Prayers and good thoughts requested... UPDATE in first post!

[ChrizJen]

THE LATEST:

OK, so here's the latest. Jen's DBIL was able to talk to Jen's sister. She's stable now, and awake after two rounds of IV intibiotics and IV fluids (which I'm not completely clear on, since it's apparently viral, and not bacterial. I thought only bacterial infections could be treated with antibiotics..Anyhow...) She's still having some swelling and headaches, so she's also being given some pain meds. They are keeping her there to make sure that she continues to improve. They did a spinal tap and her blood cell count is still off, so she's not completely out of the woods yet. But the improvement that she's shown is definitely a good sign. They were able to make arrangements for the kids to be taken care of. Several families have offered to help out.
Then Jen's sister called Jen, and she was feeling well enough to be angry that we got her husband into it at all. She was upset that it might add undue stress for him considering the stress that he's already under. I can totally understand where she's coming from, but Jen explained to her that we felt we had no other option seeing that we weren't sure of her status. She eventually came around and was thankful that we tried to help.
So it looks like everything is going to be OK, we just need Jen's sister to make a full recovery.

In the meantime, Jen is in the process of getting her passport...LOL
Thanks again for all of the concern and good thoughts.



UPDATE:
Good news. We just got a call from DBIL, and the Red Cross was not only able to track him down, but they were also able to determine exactly where Jen's DSis is, and they gave him a number to reach the hospital. So he's going to call the hospital and get her status. Then he's going to call us back and let us know what's going on. He's also in the process of getting calls made around base to see about getting the kids taken care of. He says that once he's able to talk to the hospital to get her status, (and maybe talk to her), he'll determine whether or not he needs to take leave and go back to Germany.

We're still not really sure what all's going on with Jen's sister, and hopefully we'll get more info once he's able to contact the hospital. But I'm so relieved to just know that he's aware of what's going on, and has some handle on the situation. *WHEW!*
I truly do believe in the power of prayer, and I thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.
Please continue to pray for DSis's recovery.
Thanks!
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We're in a bit of a difficult situation.
This is long, but here's a little back story:

DPartner (Jen)'s sister is married to an Army man. He's in Iraq, and she's in Germany with their two small children. Just before his deployment, they moved off base, and so DP's sister doesn't know a lot of people yet in the area. She has one friend who watches the kids occasionally when she needs someone.

Well, Jen's sister left the kids with this friend yesterday to go to the doctor about some headaches she had been having. They had to rush her to the hospital from the doctor's office, and she was diagnosed with Viral Meningitis. She's been in and out of consciousness since, and was unable to notify anyone. We just found out today when Jen tried to call her sister. The babysitter/friend seemed frustrated by the whole situation, but gave us what info she had. But she didn't even know what hospital she's in! Just that she had been taken straight from the Dr's office to some neurological center in Regensburg, Germany. Well, Jen was finally able to reach her sister on her cell this morning, and all she was able to say was that she didn't know what to do with the kids. She didn't know where she was, or what was going on. Jen lost connection with her, and now her cell phone goes straight to voicemail.

So the problem was that we weren't really sure about all of the info we needed to get in contact with her husband. All we know is his name, rank, and that he's Military Police. We don't even know what base he's stationed out of in Germany. We were able to get ahold of the American Red Cross, and they said that with the info we have, they should be able to contact the European Red Cross, and they in turn should be able to track him down, contact his unit and notify him. The person from the ARC was EXTREMELY helpful, and she said that she would stipulate that he call us directly as soon as he gets the message. She also said that they would notify us if they had any problems tracking him down.

We're just worried because not only does he need to be aware of the fact that his wife is ill and probably needs medical decisions made on her behalf, but he also needs to make plans for someone to care for the children while she's in the hospital. We feel so helpless here. So now we just wait and hope that we hear from him soon.

Please if you could, just say a little prayer for Jen's sister and her kids, and that our BIL gets the message soon and calls us.

Thanks
-Christal

 

[singingpixie]

Prayer said!

 

[nannerbadnanner]

We're in a bit of a difficult situation.
This is long, but here's a little back story:

DPartner (Jen)'s sister is married to an Army man. He's in Iraq, and she's in Germany with their two small children. Just before his deployment, they moved off base, and so DP's sister doesn't know a lot of people yet in the area. She has one friend who watches the kids occasionally when she needs someone.

Well, Jen's sister left the kids with this friend yesterday to go to the doctor about some headaches she had been having. They had to rush her to the hospital from the doctor's office, and she was diagnosed with Viral Meningitis. She's been in and out of consciousness since, and was unable to notify anyone. We just found out today when Jen tried to call her sister. The babysitter/friend seemed frustrated by the whole situation, but gave us what info she had. But she didn't even know what hospital she's in! Just that she had been taken straight from the Dr's office to some neurological center in Regensburg, Germany. Well, Jen was finally able to reach her sister on her cell this morning, and all she was able to say was that she didn't know what to do with the kids. She didn't know where she was, or what was going on. Jen lost connection with her, and now her cell phone goes straight to voicemail.

So the problem was that we weren't really sure about all of the info we needed to get in contact with her husband. All we know is his name, rank, and that he's Military Police. We don't even know what base he's stationed out of in Germany. We were able to get ahold of the American Red Cross, and they said that with the info we have, they should be able to contact the European Red Cross, and they in turn should be able to track him down, contact his unit and notify him. The person from the ARC was EXTREMELY helpful, and she said that she would stipulate that he call us directly as soon as he gets the message. She also said that they would notify us if they had any problems tracking him down.

