As a U.S. citizen, I have no idea how I even got care at that hospital. Maybe we paid cash. Maybe travel insurance kicked in. I can’t remember.

What I do remember is the “preexisting conditions” question on the form. I wrote: Lyme, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.

The young blonde ER doc struggled to read two out of three aloud from her clipboard.

*Fuck me,* I thought.