Hi,
I just wanted to say hello. We were the family that were evacuated from the Dream. My DD who is 10 has spina bifida and hydrocephalus (spinal fluid in her brain). She has a shunt (valve) in her brain that drains the fluid. She began to have seizures. She was taken to the medical center where the decision was made to get her and me off the ship (my DH, and 2 other DD stayed on board). We were loaded onto a tug that took us to Freeport Hospital. One of the ship's doctors stayed with me. We were at the hospital for 6 hours before we got airlifted to the hospital in Miami. While there, my DD had x-rays and a CT scan and found out that her shunt had moved and no longer was doing it's job (spinal fluid was collecting in her brain and causing too much pressure). She had to have a tube put into her scalp to remove the built up spinal fluid, and then had a 2 hour surgery the next day to fix the shunt. The scariest thing was when they told me that on a "coma scale" they have of 1-10, my DD was at an 8!
On Sunday, my DH and DDs got off the ship, rented a van and drove from Orlando to Miami to be with us. Thankfully, my DD was well enough that we could drive back to Orlando, where a wonderful man named Patrick (who works for
Disney Cruise Line) got us 2 rooms at the Pop Century Hotel for a couple of nights before our flight back to MN. Patrick was wonderful, he called us everyday to check on us, and even stopped by the hotel to say hello, check in, and give each one of the girls a Mickey Mouse. The crew of the Dream was also wonderful, they allowed my husband to use the ship's phone whenever he needed to, to make calls to our insurance company, and to me at the hospital.
We are finally home now. My DD will be seeing her neurosergeon tommarow. She is feeling alot better. She is really bummed we missed out on the cruise (we were only there 2 days), but I told her that she is ALOT more important than a cruise! We told her that we'd save up to plan another trip sometime.
Anyway, I just thought I would post, thankyou so much for the prayers!
Deborah
My heart sunk when I heard the announcement over the loudspeakers. I had a brain hemorrhage back in March followed by surgery in May and although I was never airlifted, the memories of rescue rides and ICU all came back to me. Again, I'm so very glad you received good care and you are all safe at home. And I hope you all get back on a ship very soon!
HIGHLIGHTS
of our cruise days !!
We have re-booked onboard
for a dummy date ; in fact we won't be cruising again until 2013 / Fantasy !!!
SO HOPING that someone in this lovely group will be cruising in August 2013 !!!!
slowly ... coming out of our suitcases , bringing again so much fun and joy !!!
Keep on DREAMING new trips !!!!!
