnosis tapes. They are really helping with the pain basically eliminating it.
Here is Phillip, my physical therapy guy. He is a real pro.
Rebecca has been a real dream, visiting me each day and smuggling in some nutritional contraband such as ice cream and chips.
Cannes, Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
The French provide excellent medical care. Here, it is considered a right and not just another consumer product.
Rather than use a cast, my leg is in a removable brace.
Due to the hematoma inside my leg, I had become a bit anemic They gave a unit of blood
Here are two of the ladies who are helping me.
and the beard begins…
Cannes, Monday, March 3rd, 2025
Moving my leg is quite painful, so Rebecca made me a hypnosis tape to address the pain. It worked very well and made a huge difference. I listen to it repeatedly, as it is nice to hear her voice when she is not here.
Also, today, I had some local visitors – Bruce, Sheila, and Veronika. It was nice to see their smiling faces.
Cannes, Saturday, March 1st, 2025
The day started off just fine
I headed out for my 10K steps and, on the way back, stopped off at a local supermarket for some provisions. Almost home, a block away, I was walking up the hill and tripped on the sidewalk. The grocery bag shifted as I struggled to regain my balance, and my upper hip smashed into a pole on the sidewalk.
Man down.
I immediately found myself lying in the street next to the curb. My first attempt to crawl confirmed my suspicions, I had broken my left leg (femur)
I was as pissed off as much as in pain. Fortunately, two neighbors in cars immediately stopped and called an ambulance. I fished my phone from my pocket and dialed Rebecca.
She was at my side before the ambulance arrived.
After being loaded into the ambulance, they took me to the Cannes hospital. The time was about 3 PM. The nurse cut my pants off, and I was quickly sent to surgery after a quick set of X-rays. Around 8 PM I awoke from my little nap after the surgery mechanics completed their work and I was wheeled to my room.
I now have a rod and a few screws in my left femur.
Bionic Bachler