It is my pleasure to be able to voice my experiences far from home. I'm employed as a Chief Engineer on a world cruising motor yacht. Since 1996 we've been out on the Pacific Rim and the majority of our cruises will find us in rather exotic destinations - most could be referred to as perhaps being of the third world.

During our transit from the Philippines to Yap, I started noticing a shortness of breath that just continually got worse. By the time we reached Yap, I was struggling for breath. I visited the local government hospital and the doctor gave me some medication for congestion, and then instructed me to return in a week.

After five days I was no longer able to maintain my duties on board, so plans were made to fly me to the nearest full medical facility, the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam. Unfortunately, my condition quickly deteriorated. I had to be transferred to shore where a local hotel was used as a base of operations. With the poor equipment available and the help of only a couple of nurses, the doctor was not optimistic of my odds. He arranged for a missionary plane to fly me to Guam - a four hour flight. Alone in an unfamiliar country on Christmas Eve, I boarded the plane, not even knowing how I would pay for this or what I was going into. When the plane arrived I was transported to the U.S. Naval Hospital and immediately taken to the ICU. After observation, it was determined that my condition was serious and that I needed to notify my next of kin. The diagnosis grim - congestive heart failure/cardiomyopathy.

After hearing from me, my family in the U.S. contacted IMG. The IMG medical staff immediately went to work. On New Year's Eve I was evacuated to the Miami Heart Institute. My initial diagnosis in Guam made me a candidate for transplant. After arriving in Miami it was revised to surgery to install a pacemaker. The final diagnosis after almost a month of hospitalization allowed me to walk out under medication that controls my condition.

IMG was there every step of the way. The handling of finances was a godsend. My family's experience was similar to most - the pains and worries of attempting to deal with medical crisis. The financial burden for medical care at that time is not something that the family needs or could have handled. I spent two months in the U.S. completing rehab and undergoing numerous check-ups with the cardiologist. Once again IMG made this pain-free. I can't get over the personal involvement of IMG. All parties seemed personally involved in this group effort for recovery. At rehab, an IMG staff member called just to check on my progress. According to the doctors, this was a first for them.

When I left the U.S., I actually received a signed "Bon Voyage" card from the IMG staff who made my swift return to my job possible. This is the type of personal involvement that makes IMG. Needless to say, I am a true believer in IMG. The coverage and personal touch are second to none."

- Chief Engineer - M/Y Double Haven
Brisbane, Australia

I am a United Methodist pastor, Fort Worth police sergeant, and a Karate teacher - I am a man of great faith and capability to handle crisis - even so, I felt so helpless yesterday. My daughter, Michelle, is a Christian missionary and has been traveling with YWAM (Youth with a Mission), the second largest missionary organization in the world. Her work took her to Varanasi, India. Michelle had already been hospitalized for three days with acute appendicitis in Kolkata, but then given antibiotics, and then released. Four doctors there told her that if she has another attack, she needs to go immediately to an emergency room somewhere to get an emergency appendectomy. This didn't make sense to me, but by the time I found out a few days later without any communication, she had been released (due to the 10 1/2 hour time difference there) and back from a long train ride to Varnasi. Michelle was having another appendicitis attack and wanted to come home to her daddy. She was trying to get a flight to Texas.

I was beside myself, and frankly did not know what to do. I saw that Michelle had purchased the Patriot insurance from IMG. I called IMG and was put in immediate contact with Denise, a RN. She told me, and then told Michelle, that to travel overseas for this extended trip could prove fatal. She worked all day and night to get her into the proper hospital for good medical care. We exchanged phone calls all night and Denise gave Michelle her "mommy talk" to tell her that she must not try to travel. Kids often listen better to others than their own parents. Denise even talked to others with YWAM to make sure that Michelle was not left alone, and let them know the severity of the situation. Michelle ended up in Heritage Hospital in Varanasi, India. Denise researched the hospital website and even interviewed the doctor. Once she felt that Michelle was in good hands, she got the guarantee of payment letter faxed to the hospital. Michelle had the surgery this morning at 5:30 a.m. A few hours later, Michelle was in recovery with a successful surgery behind her. Her appendix was swollen and very infected.

Soon, Michelle will be able to continue her ministry to orphans and widows. The lifetime effect of Denise's help will undoubtedly reach countless lives. My wife and I are indebted to her. I am eternally grateful!

I want to thank your company, and all of those employed at IMG, for cultivating this type of work environment. As a matter of note, Denise never mentioned money or cost - she only wanted to get my daughter help. That is a powerful paradigm for a business model and for an employee! I recommend that everyone traveling abroad gets insurance from IMG. I certainly will!"

- Rich
Ft. Worth, Texas