Planes, Boats, and Ambulances
I’m an optimistic person. I not only think the glass is half full, I’m glad that it isn’t totally full so that there is room for growth. But I was already debating the value of 2018 before my son fractured his femur on our cruise ship.
So good riddance, 2018.
I’d like to thank everyone for their prayers, and thought I’d give more detail than what could fit within a tweet. Our family was on a cruise, “Majesty of the Seas” (though we now refer to it as the “Travesty of the Seas”), from Cuba to the Bahamas when Bobby’s hand slipped on a wet railing and he tumbled down six steps, landing square on the hip where he has fibrous dysplasia (essentially, that means it is a weak bone) and fractured his femur. Thankfully, a few years before (when he had broken his femur) they put a rod in his leg to protect it—were it not for that the bone would have broken all the way through.
Within 10 hours we were in port at the Bahamas and, after being admitted into a hospital there, we got onto an air ambulance that flew us straight to Pittsburgh and right to Children’s Hospital where Bobby still is. The rest of the family finished the trip and got home yesterday. Or maybe that was the day before. Honestly, I’m in a bit of a fog. I just know that Jennie tagged me out yesterday so I got to sleep at home, which was a huge blessing.
Some have asked what the air ambulance was like, and my answer is small. The flight was about two and a half hours and there was no bathroom. I was stuffed in the back with Bobby’s and my luggage on a pile next to me. They didn’t even hand out peanuts 🙂 But all kidding aside, the crew were awesome and were literal life-savers. I’d also like to give a huge shout out to my mom who, two years ago, started giving my family “medical flight insurance” as an annual Christmas present. She is a prophet! I can’t even imagine how much that would have cost on our own, and I certainly wasn’t comfortable to keep Bobby in the Bahamas where they wanted to immediately do surgery.
Not that the docs in the Bahamas were bad, it is just that Bobby’s condition is so rare you really need a specialist. Thankfully, when we got here they decided that surgery wasn’t necessary (thanks for those prayers!) and the plan is now to allow Bobby’s bone to heal naturally. However, he is still in a lot of pain and it is really difficult to get in/out of bed or take any steps. So please, keep the prayers coming.
Someone at Mass commented this was a tough way to start the year. I had to clarify that the accident happened last year—no reason to burden 2019 with something that 2018 did. 2019 is a year of recovery and healing.
2018? You’re dead to me.
4 Comments on “Planes, Boats, and Ambulances”
Leave a Reply to Barbara V Cancel reply
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Deacon Bob Rice 
Sending abundant love and healing prayers .
I especially remember how sweet Bobby was when I stayed while Tom went to Fransican. Wishing a speedy recovery. It is so traumatic for the patient as well as the Parents. I remember it well. Love to all. Nancy Acemoglu
Bob,
Sorry to hear this. I like your perspective about starting 2019 healing…God Bless and Bobby is in my prayers for a full speedy recovery.
Ann Medici
Prayers for Bobby and the rest of your family. 2019 will be blessed for all of us I pray.
Prayers for Bobby and your family. Positive thinking and prayers can move mountains❤️🙏