Sometimes life just happens. And sometimes it happens in a really big scary, why the hell is this happening to me kinda way.
So I’m sitting at work planning which dresses to bring to Mexico. And which hiking shoes. And why I don’t have the perfect black bathing suit top yet. Or my perfect big sun hat. When I’m leaving in TWO DAYS! And suddenly it hit me. This ragingly horrible shooting pain from my left shoulder blade and down my left arm. And a stabbing pain in my chest every time I took a gasp for air. Something. Was not right. Something hurt. Something hurt bad. I tried doing some deep breathing for an hour. And another hour. And finally I drove myself over to my parents house and said I know something is wrong.
Rate your pain. Point to where it hurts. Is it sharp, stabbing or achy. Typical hospital questions. Four hours, three X-rays, four tubes of blood drawn, an excruciating needle in my arm, labs on labs on labs and countless episodes of monitoring later. The doctor comes in and says “well I hope you bought trip insurance.”
My lungs had failed me. With a partial collapse in one lung the doctor said there is no way I will let you get on a plane, your lung could burst. And there is absolutely no way I will let you go to Mexico. Apparently their hospitals aren’t top notch.
So suddenly my black bathing suit top or my perfect sun hat really didn’t matter anymore.
Our very first trip taken away from us, literally in the blink of an eye. We can’t help but think this had to have happened for a reason. There has to be some higher power that knew this wasn’t our time. Thank the sweet employees at American Airlines and Condo 46 that gave us full refunds (and not Allegiant Air who gave me a whopping $24 back for a $240 flight). I guess our dreams are currently put on hold until we find out how to piece me back together. Looking on the bright side for now.
2 Responses
Take care of yourself… you’ll get on the road soon enough! That same emergency room visit would have been a much scarier event in a country other than your own. We visited the ER in Zanzibar for a simple XRay… the closest modern hospital was a bus, ferry, and plane ride away in Johannesburg or Nairobi. Thankfully all was ok, but I was more than a little anxious. Happy for the travel insurance!
I am so thankful I didn’t have to go to an ER in Mexico! Now anxiously waiting for the doc to tell me I’m good to travel again!