Cedars the Economy Way...

[wobbles]

Hi Everyone!

Cost can be a huge factor in deciding whether a trip to Cedars is feasible so I thought I would share these tips for doing it the economy route!

Lodging: The Beverly Inn (located 1.4 miles from Cedars on Beverly Blvd.) Nothing fancy but cheap (60-70 per night) and offers FREE parking if you are renting a car (a rarity in LA) The beds are comfortable and it is reasonably tidy. If you are offended by a little black mildew on tub grout then this isn't the place for you! But if you are really on a budget the family that owns this small (20 rooms) hotel are very nice. The rooms have refrigerators but no microwave. There is a small pool as well. It is close to the Fairfax Farmers Mkt with lots of food options. Reservations can be made on their website...BeverlyInn.com. If you need to stay for at least 5 nights ask for the Cedars discount when reserving and they will knock off $5 per night (not much but every penny helps). It is across the street from the CBS Studios...if you have time go to a TV show taping...the CBS site can show you what's available. We went to Craig Ferguson's taping my first trip...it was really fun!

Transportation: Renting a car can be expensive plus parking at Cedars is NOT free so taking public transportation is a good option.

FROM LAX: Take the Flyaway Bus. It costs $2 and takes you to the Amtrak station in downtown LA. It runs quite often and is fast (no other stops). Once at the Amtrak station...get off at the East Portal stop and go inside the station and down the stairs to the left (MTA RED LINE). Tickets are purchased from the machines to the left of the stairway. Purchase the ticket with the transfer option or $1.55. Take the train on the right side tracks and get off at the Beverly Station stop (about 6 stops). Come out of the station to the street and take the number 714 Bus which runs down Beverly every 10 minutes....use your transfer. EIther get off at the hotel (Fairfax ave stop and walk back one block) or keep going to Cedars. For Cedars get off at the La Cienega stop and walk the block and 1/2 to Cedars.

More complicated than a taxi...but...a taxi costs at least $45 plus tip! This costs $3.55...no comparison!

Hotel to Cedars: The 714 runs every 10 minutes starting at 5:30 am. There is a stop in front of the Beverly INN BUT it is NOT active so you need to walk the block to the stop at Fairfax! I learned this the hard way! The trip to Cedars takes less than 10 minutes......To return to the hotel walk back to La Cienega and take the 714 back down Beverly to Fairfax. Fare is $1.25 each way.

Other Tips:
If you are on a strict budget be sure and let Cherry know this. She can co-ordinate scheduling to minimize the amount of hotel nights you need to pay for. Don't be embarrassed - they want to help you get better! If finances are an issue....let them know...they will work with you.

I hope that this helps someone afford to come and get treatment with Dr Schievink. Lack of money shouldn't keep anyone from getting the help they need!

stay strong-
wobbles

[Sally Girl]

Thank you!

Cheryl

[Tamaretta]

Great tips! Thanks for putting this together. Taylor was hospitalized at Cedars for almost three months continuously in 2005-2006 so I also wanted to add a couple of things (mainly for parents:)

The Ronald McDonald house was a very cheap source of housing ($10/night) and offered several fun things to do while there (ie attending a taping of the Hannah Montana premier, etc.). However there is a long wait so call early (and often). Mention you are from out of state (and if your child is unfortunate enough to be in ICU - those two things combined get you in quicker) Please note the RMH is also a 10-15 minute taxi ride and a 30-45 minute bus ride from the hospital - it's not close. A social worker also gave me bus tokens almost every day and once in a while paid for a taxi ride ($25 - three yrs ago) when Tay was having surgery very early. There is a grocery store (Winn's ) one block from the RMH and the bus stop is in front the grocery store. Also a STARBUCKS at Winn's for those with a caffeine addiction :D.

There is a pharmacy located in the Professional Building adjacent to Cedars and a cleaners there that will do laundry for you (by the pound). However the Professional Building is closed on the weekends. There is a mostly high-end mall across the street (Dulce and Gabanna, Dooney and Burke, etc.) with a decent food court. For meals (other than the hospital cafeteria) there is a Souper Salad, HArd Rock Cafe, Lux Cafe, and Jerry Deli within walking distance. I ate at Jerry's Deli alot but it is expensive (about $15 for a chef salad) but it was enough for three meals. Walgreens, Borders bookstore and Blockbuster are also within walking distance (for the parent/helper - probably not the patient!)

If you are with someone who will be hospitalized, ask if Dr. S will put you on the neuro (8th) floor (and if your insurance will cover it). We found those nurses were the most timely with the meds, most understanding of the neuro problems and Taylor had the fewest complaints on that floor. (Taylor went from a pedi room to peds icu to adult icu to the "new" adult icu, back to the peds room then to the 8th (neuro) floor - 8 different rooms in 3 months.) The rooms are HUGE and has enough room for two people to stay in there without getting on each other nerves too badly. Also, BEWARE - there is NO place in any lobby on any floor that Cedars will allow you stay overnight other than the patients room. One night they moved Taylor to ICU very late (3 am) and we were just going to stay in the lobby on the peds floor and a security guard chased us from floor to floor. After contacting many supervisors, we were finally allowed to stay in the lobby of the floor she was on but we could not put our feet on the table or cover up with a blanket. We could "sleep sitting up in the chair and that's all" so they are very strict.

I'll ask Taylor is she can think of anything else that might be helpful.

[LauraL840]

If you have your back to Dr. Schievink's office building and Third Street is at the tips of your toes, turn to the right and walk about a block and a half to a BEYOND fantastic authentic Italian pizza place called Angelino Cafe! They also deliver, can't come up to the room, but you can meet them in the lobby!

