What's Going On In My World
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
United Kingdom
January 9, 2019 10:02am CST
My husband has been very ill so I haven't felt like writing, or even doing much else except look after him.
He was taken ill while we were on a cruise, but had to be medically disembarked in Barbados. He spent two weeks in hospital there before he was well enough to fly home.
He had a haematoma on his arm (completely unrelated to his previous problems) and this burst on the flight. The medic travelling with us managed to stem the blood after a while, but then it started again and it couldn't be stopped.
The medic disappeared for a while and it turned out that he had gone to see the pilot to tell him that my husband was critically ill and was unlikely to make it. The captain said that he would divert to the nearest land if necessary.
They left the decision up to me. Should I opt to land and be stranded far from family and friends, or should I take the risk of him dying before we reached home?
I chose to take the risk as I wanted our children to have the chance to say goodbye to him - I just hoped that he would hang on long enough. There was no guarantee that he would survive if we landed anyway.
The medic said he musn't be allowed to sleep or he might slip into a coma, so I had to keep him awake . I kept talking to him, prodding him etc. for hours.
Anyway, I made the right decision as he rallied and started laughing and joking with the flight attendants. Lazarus or what?
Our children met the plane when we got back to England and after a couple of days in hospital he was allowed home. He's still not very well, but he's a lot better than he was.
71 people like this
70 responses
@Marilynda1225 (82715)
• United States
9 Jan 19
So sorry to hear that your time away was due to your husband's illness. What a scary experience for you both but glad he's home and doing better. What an ordeal to be stuck at a hospital far from home.
11 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan 19
@Marilynda1225 That's sweet of you to say that, thank you.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 Jan 19
Yes, it was horrible to be so far from home and family. Our son and daughter were quite prepared to fly out to us, but things weren't life threatening when we were in Barbados so I told them not to. I was expecting to be able to come home a lot sooner than we did.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82715)
• United States
10 Jan 19
@jaboUK hope your husband continues to improve and you can spend more time here. I miss your limericks and hearing about your beautiful garden
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471356)
• Switzerland
9 Jan 19
@jaboUK I can imagine that the Islands are nice only to be there for a few days vacations. The reason why I refused to retire to an Island was the fear to need to go to the hospital. You confirm that it's not a nice place to be. Your poor husband.
3 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
9 Jan 19
Thank you for taking the trouble to share this. You've had a very worrying and scary time, I know, and I can quite understand that you wouldn't feel like posting. My thoughts (and, I'm sure many other people's) are with you and your husband. I do hope that he makes a good recovery.
9 people like this
@Juliaacv (51119)
• Canada
9 Jan 19
Oh, I'm so sorry to read this.
That must have been such a terrifying event for you both.
I'm glad that you made the "right" decision on the flight, it must have been a very difficult one to arrive at. I'm sure that your kids support your decision.
What is his prognosis?
7 people like this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
9 Jan 19
I sure did not expect this kind of bad news when I read your title.
I am extremely sad that your husband and yourself had to go through this in another
country.
But so happy to read that you are both back home and that your husband is getting better.
All the best
8 people like this
@JudyEv (339583)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jan 19
Oh my goodness. What a very difficult decision for you to have to make. I'm glad he is a bit better now and hope the improvement continues. I was just thinking about you yesterday and wondering if I should try to do a limerick and entice you back here Take care of yourself too, won't you?
9 people like this
@allknowing (136099)
• India
9 Jan 19
I thought as much - you being tied up in your real world - else you would not ditch us Miss your limericks.
Happy that your husband is recouping.
6 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
9 Jan 19
Must have been frightening for all of you - hope he recovers fully soon
6 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
9 Jan 19
Although I know much of your horrors from what you had shared with me, I didn’t know all the details. So glad you made the right decision, although it was one I would have chosen, too. I’m glad your husband is doing better and hope his health improves with your loving care.
7 people like this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
9 Jan 19
Oh Janet, I am so sorry to hear of your husband, that must have been awful for the two of you to endure. I am so thankful that he made it home and will pray that he will recover. Your laughing and joking with him is probably what pulled him through, they say laughter can work wonders.
5 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
9 Jan 19
Oh my how scary. I can only imagine how you were feeling not knowing what was going to happen. She glad to hear that it all worked out and that he is home now. I hope health keeps improving each day.
6 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan 19
@playertwo I appreciate that, thank you.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
9 Jan 19
@jaboUK you are welcome. Please keep us updated when you can. He will be in my prayers.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160624)
• United States
10 Jan 19
Oh JaboUK I am so sorry. I understand about the sick husband issue and the bleeding too. I hope being at home he will be getting better. Praying for you right now as I am visiting on the Lot.
5 people like this
@mom210 (9117)
• United States
9 Jan 19
I am so sorry you husband is ill. , I would have made the same decision about the flight, that was a good decision but I know it was very difficult. I hope that he does continue to get better, how terrifying to be away from family and friends when something like this happens.
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79711)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jan 19
It was God who was your co-pilot all the way home. I am glad to hear he is getting better and will keep him in my prayers blessings to you both.
5 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 Jan 19
It was supposed to be a month's cruise but we only got a week before he was ill. The two weeks in the hospital in Barbados were terrible. The nursing standards were so low that I spent 12 hours a day with him as I couldn't trust the nurses to look after him properly. Thanks for your concern.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
9 Jan 19
It was a harrowing experience but am so thankful that things worked out. May he continue to get better each day. Take care
4 people like this
