We recently went on camping trip,
but at the start of the trip our son Joshua fell into boiling water, getting 1st and 2nd degree burns on his arm.
We called an ambulance and got him treated at a local hospital.
Through the whole process we learned first-hand some of the ins and outs of Japan’s healthcare system,
and what we found surprised us.
[Life in Japan Theme Song]
So it was very interesting experiencing an ambulance here in Japan.
Here, when the ambulance arrives, they rush you in
But then, you just sit there while they call around and find a hospital that will take you.
Joshua's accident happened on a holiday, so hospitals are closed
And the ambulance attendants have to call around and find a hospital that will even accept a burn victim
This is definitely not how we saw the day starting.
So the doctor we first saw, he was super super kind
And he seemed to understand a lot about burns
And he put some stuff on Joshua that instantly made him feel better.
He wrote a letter to our local hospital explaining what had happened and for us to continue our care
Is this my brave guy?
Are we going to go get the bandage changed now?
Oh yeah! Then what comes later?
The Luigi Lego Mario... The Luigi Lego Mario, a special gift from Grandma and Grandpa, huh?
So in Japan, you have national health insurance, so you pay according to what your salary is.
And for children, you also get this extra card, free care for them.
So you pay for health insurance that covers 70% — I believe it's 70%
And then the government subsidizes for children the other 30%.
So when we went to this hospital, Joshua's part was all free.
Well, Joshua got his bandage changed, did it hurt Big Guy?
It kind of [hurt] It kind of hurt? Yeah.
So when my mother heard of Joshua's accident, she bought him the Luigi Lego Mario set that he's been wanting,
So today when he was getting his wound cleaned and it hurt so bad, we kept saying
You know what's coming? The Luigi Lego Mario set!
So he's been looking forward to it and guess what? It came!
Here it is! Let's go give it to Joshua.
It's Luigi! It's Luigi- yeah!
OK, here, I'll help you open it and we'll put it together, OK?
Oh my goodness, we built like a teeter-totter for him, huh?
Ow! No! What did you do to him?!
Building a Lego Mario together was a great reward for being so brave!
You finished it. It looks awesome, Dude.
[Luigi] Here we go!
Joshua wants to show you his new set.
Yeah! Knocked him off.
Yea, you sure did.
Yes!
[Luigi] It's Luigi time.
Yeah, sorry Joshua you got...you needed to change your bandaid!
The treatment you get after a burn can really make the difference between a good recovery or one that leaves scars,
and one thing in particular still had us a bit uneasy.
Come to find out that they had no burn specialists on staff here at our local hospital.
They were nice, but they weren't specialists.
So a friend of ours called around and researched for us
And found a clinic close by who has a burn specialist
I wonder what Lego Mario Joshua's going to get now.
Yea, a special prize for him doing so well.
So how did it go Joshua?
Good. Did you do so well?
Yeah, I did not scream at this one.
You didn't scream this time! So what do you get?
Lego Mario! Lego Mario when we get home, I'm so proud of you!
Dude, you're so brave!
But it was very interesting because we discovered that here in Japan hospitals cannot advertise what they're good at.
So they can't say "we have a top notch burn speciality unit"
Or "we specialize in this."
So if you want to be able to find a place specific for what you need, you need to be able to read
Which, it's all in Japanese
So for us as foreigners its very difficult for us to find specific doctors who treat certain things.
So it sure has been a blessing to have good friends who took care of us and helped us find what we needed for Joshua.
So tonight we're celebrating! Joshua got to choose the meal...
What did you choose? McDonalds!
Can I open it? What do we have here, Joshua?
Lego Mario!
He's so lucky, getting all this stuff.
I know. His luck's going to end.
Ow wow, it's Mario's house! Can I see?
That was the last special treat for being so brave. We're not going to do it until tomorrow.
You have to keep being brave too, OK?
Not only did Joshua have the help of Mario, Luigi and the new specialist,
but friends all over the world were praying for a quick recovery with no scarring.
These prayers made a big difference as Joshua was upbeat and positive.
What are you working on here, Dude?
Mario's house. Watch your fingers!
Awesome. Is mommy going to help you this time? yeah.
Whoa, Momma-chan. Whoa.
I want to see it when it's done, OK?
3, 2, 1 Go!
What are they doing here, Sarah?
They're getting electricity.
Did you get it? Yea, they got it. Inside of here.
So today, there's a typhoon heading this way.
So it looks very nice out right now, but fortunately this year we haven't had many typhoons.
But one is coming.
We're going to the hospital today.
Yeah, we're going to the clinic, huh? Oh yea, clinic.
Yeah, they're going to change your bandage?
Yea. That clinic one is so nice.
But the other doctor, I screamed in it, but this doctor I didn't.
This place is in the heart of Tokyo,
And the streets are Tokyo: tight, small.
And who does he make drive them?
Me.
Yes, the last couple of times I drove,
And now today Ruth's driving and we show you what it's like.
The Tokyo area is the largest metropolitan area in the world, so it’s no surprise that it’s streets are tight and the ways are narrow.
If you want to drive here, you need to get used to tight spaces!
And the corner looks clear.
You have those mirrors there to see around the corner, and you use them in Japan.
This is the house that Ruth wants? It's huge!
It's huge!
You can tell when you've made it to the really tiny streets because they turn to one way
And they are truly one way only.
But that's not yet, these streets are two-way still.
Two-way. Look at this! So small!
Momma's a driving pro here!
I'm impressed. Here we go.
Does this remind you of anything else?
It looks like a sidewalk.
I don't think this one is much better
And the clinic is up ahead
We're pulling our mirrors in! It's so tight!
So tight!
A bunch of bikes were there looking.
But I survived. If there was a driving test, you just passed it.
Ah! There's the new clinic.
Plop down in the middle of a neighborhood.
Here we go.
The happy, green open sign.
Whoa! Is it ever open!
It's time to run in and get Joshua's bandage changed.
Tomorrow we start changing the bandages on our own at home
And just coming back here once, maybe two times a week just to check on the progress.
Well Joshua, how about that doctor's appointment — how did it go?
I did not cry at all.
You didn't at all! Doesn't your arm look so good? It's healing so good!
What! Oh. My goodness!
Mario has a house, finally!
Wow! Look at that!
That is so cool! He's even got a little hammock, huh?
Yep! And he falls asleep on it.
He does?! Yea
You just rock him a little until he says... [Mario] I'm-a tired.
[Mario snoring]
Ha ha ha!
Dude that's so cool!
Oh, look who's looking through the house!
It's-a me, Mario!
Next time, on Life in Japan
Well the sky sure does look a bit ominous. The typhoon's supposed to be heading this way, so we'll see what it does.
Have you guys ever got to skip school because of a typhoon? Yes, like 5 times.
Like 5 times? It was awesome fun!
Well it's just barely starting to drizzle, but I'm coming here to set up something very special
A new studio desk, a new studio chair in a new studio space, yes.
Look at that: route may be affected by Typhoon Mindulle, is that how they're saying that? Typhoon number 16.