I had a very, very interesting day today and just have to share. I hope this post doesn't get too long.
I had a very early flight out of Columbus this morning. I got up in good time (whew, love being sober!!) got to the airport and made my first leg easily.
I was sitting in seat 3D on a Regional Jet. An elderly couple came and sat down. The wife next to me and her husband across the aisle from her. They looked about mid 80s.
The Flight Attendant was going down the aisle giving out the drinks. I had water and so did the lady sitting next to me. I started getting engrossed in the book I was reading. Suddenly, I felt my leg get all wet. I looked over and saw the woman had spilled her water and was hunched over. I touched her shoulder, thinking she had fallen asleep and she did not respond. I gently lifted her head and asked her if she was okay. She did not respond and she was not breathing, she was turning blue.
I immediately pressed the flight attendant call button multiple times while holding her back in the seat until the flight attendant came rushing back up the aisle with the cart.
Luckily, a Physician's Assistant and a Doctor were on the plane. They got her out of the seat, laid her in the aisle and got the oxygen tanks down. Eventually, she started responding to their ministrations and started breathing. By the time we landed in Evansville, Indiana (we were diverted to the nearest airport) she was able to talk a little bit.
Whew!! Boy did that leave me a nervous wreck!!
3 hours later we got back on the plane after they found new oxygen tanks.
and flew on to Memphis. However, a woman came up and sat in the newly vacated seat and started chatting with me. I was talking about downtown Columbus and somehow the conversation led to the fact that I was in the downtown area late at night (my AA meetings) and she asked why. I told her that I was going to AA meetings and she gave me a brilliant smile and said "So you are a friend of Bill's, too?"
This woman has 5+ years sobriety and has such a great attitude about sobriety and how to live life. It was such a joy to meet her. She was going to meet her husband in Chattanooga to ride their Harley back home and I immediately thought of our dear Bear.
It was like I had a special friend for a few hours. She had so much wonderful wisdom to impart on staying sober and the way she spoke of life and her happiness with sobriety was so good to hear.
I have been down in the dumps lately and this chance meeting did so much to buoy me back up. It was good to meet and talk to someone for a few hours that did not just relate past experiences but talked quite frankly about newly being sober and the feelings we go through and how to handle them and how to live life with joy.
One thing she did ask me was interesting. "So, since you have been sober, what has changed for the better in your life?" She told me to think about that every day. It reminded me of my daddy singing the song "Accentuate the positive, elminate the negative and don't mess around with Mr. Inbetween" when I was a kid.
Anyway, just had to relate to the day. It started off horrifically and ended up being a blessing.
I sure hope the little lady on the plane is okay. Her husband looked so devasted. All I could do was reach across the aisle and keep patting his arm.
Oh, and one other really important lesson!! I almost forgot!! The VERY FIRST THING the doctor and then the following on EMT's asked of her husband was what medications was she on and did she have a list in her purse? She did not. They said that is such critical information in terms of what could be the cause and more importantly, what they can give her.
As soon as I got home tonight, I called my parents, told them the story and told my Dad to get that list written right now, Who, what, dosage, when and PUT IT IN HIS WALLET. For both of my parents. (Mom doesn't carry a purse now because since her stroke, all she does it lose it.)
Okay, done with my story.
Love all,
Cindi
I had a very early flight out of Columbus this morning. I got up in good time (whew, love being sober!!) got to the airport and made my first leg easily.
I was sitting in seat 3D on a Regional Jet. An elderly couple came and sat down. The wife next to me and her husband across the aisle from her. They looked about mid 80s.
The Flight Attendant was going down the aisle giving out the drinks. I had water and so did the lady sitting next to me. I started getting engrossed in the book I was reading. Suddenly, I felt my leg get all wet. I looked over and saw the woman had spilled her water and was hunched over. I touched her shoulder, thinking she had fallen asleep and she did not respond. I gently lifted her head and asked her if she was okay. She did not respond and she was not breathing, she was turning blue.
I immediately pressed the flight attendant call button multiple times while holding her back in the seat until the flight attendant came rushing back up the aisle with the cart.
Luckily, a Physician's Assistant and a Doctor were on the plane. They got her out of the seat, laid her in the aisle and got the oxygen tanks down. Eventually, she started responding to their ministrations and started breathing. By the time we landed in Evansville, Indiana (we were diverted to the nearest airport) she was able to talk a little bit.
Whew!! Boy did that leave me a nervous wreck!!
3 hours later we got back on the plane after they found new oxygen tanks.
and flew on to Memphis. However, a woman came up and sat in the newly vacated seat and started chatting with me. I was talking about downtown Columbus and somehow the conversation led to the fact that I was in the downtown area late at night (my AA meetings) and she asked why. I told her that I was going to AA meetings and she gave me a brilliant smile and said "So you are a friend of Bill's, too?"This woman has 5+ years sobriety and has such a great attitude about sobriety and how to live life. It was such a joy to meet her. She was going to meet her husband in Chattanooga to ride their Harley back home and I immediately thought of our dear Bear.
It was like I had a special friend for a few hours. She had so much wonderful wisdom to impart on staying sober and the way she spoke of life and her happiness with sobriety was so good to hear.
I have been down in the dumps lately and this chance meeting did so much to buoy me back up. It was good to meet and talk to someone for a few hours that did not just relate past experiences but talked quite frankly about newly being sober and the feelings we go through and how to handle them and how to live life with joy.
One thing she did ask me was interesting. "So, since you have been sober, what has changed for the better in your life?" She told me to think about that every day. It reminded me of my daddy singing the song "Accentuate the positive, elminate the negative and don't mess around with Mr. Inbetween" when I was a kid.
Anyway, just had to relate to the day. It started off horrifically and ended up being a blessing.
I sure hope the little lady on the plane is okay. Her husband looked so devasted. All I could do was reach across the aisle and keep patting his arm.
Oh, and one other really important lesson!! I almost forgot!! The VERY FIRST THING the doctor and then the following on EMT's asked of her husband was what medications was she on and did she have a list in her purse? She did not. They said that is such critical information in terms of what could be the cause and more importantly, what they can give her.
As soon as I got home tonight, I called my parents, told them the story and told my Dad to get that list written right now, Who, what, dosage, when and PUT IT IN HIS WALLET. For both of my parents. (Mom doesn't carry a purse now because since her stroke, all she does it lose it.)
Okay, done with my story.
Love all,
Cindi
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