Wemindji Wants to Wipe Me Out

Hey!

Here is a post I wrote before I got so sick and had no time to post for one reason or another.  Enjoy my naive writings about a time before I knew I was dying.

Well what a day! I'm feeling a lot better after being pumped full of liquids both IV and in Pedialyte form (which is delicious, no chore there) for the last 24 hours after enduring a horrible 8+ day flu. 

After visiting the Wemindji clinic for the second time in the week after being told if I still felt like dying to come back (I did so I did) I was seen right away and put on a drip again . It was no easy task after hardly being able to keep down any liquids meant my already shy veins were doing a disappearing act. 

The doctor came to see me and very very concerned about my symptoms and recommended I immediately fly to Chisasibi to the nearest hospital where they had all the labs and diagnostic equipment readily available to confirm or deny her suspicions. Given my last trip to Chisasibi I was understandably apprehensive and wary but followed doctor's orders and was given 15 minutes to check in at the airport while Marsha raced around my filthy flu-ridden and neglected house packing me yet another overnight bag. I am grateful to have friends who don't judge me (to my face anyways) for the state they constantly find my house in when I have to suddenly leave. I literally haven't vacuumed in months, I'm so ashamed. I think I even had dirty undies on the bed. Bless both Marsha and Meghan. Marsha and Meghan already knew the drill and off I went to Chisasibi, luckily only a 20 minute flight on an empty plane. 

I landed in Chisasibi and the kind Principal from the elementary school was waiting there to pick me up!! Again, very blessed by the kindness of others. He drove me straight to the hospital and gave me his personal cell in case I needed anything. 

I was seen very quickly by the nursing staff who quickly began to try and get a vein for bloodwork and IV.  I wished each of the 7 nurses who tried "good luck" as my arms soon began looking like plum pin cushions. Each coming in with a confidence I knew would soon be crushed by my ghostly veinless arms. I'd make a horrible heroin addict. 

After someone finally got a line in I was transferred to my own private isolation room (the flu has its perks!!) and tried to nap but ah it was in this moment that my sciatica decided to pay me a visit with the vengeance of a scorned lover. It was probably the worst flare up I'd ever had and I couldn't bare it. Suddenly the flu was the least of my problems. 

Anyways, behind pumped with so many fluids I was finally beginning to feel more human. Things were moving along, I was much less nauseas and I even managed to eat clear veggie soup, juice and yogurt for dinner AND KEEP IT DOWN!! Such a joy. Between that and sips of grape Pedialyte I really felt like a princess at a fine dining establishment. 

I tried my best to sleep during the night with little success, I was being woken every 45 minutes to take vitals and fix my dang IV that kept beeping because of awkward but necessary placement. I was having a little trouble breathing because, oh did I forget to mention, the day before I got sick I dislodged my floating ribs on my left side PICKING UP A CUP and aggravated it by barfing continuously for a whole week. I can't make this stuff up. 

Whatever. 

So this morning my labs came back and I was told that basically I was so severely dehydrated that I had sustained kidney damage which wasn't severe in and of itself but I REALLY needed to fluid load at home. So I asked Meghan who kindly went to the store and picked me up a bunch of Gatorade and I'll be chugging my favorite flavor (red) until I can get my hands on some Pedialyte (grape I hope yum). 

Anyways at about 10am the nurse informed me that if I was comfortable, they could discharge me and I could get a plane home after lunch!! Who knew "after lunch meant basically right now. So I raced around trying to get ready because I actually had to check in for 11:15 and my flight was booked at 10:30, little warning!! The Cree Patient Services ride picked me up and drove me to the airport and literally the second I walked through the door on my crutches, they announced my flight was cancelled. I could get a hotel in Chisasibi for a couple of nights and reschedule for Monday afternoon or fly to Montreal tonight, reroute and fly back to Wemindji the next day all on my own dime. Ah-no-thank you. So I immediately put out a plea on all the Wemindji groups begging for some kind soul hopefully passing through or by to take me with them!!! LUCKILY Aaron and his extremely kind friend Ghislain were in Radisson which is a little over an hour north of Chisasibi and offered to come all the way in and pick me up!! I truly have the best friends!! 

Anyways after a ride with some great conversation I was delivered safely at home where I tried to love Bobo but he just went "meh" and back to his bone. 

Well sorry to bore you with yet another tale of how my body is failing me!!! I will be changing the name of this blog to "Wemindji Wants to Wipe Me Out" 

Enjoy!

Love Aidan