usvi-on-line
Novel way to avoid the traditional "walk of woe".
Novel way to avoid the traditional "walk of woe".
Rich and I arrived back in NY a little over a week ago, after having our wonderful trip to paradise extended for 4 days. At the outset, we enjoyed three great days with Lauren and Brion at Estate Lindholm, just chillin and limin while waiting for the kids to arrive. The Morisettes are special people, and I am so glad we stayed there on this trip, as they turned out to be lifesavers for Rich at the end of our journey,
We really loved the Villa Spellbound. Its getting a little "long in the tooth" on the outside, but the new owners are remodeling floor by floor, and the villa has one of the most dynamic views on St John. It is high on our list for a return visit, hopefully this summer.
WE had a wonderful day with John on the Palma Bella,a great lunch at Peter Island, an hour or so with Foxy ( he looked great) and more than a few beautiful days at Francis, Maho and Trunk before the Christmas Winds set in, leaving us to spend a day or two enjoying villa gravity. Of course a shopping day in STT is always in order, especially around Christmas time. I am glad I got my present early in the trip, as we never had out traditional shopping trip on the way to the airport. We saw Ruth and Ron, and had a few at the Beach Bar
We enjoyed a number of great meals at Asolare, Morgan's Mango, Lime Inn, Paradiso( more on that in the trip report soon come)the new restaurant at Wharfside, and the unforgettable Caneel Buffet, where we celebrated our last night on the island.
Actually, I had been celebrating my recent weight loss, resulting from a lowfat diet, and what better way to stay lowfat on vacation than by eating shrimp and/ or some other shellfish almost every day. After what amounted to a seafood buffet for me on the last night, I went home to pack for the 10 AM ferry in the AM. I felt a little full, so I decided to rest for awhile. And then the pain came, ...and the nausea.. unrelenting ...for hours. By 5 AM I was sure I was having a heart attack, so I called the paramedics and they were up to the villa in what seemed like a flash. I cannot say enough good things about these guys. I was sick and frightened and having terrible chest pain, and they immediately calmed me and told me that they would begin treatment for a heart attack even though they suspected it was something else. After about 20 minutes the pain subsided some, and moved around to my side. They brought me over to the clinic, where by about 8AM on the morning of the "big bang"( yes, the power went out momentarily at the clinic), they determined that I was having an acute gall bladder attack. They evacuated my by boat to Schneider Hospital on STT, where I spent four days resisting their attemps to perform surgery there or evacuate me to San Juan. The care I recieved in STT was wonderful, but I was fighting hard to get home, as I would have been a high risk patient for surgery there. Although the thought of recuperating in Paradise sounded appealing, I realized I would have to live through the event to apprecaite it. In the meantime, Rich was traveling back and forth from St John as he moved back into Estate Lindholm. The Morisette's and Ali were so good to him and their help in communicating with the hospital for him was invaluable. By Saturday after Thanksgiving, I was well enough by the barest standards to travel home on a regular AA non stop flight,arranged by the CSA people, with orders from the Doctor on STT to get to the nearest hospital when we landed. Thank goodness for the CSA insurance, but I will reserve judgement on he whole CSA process after I file the claim.
In conclusion.. I am home now, and will have the surgery here in NY early next week. I was trying to get through until after Christmas but the Doctors say NOW, so I cant argue.
And avoiding the traditinal WALK of WOE by being medically evacuted---the jury is still out on which way is more painful. As of now, next time I am leaving Paradise,I hope I can take the ferry.
Trip report soon come. Happy Holidays.
We really loved the Villa Spellbound. Its getting a little "long in the tooth" on the outside, but the new owners are remodeling floor by floor, and the villa has one of the most dynamic views on St John. It is high on our list for a return visit, hopefully this summer.
WE had a wonderful day with John on the Palma Bella,a great lunch at Peter Island, an hour or so with Foxy ( he looked great) and more than a few beautiful days at Francis, Maho and Trunk before the Christmas Winds set in, leaving us to spend a day or two enjoying villa gravity. Of course a shopping day in STT is always in order, especially around Christmas time. I am glad I got my present early in the trip, as we never had out traditional shopping trip on the way to the airport. We saw Ruth and Ron, and had a few at the Beach Bar
We enjoyed a number of great meals at Asolare, Morgan's Mango, Lime Inn, Paradiso( more on that in the trip report soon come)the new restaurant at Wharfside, and the unforgettable Caneel Buffet, where we celebrated our last night on the island.
Actually, I had been celebrating my recent weight loss, resulting from a lowfat diet, and what better way to stay lowfat on vacation than by eating shrimp and/ or some other shellfish almost every day. After what amounted to a seafood buffet for me on the last night, I went home to pack for the 10 AM ferry in the AM. I felt a little full, so I decided to rest for awhile. And then the pain came, ...and the nausea.. unrelenting ...for hours. By 5 AM I was sure I was having a heart attack, so I called the paramedics and they were up to the villa in what seemed like a flash. I cannot say enough good things about these guys. I was sick and frightened and having terrible chest pain, and they immediately calmed me and told me that they would begin treatment for a heart attack even though they suspected it was something else. After about 20 minutes the pain subsided some, and moved around to my side. They brought me over to the clinic, where by about 8AM on the morning of the "big bang"( yes, the power went out momentarily at the clinic), they determined that I was having an acute gall bladder attack. They evacuated my by boat to Schneider Hospital on STT, where I spent four days resisting their attemps to perform surgery there or evacuate me to San Juan. The care I recieved in STT was wonderful, but I was fighting hard to get home, as I would have been a high risk patient for surgery there. Although the thought of recuperating in Paradise sounded appealing, I realized I would have to live through the event to apprecaite it. In the meantime, Rich was traveling back and forth from St John as he moved back into Estate Lindholm. The Morisette's and Ali were so good to him and their help in communicating with the hospital for him was invaluable. By Saturday after Thanksgiving, I was well enough by the barest standards to travel home on a regular AA non stop flight,arranged by the CSA people, with orders from the Doctor on STT to get to the nearest hospital when we landed. Thank goodness for the CSA insurance, but I will reserve judgement on he whole CSA process after I file the claim.
In conclusion.. I am home now, and will have the surgery here in NY early next week. I was trying to get through until after Christmas but the Doctors say NOW, so I cant argue.
And avoiding the traditinal WALK of WOE by being medically evacuted---the jury is still out on which way is more painful. As of now, next time I am leaving Paradise,I hope I can take the ferry.
Trip report soon come. Happy Holidays.
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sailorgirl
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Tracy in WI
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Jan&MikeVa
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Oh my goodness! I am glad that you were able to get home, and I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery. My understanding is that if you have it removed laproscopicly (sp??) it does not take too long to recover.
I'll look forward to your trip report after you are better.
I'll look forward to your trip report after you are better.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
My goodness! Life is never boring when you are around, huh! I'm so glad you received good care on the islands and arrived home safely. I hope your recovery is quick and will say a prayer the surgery goes perfectly! Usually you feel much better afterwards!
Keep us posted and I'm glad you enjoyed the rest of your trip!!
Nicolle
Keep us posted and I'm glad you enjoyed the rest of your trip!!
Nicolle