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Welcome To Alaska, Or: The Sanduskys Have Landed! (By Louisiana) ~Part Two~ (For Sarah Tagert With Love!) by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Rated "G" by the Author.
The Sanduskys (Louisiana, Bill, Ronee', and Johnny) are in Alaska now; but unfortunately their vacation starts off on the wrong foot when Bill has an asthma attack that requires him to be admitted into the hospital for overnight observation.
Unfortunately, the news wasn't as good as we had hoped. Upon seeing the doctor, I kept hoping that Bill would be okay; but the doctor informed me that Bill was being admitted to the hospital for overnight, so they could observe him and keep an eye on his breathing. His breathing was still quite labored, and he was still on nasal oxygen, and he needed to be watched over by the medical staff, in case an unforseen problem came up.
At the news, I groaned loudly, and both Johnny and Ronee' started to cry harder. Jenna was upset, too, and so was Michael; but Michael said that they would run the children to their apartment and would keep an eye on them while I stayed at the hospital with my husband. I appreciated the kind gesture from Michael, and I told him that I would pay him and Jenna for keeping an eye on Johnny and Ronee', but they said that it was no problem, that I needed to be with my husband while he was sick and in the hospital. Before I left to see Bill (he was being taken to his room; his room would be on the second floor, the medical/surgical ward; the orderlies would page me when Bill was settled into his room and into the bed), I hugged and kissed Johnny and Ronee', and I told them to be good for Jenna and Michael, and I told them that I would be home later on in the evening, and I tried to reassure them that daddy was going to be just fine once the asthma medication went into effect and eased his breathing.
After Jenna, Michael, Johnny, and Ronee' left, I went to Bill's room once the orderlies had informed me that he was settled in; and I walked in. Bill was awake, but he looked miserable, and I could tell that he was bothered by his being sick and being admitted to the hospital; but I told him not to worry about a thing, as Jenna and Michael had the kids, and they would be more than happy to watch out over them. I told Bill that he was going to be okay, and I told him that I was sorry that he had gotten sick. I told him that we had two weeks in Alaska, and that we would have plenty of time to go sightseeing and continue on with our cruise once he recovered from his asthma attack and had gotten released from the hospital.
Bill was depressed; I could tell by his sad, puppy-dog expression in his eyes and his downcast nature. I didn't blame him: after all, he didn't plan on having an asthma attack upon our arrival into Alaska; but something obviously set his asthma off, and his breathing only got worse, so we really had no choice in the matter BUT to get the needed medical help before his breathing got any worse. Bill was wearing prongs in his nose, which was delivering oxygen to his lungs, and he seemed to be breathing easier now; but he was still a bit on the pale side, and he was still wheezing a little. He showed me his wrists, which were blackened from bruises from where he had been stabbed and poked for the blood gas test, and I clucked sympathetically as I looked at his poor, abused wrists. I told him I was sorry he had to undergo the blood gas; and he said, "Now I know how Ronee' feels when she has one of those things. No wonder she cries so much when she has one of those done! They hurt like HELL!! I thought they were going to go right THROUGH my wrists when they stuck me with that confounded needle! Why, that needle was THIS long!" (As he said that, he held his hands apart; but I knew he was exaggerating about the length of the needle they used on him when they did the blood gas tests.) I told Bill to be thankful that he got the test done on his wrists; he could have had it performed on his neck or his groin, which were even more painful than his wrists. (Ronee' has had the honor of having blood gas tests performed in her neck and groin areas as well as both wrists; thank GOD she was unconscious during these times; or she would have otherwise FREAKED! [She does NOT do needles very well, even with all the times she has been stuck in her lifetime!])
I sat beside the bedside of my sick, miserable husband; and we spent the rest of the day just talking about anything in general; we wanted to keep our minds off the fact that Bill was now sick and was in the hospital, and we wanted to try to salvage the rest of our trip to Alaska. We talked about what we would do, and we talked about how nice Jenna and Michael were, and we also talked about how pretty Alaska was (what little we saw before Bill got sick, that is!). I told him that I loved him, and that I was glad that he was in the hospital; right now, it was the best possible place he could be, and as long as he was going to be okay, then that was most important, and I was hopeful that he would be well enough by tomorrow to be released; and then we could continue with our vacation and spend more time with Jenna and Michael during the time we were in Anchorage.
Karen,
I am touched you dedicated this one one me. It is a great write as always. Glad to know Bill is improving, I know they will be on their way soon.
What a lousy start to their Alaska trip.I know
it has to get better;-) This is a very excellent
portrayal of reality for what many experience.
wonderful write Karen!
poor bill...husbands are little boys when they get sick. they'd like for you to think they're strong, nothing bothers them...let 'em get sick, and they turn into babies LOL
enjoyed this write--can't wait to read more about the Alaskan Adventure!
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