DAY 13

February 9, 2025

BUMMER!

About 1:30 AM Karen took a bad fall in our bathroom! Lot’s of blood. Fortunately she remained conscious and called for my help. I ran next door for Todd to come help. Together we were able to help clean up Karen and the room and get her back to bed. Her nose continued to bleed but seemed to be slowing.

Bleeding had not stopped when morning arrived. She has been on a blood thinner drug for years. We talked with both Jonathan, our Doctor son-in-law and Todd’s friend, Dr. J. B. Kettner. Both were concerned. We called Jaya and put in motion a healthcare initiative.

The first step was to get our hotel to call a local Physician. This young man was terrific – ending up spending the entire day with us. Karen remarked that he was “a young version of Omar Sharif”.  He recommend we take Karen to the local hospital. We ended up in a small clinic in Jaisalmer.

The conditions at the Clinic were almost primitive. For example they put Karen on an IV lying in the waiting room by hanging the drip from a curtain rod held by tied gauze. The Doctor saw Karen for maybe a minute. The lobby was packed with a continuous stream of locals, many with small children, seeking help. The bathroom had no stool – only a slit in the floor. No toilet paper. We waited for a CT scan. This is Sunday and the City has taken down the electricity to power the CT scanner. We wait for hours. Finally she gets her CT scan.

All this said the people were really good and very attentive. Her nose continued to bleed and needed to have the tissue being held to her nose changed frequently. The CT scan results will not be available for several hours. The Clinic Doctor recommends we move Karen to a proper hospital in Jodhpur.

An ambulance is called. Our young Doctor Sharif and myself hop in the back with Karen and we are off for the 4 1/2 hour drive. The road is rough and the old ambulance has a poor suspension. It was far from a comfortable journey. Half way, we stop to help Karen to a gas station bathroom. She throws up twice – blood that has drained internally in addition to the external bleeding.

It turns out this was a turning point in her condition. For the first time in over 12 hours her bleeding stops. She has started to turn the corner. She even sleeps some. Our young Doctor Sharif remarks that she looks better.

Connie and Todd, in the Banyon van, arrive about an hour after we do.

The hospital in Jodhpur is a real upgrade from the clinic but still far short of what we are used to in the US. The CT scan results show she has a fractured nose. They order an MRI and take her to their ICU for monitoring. The individual rooms do not have the monitoring equipment we expect at home. Both Todd and I visit with her. Reluctantly, and at her urging, the three of us head to the hotel around 10:00 PM.

This has been a tough and stressful, long day. Throughout, the people caring for Karen and supporting the three of us have been terrific! Both Connie and especially Todd have been there for us at every turn. I debated about even writing this blog but decided to do so, with Karen’s concurrence because I want everyone to know it is safe to travel India.

I have told our Children and our Grandchildren that people all over the World are the same. They care about one another. They want their Children to have an even better life. This day has once again proven my advice to be sound.

Robert