The Double Emergency
Historically, I’ve been a nervous flyer. It’s definitely improved over the years as I fly more and more (exposure therapy works!). But I still find myself a little antsy on flying days. Last week I had to catch an early 6:10 am flight and arrived at the airport at 4:30 am. These are not normal times. I had not slept due to my anxiety about missing my 3:45 alarm and I had heard there might be weather issues. Deep breath as I made it my gate and sat down with a magazine to keep me awake until I could hopefully nap on my flight. Only a handful of people were there and no staff could be seen anywhere. It was quiet. Until…
“George, George! Wake Up! GEORGE! I looked up to see a man slur and moan as he started to fall over into his wife’s lap. The next thing I knew, the person next to me was dialing 911, a woman in a wheelchair declared she was a doctor and started administering aid, and I found myself running down the corridor looking for anybody who worked at the airport who might be able to get medical staff to us more quickly. So much time went by before paramedics arrived. George started coming in and out of consciousness and said, “I didn’t get much sleep.” The physician from the wheelchair, and the rest of us, all agreed that what had just happened did not come from simple lack of sleep. So scary. The airline obviously didn’t let George on that flight, and required him to get checked out before he could be allowed on any flight. George was not pleased. The rest of us were quite shaken. I am happy to report that when I boarded the plane, George was alive and I choose to believe he has been diagnosed and is getting the treatment he needs.
Now, I just needed to try to relax and calm the adrenaline coursing through my body. This was not the meditative state I needed for my flight. Upon boarding, I chose my aisle seat (a necessity when I fly) and a lovely mother and her 16-year-old daughter sat next to me, excited about this first leg of their trip that would eventually end up in a vacation in Jamaica. The pilot came on before takeoff and said, “Sit back and enjoy this 1 hour, 40 minute travel time. We are anticipating a drama-free flight.” Well that’s just a jinx. Why did he have to say that? As soon as he said it, I just knew…
Thirty minutes into the flight, I finally felt relaxed enough to doze. We had been served our drinks and I decided to close my eyes and try to nap so that I would be fresh for my arrival. But instead, I heard “Mom, MOM! Wake up! MOM!” The woman next to me had her eyes open but she wasn’t seeing anything. Instead she was falling over into her daughter and completely unresponsive. I jumped up and ran to the back of the plane to get help. All the flight attendants descended on my seat mate and had to lay her down, administer oxygen, and cover her in rags.
“Is there a doctor on board?” they yelled. The physician from the wheelchair steadily stood up and made her way back. She and I made eye contact and nodded like, can this really be happening twice? I was moved a couple of rows back to a window seat and tried to avoid my own panic attack. I could NOT add to this situation with my own fears. The fly attendants notified the captain and the physician feared we would not be able to stretch the woman’s care until the scheduled landing time. The rest of the passengers around her, and I, collectively held our breath and hoped for the best. The poor daughter was scared but composed. I just wanted to give her a hug.
The good news is that the physician and flight attendants were able to wake the mother up and she made it to landing. An ambulance waited for us on the tarmac and they took her off first. As I exited the plane, completely shaken again, I saw that she was sitting upright and there were multiple paramedics tending to her. She was alive. I looked at my watch. It was 8:20 am. I was so grateful that the two emergencies had not ended in the worst way. The physician from the wheelchair deserves an award. What a way to start a morning.