Friday, December 10, 2010

Travel & Thank: Day 14. The Day When I Was Supposed to Leave Country C.

As my neighbor here put it, “be scared of your heart’s desires”. Did I want to leave? No. Did I actually leave? No! I’m still here.

It’s just another case of silver lining in my life. Or another case of things going a certain way if it’s just written that they have to go a certain way. Everything happens for a reason, I believe in that.

So, what happened is, a few hours before leaving the house for the airport, I got a huge allergic reaction to something in my smoothie - I am yet to find out what that was. It started off normally but over the course of an hour and a half it grew into something terrifying – my face swelled, became tomato-red and increased in size, making every mimic wrinkle and every little skin imperfection I had stand out and thus making me look like an old ugly lady. My chest started itching crazily and, just like my face, it got red and was on fire, as if I was badly sunburned. Then it started spreading to my body and I started getting random white and red spots on my back, stomach and even underarms. The palms of my hands were burning and covered with weird white spider web like pattern, my wrists swelled, turned red, the veins also became more visible and got darker in color. Then the redness from the wrists started spreading further to my arms and all of my body started itching... And that’s how I arrived at the airport.

To make a long story short, I was taken to the doctor there and even though by that time I was getting much, much better, he still said he wouldn’t recommend I took the flight that night, but the final decision in my case was up to the plane captain. They contacted the plane crew and the captain refused to take me on board. My luggage was taken off,  I as taken to a few more airport offices and saw some more people, then I received back my ticket and was let go an hour or so later.

It all sounds pretty bad, but let me tell you – it could’ve been so much worse. At least I’m feeling well and I’m alive, at least I have a place to stay at, I have the money, I have food, my visa is still valid and I’m working on putting me on some other flight back home. Me and my family are really thankful it happened in this country, where I feel at home enough and can both take care of myself and be taken care of.

I’m thankful to the airport crew too, who had all been really kind, helpful and supportive, and I am thankful to my neighbor here, who has also been amazing and so willing to help out.

Needless to say, I am feeling super lucky. Not only did I not die, but my wish to stay here in country C. longer came true too. Oh thank you!

P.S. Next morning when I woke up at aunt's house that became such a dear place already, I was greeted with a plethora of rose colored flower petals by the front door... Beautiful.


Disclaimer: Travel & Thank™ is a mini-project within and is part of The ‘Thank You’ Project blog ©2009-2010. Travel & Thank™ updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author’s actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.

21 comments:

  1. Such a powerful testament to the how much we have to be grateful for, even when scary things happen. So glad you were OK in the end and you had all those things you pointed out - a place to stay, a valid visa, money. And in the end, that extra time with a place you'd come to love! (The pretty, surprise petals are a sign it was meant to happen! :))

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, no. My daughter has a severe food allergy and it can be pretty scary. Hope you find out what caused it.

    On a happier note, glad things worked out and you got to stay a bit longer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How awful, it sounds terryfying. I presume this has never happened before, but glad you are better now! x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your posts never fail to inspire, Julia! :-) But I'm glad you're okay - allergies can be deadly! I hope it doesn't happen again. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh wow, this sounds like a much much more severe version of what my mom suffered through last month! I'm so glad you're okay! You should totally go to an allergy specialist though, the second time around could be fatal =(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Way to see the silver lining, darling!

    xoxox,
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  7. That sounds so scary! I am glad you are ok and have such a positive attitude (as always ;))

    ReplyDelete
  8. It sounds like you went through a lot, and as you say it just makes one realise how much we need to appreciate the things that we have! x

    http://pagesixxx.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love silver linnings....

    ReplyDelete
  10. Julia, once again I see how amazing you are. Even in this, you find something for which to be grateful. Thank you for reinforcing gratitude as you live by example! I am so glad you're okay.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my, sorry to hear about that. But good thing you are ok now, and yes, still alive and kicking. I must be very lucky that that thing never happened to me. At least you stayed you woke up fresh and happy with flowers on your side. Sweet. Hope you are doing great by now! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. ohmygosh, I wonder what was in the smoothie!!! I'm so glad you're okay, that is crazy to think that you had such a reaction to something. I am sorry that you had to go through all that (and the fact that the captain was contacted seems like a very cool story to me) but it sounds like you got to stay somewhere cool a little longer and that your Aunt was happy to have you as company :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh it is so terryfying! Glad that evrything ends well!
    This post is so inspiring and remind us to be more cautious regarding food provided

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my. I'm so glad you're ok Julia. That sounded like an awful reaction and I hope you found out what it was somehow to avoid it in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sato Travel-very lovely and all post are very good so get free information here http://satotravelinfo.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. ..awww ..sweetie , I am happy that everything end up good ..it really sounded scary , that just wierd - I am wondering what kind of allergy that was - who really want's that kind of adventure while on holiday !

    ..awww ..those rose petals was such a sweet idea..

    p.s where did I was to not see all those posts !

    ReplyDelete
  17. I sympathize with you. To bear the allergic shock in flight is very unpleasant. I am afraid of such options, so I always take along the CBD oil, click this link This herbal medicine reduces pain well and soothes the nervous system. You can remember this life hack.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate you taking the time to connect and share your thoughts, so thank you for your comment! And while you're at it... Why not tell me what you're thankful for today? ;-)