I'm actually looking forward to eating there next month!

[mot]

Also on Third St. is Joans on Third, a really fantastic gourmet deli that isn't too expensive. Virtually everything I had there was fantastic and I ended up eating their food 3 times a day!

http://www.joansonthird.com/

M

[dkdreamer1]

great advice from all!!! I see a common thread or symptom emerging leaks causing big appetites for good food!

Seriously i am currently paying over 25 different doctors/hospitals and hundreds in meds a month. i can handle a little tile issues where i sleep.

DK

[curranmom]

Wobbs - Thanks for putting that together!

Chuck might need to look at the bus option when we are there. We want to rent a car for the first two days but don't need it after that while we just sit in the hospital. So he will have to take the car back and than get back to me at Cedars so I think he is thinking about the bus option instead of paying for a taxi. We were thinking about Enterprise which they allow you to return to any of their locations and there is one right near Cedars but they are charging a lot higher than a different rental place that is about 20 dollars a day cheaper but doesn't have a location near Cedars for return just the one at LAX.

This is the type of situation when you wish you had a friend or relative in CA to help out and drive him back to the hospital. My cousin was there for me when I came alone to get me from LAX to Cedars but she recently moved back to AZ, darn! When your on a budget your right every little penny helps! Especially when you have to make 4 trips to Cedars!:eek:

Hope your hanging in there, thinking of you always!
Kim

[burk]

thanks much for this information! when you are sick and have a family to feed it changes options real fast! I dont have a problem w/ tile either! thanks again!

[wobbles]

Glad this was helpful. I forgot to mention that you can have your companion stay in the room with you for free. You need Dr S's permission (no problem) and they bring in a comfortable fold-up bed with a thick mattress. I was on the neuro floor both times and as luck would have it the only rooms available were the "suite"...so I had the luxury room...huge..... but even in a regular room there is room for the portable bed. Just ask for it.....no reason to pay for a hotel for your companion.....And yes, your companion can use the shower in your room...And there is free coffee available on the floor (at least most of the time...) so that also saves money. I also ordered extra items of food from time to time (didn't abuse it, mind you...) for my neice...that also helped.

One other thing...you will have to use the taxi option to return home....Cedars won't let you release to the public transit system! But you have saved soooo much $$$ with everyone's tips...that you CAN afford the taxi back to LAX!!!!

Kim: Enterprise says they will pick you up and bring you back.....can you get this to work for you? Just a thought.....

Stay strong-

wobbles

[currandad]

Thanks Wobbs for the Tips.

I tried out the Flyaway route to the Union Station, and hop the Metro #714 down beverly blvd.

:DSuper Cheap....Super Thrilled!:D It was very easy and took me a little over 2.5 hrs round Trip. I took the car we had back to Deluxe Rent a car. (under $13.00 a day for a Toyota Corolla or equiv.)

A couple things....The Flyaway was :D:DFREE:D:D. WooHoo! At Union Station I purchased my ticket with transfer for the $1.55 and hopped on the RED LINE which happened to be on the left side tracks. Now here's where I'm not to sure if I got turned around or what. The Flyaway dropped us off at one stop....not sure if this was the East Portal or not. But when I came down the stairs & purchase the ticket, the Red Line was on the Left side tracks. NO BIGGIE! Just make sure you hop on the Red Line...the only other line is the purple line in that part of the station.


I got off at the Beverly Station and went to hop the #714 and the driver told me they don't accept the transfers:confused: So it was $1.25 for the ride. Still in all it was $2.80. Awesome deal!!!!!!! Thanks again Wobbs!

The highlight of that trip was a fully costumed "Joker" guy from "The Dark Knight" riding the Red Line. Yeah face paint and all! *ohno Wish I had my camera.

[wobbles]

Chuck:
Sorry for confusion...I suspect that you got off at the other end of the station. I remember seeing a Red Line entrance on that end when I got off my train. Unfortuantely I didn't realize that the red line was a train...so I wandered around lost until I found the East portal entrance.....maybe that is the reason for the difference in what side to get on! I am SURE that I got on from the right side....oh well everybody...just make sure that you get on going toward Beverly Station and you'll be ok! As for why they didn't take your transfer...that is just wrong! That is the whole purpose of the transfer for heaven's sake. Also glad to hear that the Flyaway was FREE...when My niece took it it cost $2.00.....guess they are try9ing to encourage folks to use it. Glad the info worked for you andsaved some much needed $$$$$.

Stay strong- things will get better for Kim and your family-

wobbles

[currandad]

Thanks wobbs again for all the tips! Good stuff! Here's another little tidbit I found today.

GO TO THE WALK OF FAME FOR 50 cents!!!

Obviously this isn't for our loved leakers staying at Cedars while being healed but for the stir crazy loved ones that might have a little cabin fever, while helping their loved ones. Take the DASH Bus (West Hollywood/Hollywood). It stops right between the Cedars Towers on Gracie Allen Dr, every 15-20 min. Even on Saturdays. It cost 25 Cents!!! Take it to Hollywood & Highland. Make sure you don't get off on Sunset & Highland! Or you'll have to walk up Highland to Hollywood Blvd. Take some pics, sight see or whatever...lots to see. The Walk-of-Stars, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, The Kodak Theatre, etc.

I found this out because our son's second grade class sent Kim homemade Get Well cards and letters about what they're doing in school. It was a pleasant surprise and we loved every letter and picture. Kim wanted to send each and every child a personal postcard back with a little thankyou message so the only place we remembered seeing lots of post cards was on Hollywood Blvd in all the souvenir shops. So anyone wanting to stretch their legs for a bit and enjoy some landmarks....enjoy.