I progressed gradually from the walker to walking stick to where I could walk unaided but the wound in my abdomen got steadily worse and wouldn't heal.  As with many elderly men I have prostate problems so it was quite convenient to get my PSA levels and tests at the Mayo Clinic while seeing a Doctor Ronald A. Hinder, the head of the Jacksonville Mayo Clinic's dept. of surgery, the last surgeon at the Mayo Clinic who operated on my stomach, about the failure of the wound to heal.  But, had I needed any prostrate treatment beyond the tests, you'd better believe I'd have got it elsewhere than the Mayo Clinic.

Regretfully, despite following Dr. Ronald Hinder's treatment recommendations, the wound in my stomach (to see a letter from Dr. Hinder, click the link* below) just got steadily worse.  Eventually, Dr. Hinder said that I would likely need plastic surgery on my abdomen with a polypropylene mesh insert.  I asked him why he hadn't done it when he "repaired" my stomach the last time and he said he "couldn't because it was infected."As you may imagine, the thought of more surgery at the Mayo Clinic alarmed me considerably and I started seeking treatment elsewhere immediately. However, once I had explained what had happened to me at the Mayo Clinic no other doctor or medical establishment would even see me.  I learnt that American doctors are very reluctant to treat the mistakes of other doctors.