Re: Update on Carla Kay #8

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

I have questions for those of you who traveled a good distance to have surgery,

How did you manage the plane ride home?

Did you require more med's for the trip?

Did any of you fly home by yourself?

Did any of you have to change planes to get home? ( Carla will in Atlanta).

Any suggestions you have for Carla's trip home we would so like to hear.

I had her daughter over the weekend, very interesting. She clung to my fourteen year old Ceili, loved having a " Big Sissy". We took her to Garden of the Gods, a huge red rock formation in our town, and she had never been hiking, at six she complained a lot about walking so far, less than a mile, because with Carla's disability she has never walked anywhere. We also walked to the park near our home to let her play, and she didn't understand that concept, she thought you had to drive to the park. Really opens your eyes to how Flatback affects a family. She went back up to Denver with Lee yesterday, I think she had a good time with us, lots of firsts with us, playing cards and board games, and hiking.

I'll update you as to Carla's room # and her progress when I get to talk to the people at Spaulding Rehab today.

[ ] Carla's address

Dear Group,I made a boo-boo, it's 19th Ave.

[Guest guest]

,

I did not travel by plane...but a few thoughts:

The hospital would not give me prescription meds to travel with. I

had to fill the scrip (or my husband)...I did manage to convince the

nurse on duty to let me delay taking my morning dose so that it

would be at full strength during the early part of the trip...and

then I filled the prescription on the way home. But this kind of

surprised us as I figured they would give me enough to have to get

home. Your logistics are a little different...or Carla's are...so I

would have a conversation about this early on so she is not caught

travelling home with nothing on hand.

The other thing I would do, if she already has a return booked, is

contact the airline and see what specific's they might offer. DIA is

a huge airport...so you can certainly arrange for her to be met

curbside for transportation to the gate and wheelchair assistance

getting to her seat. They should let her " preboard " with her

daughter. If she is travelling alone, under the circumstances, I

wonder if it might be possible to have her daughter travel as an

unaccompanied minor, or like one, in case any bumps occur along the

road at Atlanta. You should make sure that her travel record

includes a notation that she requires to be met at the gate for

transportation to the follow-on flight.

My last thought would be to have a contingency plan. Summer air

travel in and out of Atlanta is often a nightmare due to the T-

storms that crop up in the afternoons and affect that airport. Try

to see if you can determine if there is also another flight that

will also get her home if she mis-connects and have that info

written down so when she gets to the help desk she knows what to ask

for. If that should happen, she will already be tired, stressed and

probably feeling a little emotional. Better to have a plan inmind so

there isn't a last minute scramble.

Is there not a possibility a friend or family member could fly out

and accompany them home? Someone from her home church? My view is

that would be best...an able bodied adult to handle luggage, help

and the daughter.

Just my $.02, Cam

Best of luck with the details...you are the best for taking Carla

Kay under your wing.

[Guest guest]

my kids probably think that when you want to go shopping at the mall,

you go to Sears, then you get back in the car and drive down to

Penneys at the other end. And if you need to go to one of the

smaller stores in between, well then, you drive to the entrance in the

middle.

.. We also walked to the park near our home to let her play, and she

didn't understand that concept, she thought you had to drive to the

park. Really opens your eyes to how Flatback affects a family.

[Guest guest]

---

Well, I flew back Feb13th after a Jan 24th second stage surgery. so I

required no additional medication but did have my 14 year old

daughter accompany cause there was no way in hell I was goin it

alone. I had preferred seating, first on, last off....I feared I may

have to go the bathroom in the airport or the flight would be delayed

and I might need help, none of those things happened but i had her

just in case......what is Carla Kay's deal? whEN is she going home

etc?? <pa

In , " Kirkaldie "

<.Kirkaldie@...> wrote:

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I have questions for those of you who traveled a good distance to

have surgery,

>

> How did you manage the plane ride home?

> Did you require more med's for the trip?

> Did any of you fly home by yourself?

> Did any of you have to change planes to get home? ( Carla will in

Atlanta).

>

> Any suggestions you have for Carla's trip home we would so like to

hear.

>

> I had her daughter over the weekend, very interesting. She clung to

my fourteen year old Ceili, loved having a " Big Sissy " . We took her

to Garden of the Gods, a huge red rock formation in our town, and she

had never been hiking, at six she complained a lot about walking so

far, less than a mile, because with Carla's disability she has never

walked anywhere. We also walked to the park near our home to let her

play, and she didn't understand that concept, she thought you had to

drive to the park. Really opens your eyes to how Flatback affects a

family. She went back up to Denver with Lee yesterday, I think she

had a good time with us, lots of firsts with us, playing cards and

board games, and hiking.

>

> I'll update you as to Carla's room # and her progress when I get to

talk to the people at Spaulding Rehab today.

>

>

> [ ] Carla's address

>

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I made a boo-boo, it's 19th Ave.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

- I flew home alone immediately upon discharge following both

surgeries and it was just fine. Of course, the flight for me is

only one hour and fifteen minutes, but I didn't have any excess pain

either time. I didn't take any extra pain medication for the trip -

just made sure to take my usual dosage just prior to the flight. And

they help you so much.....being in a wheelchair, first to board, and

last to exit the plane but they have a wheelchair waiting. And

someone to be with you if you have no one right there. So I think

Carla will have no problems at all. I wish her the best!

~CA ~

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I have questions for those of you who traveled a good distance to

have surgery,

>

> How did you manage the plane ride home?

> Did you require more med's for the trip?

> Did any of you fly home by yourself?

> Did any of you have to change planes to get home? ( Carla will in

Atlanta).

>

> Any suggestions you have for Carla's trip home we would so like to

hear.

>

> I had her daughter over the weekend, very interesting. She clung

to my fourteen year old Ceili, loved having a " Big Sissy " . We took

her to Garden of the Gods, a huge red rock formation in our town,

and she had never been hiking, at six she complained a lot about

walking so far, less than a mile, because with Carla's disability

she has never walked anywhere. We also walked to the park near our

home to let her play, and she didn't understand that concept, she

thought you had to drive to the park. Really opens your eyes to how

Flatback affects a family. She went back up to Denver with Lee

yesterday, I think she had a good time with us, lots of firsts with

us, playing cards and board games, and hiking.

>

> I'll update you as to Carla's room # and her progress when I get

to talk to the people at Spaulding Rehab today.

>

>

> [ ] Carla's address

>

>

> Dear Group,

>

> I made a boo-boo, it's 19th Ave.

>

>

>