We're just worried because not only does he need to be aware of the fact that his wife is ill and probably needs medical decisions made on her behalf, but he also needs to make plans for someone to care for the children while she's in the hospital. We feel so helpless here. So now we just wait and hope that we hear from him soon.

Please if you could, just say a little prayer for Jen's sister and her kids, and that our BIL gets the message soon and calls us.

Thanks
-Christal

What an awful situation. In an emergency situation, he may be granted leave to come bakc until things are better at home. I interned for the Red Cross in college, and sadly, situations like this were not unusual. Most of the time, leave was granted. Prayers for the entire family.

 

[mickeyboat]

Sending lots of positive thoughts.

Denae

 

[NMAmy]

What a scary situation for the whole family. I hope you're able to get some good news very soon.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

If you can get his address as well that will help the Red Cross locate him faster.

I can't even imagine how you must feel right now. I will pray for the family.

I do hope you can get to him quickly and he gets back safely.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Oh yes 'n I'm sure the military 'n Red Cross will work hand in hand to get him to her location asap. I could go into a story about my own experiences, but I won't.

I'll just say it'll be alright.

 

[abdmom]

Is there any chance that Jen or someone else in their family could go to Germany to take care of the kids and the household? Even once her sister's husband returns from Iraq, he will have his mind on his dw and they will need help with the kids. I'm sure the friend who is looking after the kids didn't count on their mom being admitted to hospital for the foreseeable future. Alternatively, can Jen contact someone on the base in Germany who can help?

I've been in the husband's shoes. He won't be able to handle it all on his own.

 

[ImMarcik]

 

[Briarmom]

Prayers said.

 

[Michelle67]

Hugs, prayers, and positive thoughts.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Christal, is there anything I can do for ya'll? Do you need help getting talked through the steps or need some names of phone numbers of anyone in Germany? Let me know what I can do.

 

[ChrizJen]

Thanks for the prayers, guys.

What an awful situation. In an emergency situation, he may be granted leave to come bakc until things are better at home. I interned for the Red Cross in college, and sadly, situations like this were not unusual. Most of the time, leave was granted. Prayers for the entire family.

The person at the Red Cross assured us that we did the right thing by calling them, and that in a lot of situations, leave won't be granted unless the call comes from the Red Cross. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but I guess it's reassuring.

Thanks again for the prayers.

 

[mrsmom]

Prayers being said.
keep us updated.
Kim

 

[kellyg403]

Prayers are being said for your family.

Just an FYI. Back in 1981 my family had a similar situation as yours. We were stationed in Frankfurt Germany. I, my 4 bros and sis, mom and dad was in the Army. My mom went to the dr because she had been having difficulties and immediately hospitalized. She was diagnosed that day with Stage 4 cancer. She was medivaced back to the US, with my dad while the 5of us children stayed behind. At first, neighbors helped take care of us, but the 3rd day members of my dad's unit came and got us and took us home. They were single guys/gals that liked my parents. They took turns...a person would come over for 2 days and then the next one would come. My dad came home 1 month later as my mom's prognosis was poor. She did survive and we did move back to the states a couple weeks after my dad came back to get us.

My suggestion to you is once you know which unit your sis dh is in, get in touch with whoever is in charge. Find out the hospital..hopefully it is a military facility not a German one. She can be medivaced home. Hopefully with her children accompanied by someone in the unit. Keep in touch with Red Cross, even if her dh is able to get back, they leave Iraq and are in hold in Kuwait for a few days to make sure there are no illness. He may not be able to get to her for a few days up to a week. Especially since she is already ill.

Take care and hopefully you will be able to get her back to the states soon.

Kelly

 

[kpm76]

Oh my goodness, what a horrible story. Prayers said for all of you.

 

[nannerbadnanner]

Thanks for the prayers, guys.



The person at the Red Cross assured us that we did the right thing by calling them, and that in a lot of situations, leave won't be granted unless the call comes from the Red Cross. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but I guess it's reassuring.

Thanks again for the prayers.

I believe that's true. The Red Cross acts as the official liaison for the commanding officer and the families. We were supposed to verify every request that came through so I guess they know the info is accurate once it comes from The Red Cross. Of course, it has been a few years since I interned there, so things may have changed.

 

[chrisw127]

US Army headquarters in Germany (Ramstein) should be able to locate him quickly. He must be stationed near Regensburg becuase if she was near a larger military base (say, Frankfurt) they would have taken her there.

Try http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/ for phone numbers. My personal experience is that military people are good at taking care of their own and will be quite helpful.

Good luck.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Wow! What a scary situation! You are all in my prayers. Would someone at the base he was stationed at in Germany be able to help? Someone there may be able to figure out what hospital she is in, and they may also be able to help with the kids, too. What about grandparents??? Are they healthy and financially stable enough to be able to fly to Germany and take care of the kids until Jen's sister is doing better?

 

[ChrizJen]

Is there any chance that Jen or someone else in their family could go to Germany to take care of the kids and the household? Even once her sister's husband returns from Iraq, he will have his mind on his dw and they will need help with the kids. I'm sure the friend who is looking after the kids didn't count on their mom being admitted to hospital for the foreseeable future. Alternatively, can Jen contact someone on the base in Germany who can help?

I've been in the husband's shoes. He won't be able to handle it all on his own.

Unfortunately, Jen doesn't have a passport. She's been talking for months now about getting one for in case anything happened to DBIL in Iraq that she could fly over to be with DSIS. But for now, we're helpless. And her parents aren't in the best health either and would not be able to make the trip. So we're having to do everything right now by phone.

But we're hoping that when we can actually talk to DBIL, that maybe he knows of other military families in the area who can help take care of the kids until he can get back.

It's just frustrating to sit and wait.