Hospitals‿ and‿ illnesses

My name‿ is Lucia,│ an(d) las(t) year‿ I spen(t) five days‿ in hospital│ after‿ an‿ operation‿ on my knee. I was nervous│ before,│ but the staff were patient‿ and‿ explained‿ every step‿ of the treatment.

The firs(t) symptom‿ appeared‿ in the spring:│ my knee hurt│ when‿ I went‿ up the stairs. My doctor sen(t) me for‿ a check-up,│ an(d) the surgeon said‿ I needed‿ an‿ operation. In my country,│ health care‿ is free,│ but there was‿ a waiting^wai-ding list‿ of nine months. I decided to wait,│ because‿ a private clinic would have cost 6,000 dollars│ and‿ I do not have private‿ insurance.

The hospital‿ itself was‿ old,│ an(d) there were six people‿ in my room,│ so it was noisy at night. However,│ the nurses came‿ every hour,│ an(d) the food was better^be-der than people say. I recovered‿ in six weeks,│ an(d) now I can run‿ again. If you have‿ a medical problem,│ do not wait for the pain to disappear. Go to the doctor‿ early. That‿ is the lesson‿ I learned.