Unexpected medical issue and cruising DCL ?

[skoi]

We might have an unexpected medical issue on our upcoming cruise. Our youngest son had kidney surgery last week, and has encountered problems. At present, he has a drain from his kidney that is emerging from his back (kept covered), and a catheter. I'm guessing with all this medical equipment it would be impossible for him to go to the Oceaner's Club. Is this right? If not, is anyone aware of what accomodations can be made?

I'm also posting this on the cruise board.

Thanks for any advice/words of wisdom.

Julie

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry to hear about his misfortune.

I'd suggest calling. If the catheter and the drains are covered with all drainage/excretions contained and the CMs in the Oceaner's Club don't have to do anything with them, they may still agree that he could come.

 

[skoi]

Sorry to hear about his misfortune.

I'd suggest calling. If the catheter and the drains are covered with all drainage/excretions contained and the CMs in the Oceaner's Club don't have to do anything with them, they may still agree that he could come.

Thanks for the quick response.

Interesting. I'll have to see if the doc can cover the drain, etc. Still, it might not be much of a fun cruise for him seeing how he'll be unable to go into the water, go to the beach, etc. This is a totally unforeseen complication. It was all supposed to come out today, but they couldn't as he's still "draining".

Of course, his very badly done cleft palate repair was an unforeseen complication. I guess I should get used to unforeseen complications with youngest ds.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Have you sent a medical form to DCL?

If you have not, you have to call DCL and send one immediately.

If you already have, you probably should call DCL and send them an updated medical form.

 

[CGC33A]

I tried to post a long reply on the cruise board but something was wrong with the system & it disappeared so I will try again here:
You haven't said when you are going, how long the cruise is, where you are traveling from, how old your DS is (but from the picture, it appears he may be quite small) and also from your signature line, you may be going by your self? Sailor coming home in 8 months?? or was it 8 months ago that you posted this?
Concerns I would have: #1:if a young child who could not easily tell the counselors that something was wrong and he needed you, that's one for hte cancel column. An older child, i.e. 10, could tell that something was amiss and he needed help and could have you paged.
#2: catheter & drain care. how comfortable are you with taking care of these and troubleshooting? The medical staff can do only so much and may or may not be familiar with the specifics? Can you carry everything you need? On a ship there are no medical supply companies easily accessible.
#3: you will be away from his drs. in case of more complications arise such as fever. Can you get the right medications easily?
#4: you already mentioned: no pool or beach.
I would consider postponing the cruise(esp. if it is a 7 night), going to WDW instead if this is your only time to vacation (you would be landside with backup) or if you still want to go: learn all you can about the care of the equipment so you are comfortable in any situation. and have insurance....
Good luck with what ever decision you make and best of luck to your son, may he get better soon.

 

[skoi]

I tried to post a long reply on the cruise board but something was wrong with the system & it disappeared so I will try again here:
You haven't said when you are going, how long the cruise is, where you are traveling from, how old your DS is (but from the picture, it appears he may be quite small) and also from your signature line, you may be going by your self? Sailor coming home in 8 months?? or was it 8 months ago that you posted this?
Concerns I would have: #1:if a young child who could not easily tell the counselors that something was wrong and he needed you, that's one for hte cancel column. An older child, i.e. 10, could tell that something was amiss and he needed help and could have you paged.
#2: catheter & drain care. how comfortable are you with taking care of these and troubleshooting? The medical staff can do only so much and may or may not be familiar with the specifics? Can you carry everything you need? On a ship there are no medical supply companies easily accessible.
#3: you will be away from his drs. in case of more complications arise such as fever. Can you get the right medications easily?
#4: you already mentioned: no pool or beach.
I would consider postponing the cruise(esp. if it is a 7 night), going to WDW instead if this is your only time to vacation (you would be landside with backup) or if you still want to go: learn all you can about the care of the equipment so you are comfortable in any situation. and have insurance....
Good luck with what ever decision you make and best of luck to your son, may he get better soon.

Husband is in Afghanistan, still, which is why the older kids want to go so badly. Grandparents are coming along with us.

I've been caring for the drain and catheter for over a week, since they let him out of the hospital, and he's on antibiotics already to reduce risk of infection.

That said, I'm thinking cancel, but there's still a chance that he'll clear up- it's a surgical complication (he had kidney stones removed last week). It was supposed to stop draining after three days, but didn't. Hopefully we'll get it all removed next week.

Thanks again for all the information
Julie

 

[Selket]

I think we're on the same cruise so perhaps there would be enough time for this to resolve itself beforehand?

Otherwise, assuming that nothing needs to be done with it for him to attend then he should be able to go.

My younger DS has some medical issues that are different but can be serious and we have left him in the kids club on the cruise last year and he was 5. We did check on him very often (every hour I'd say).

Hoping for a speedy recovery for him.

 

[CGC33A]

Afghanistan,... on my upcoming cruise in October, my friend's DH, who is AD Army, is coming back on his first and only leave during is 15 month deployment (been gone since Christmas time) to go on the cruise with us. We hope he makes it home.
Best wishes to your husband and the remainder of his stint overseas.