I am safely back in St. Louis, but the trip back was definitely done in classic "Angie-style" as my family would say. I've been waiting a couple of days to write this down, so here goes.
The last email I sent was from the Port au Prince airport as I was waiting for my flight to Miami. About 20 minutes into the flight I started feeling nauseated. I tend to get a little motion sick, but the flight had been smooth up to this point. I tried to rest, but continued to feel sicker. I realized I was going to be sick, and grabbed the handy white bag from my seat pocket (right next to the flight magazines!). Someone had conveniently stuck their gum inside (note to everyone reading...please don't ever do that again...) but alas, there was no time to find another bag. I have to say, that I did a nice job using the little bag. I pushed the call button, and the flight attendant came over and said, "Oh, honey, you're the fourth one!" She sent a nurse, who just happened to be on board, up to check my vitals. BP was low, but I was ok. I felt much better, until wave #2 hit. By the time the plane was landing in Miami, I was feeling really crummy. There was another lady on the plane who had gotten sick at the beginning of the flight, and the paramedics were coming to get her at the gate. The flight attendant asked if I wanted to see the paramedics as well. I said sure. As we taxied up to the gate, I realized I needed a bathroom, and fast. I was taken from the airplane on an airline wheelchair, which the driver proceeded to tip over with me strapped in it. Todd and Craig, my friends who were traveling with me, grabbed my carry on bags, and followed me off the plane. At the top of the ramp, the paramedics decided to stop and have a little chat time. I was strapped into the silly wheelchair, and my tummy said "find a bathroom now!" so I unstrapped myself, and said I gotta go. The men all looked at each other and said, "There's no bathroom near here." To which I said, "Well, let's go then." I took off walking very fast. They were not happy with this, because in Miami the bathrooms and customs stuff is so far from where you deplane. I was not the one who designed it this way. I don't know who was, but if you do, could you let them know their design has a few issues with it?
We finally found a bathroom, where I spent the next length of time. No idea how long, because at this point, things start getting blurry for me. I know I was getting sicker by the minute at this point, and somewhere in here the paramedics hooked up an EKG thingy to me, and started an IV in my arm. I had initially said I didn't need to go to the hospital, but it became clear that a trip to the ER was in order. The problem was, I hadn't cleared customs yet. I wasn't able to walk at this point, and a flight attendant from my flight who had helped me on the plane, arrived on the scene. She pretty much took charge, thankfully. My paramedics were not particularly sympathetic to my situation of needing a toilet. Kim informed someone walking by with a wheelchair that she was taking it to use for me. She would deal with his supervisor later. She told the paramedics to get me to the next bathroom quickly. All of this after she did the "mom back rub" while I was on the floor, and after she held my iv bag of fluids in the bathroom for me. She is truly an amazing blessing to me!
Oh, and the customs people came into the bathroom for me to sign my customs form. That was a moment for the memory book. :) I just kept apologizing to everyone for having to see this. So out to the ambulance I was whisked.
My first ambulance ride, with Miami -Dade County paramedics. Just think CSI Miami...yep, they were that good-looking. But alas, I was too sick and holding a puke bag to truly enjoy the experience. They took me to a local hospital (I had no idea where I was). I went from a French/Creole speaking place to a Spanish speaking place. I really couldn't understand what was going on around me. It was determined that the chicken sandwich I had eaten in the Port au Prince airport had caused this massive destruction in my digestive system.
Now, I have to stop here and tell the other story that was going on at this same time.
Todd and Craig (also arriving back from Haiti with me) were having a struggle about whether to stay with me or go on to their connecting flight. I encouraged them to go, that I would be ok. Then I kept getting sicker. I still wanted them to make their flight, I just couldn't communicate that to them anymore. Craig called his friend Cathi in Miami (who also saved the day when she brought Todd dental mirrors on their way to Haiti). Cathi came to the hospital and introduced herself to me as Craig's friend. I was so out of it at that point, all I could think was, "Nate." Nate was going to pick me up at the Tampa airport at 11! Except I wasn't going to be there. Cathi said she had just talked to him. No idea how that worked. And then I called my dad. They were so worried, because I hadn't called when my flight landed. He was a little freaked out, because all I said was, "I'm in the ER in Miami with food poisoning." I had no idea what hospital or anything else.
During this time, I over-heard the lady next to me telling the nurse that she had eaten a chicken sandwich in the PaP airport as well. Her name was Ann, and she had been mentoring teachers in Haiti! We chatted when we both felt a bit better (IV fluids, antibiotics, and anti-nausea meds work wonders!). When I called Cathi to come back and pick me up (at 2:30 am!) I asked if Ann could come and sleep at her house too. She said yes! What a blessing to both of us! I slept soundly for a few hours, and then Ann went to the airport to fly home to Detroit. Cathi took me to brunch with her friends on South Beach! I ate toast and drank peach juice, but the experience and new friends were amazing!
I flew to Tampa later that day, and was met by my friend Nate. It was so great to see a familiar face and get a hug from a friend! I had dinner with Nate and Jacqui, they fed me noodles and a banana. So tasty!!!! It was good to chat with friends, and then early Monday I headed to the airport to fly to STL.
My whole family met me there!!!! What a welcome that was! Complete with signs and hugs and kisses and tears. And a super sweet nephew who smiled, and then wouldn't look at me. :) I've been resting and re-adjusting since Monday. The doctor checked me out on Monday, and said all things are ok. I didn't even have to take the antibiotics b/c I'm ok already! I've been slowly catching up with friends in between naps (sometimes napping in the middle of catching up).
I am contantly amazed and in awe of how God weaves the tapestry of my life. Now I have a Craig, Todd, Cathi, Kim, and Ann yarn woven through my tapestry. What a unique and creative way God weaves this! I'm so thankful for each of these people, along with so many others who have been here for this adventure!I'm going to take a retreat of solitude today/tomorrow because I think I need to be quiet before the Lord to see what He has to say to me. I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers this summer. God is continuing to do big things, which I will share more of later. I pray you are enjoying your summer days, and that God's blessings are abundant and visible in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment