Emergency Flights
Air ambulance flights are something that most people are lucky enough to avoid ever experiencing in life. Between both my children, I’ve now been on 5. If you are getting flown from one hospital to another, things are serious. No matter how many flights I’ve taken, the crushing feeling of what’s happening never gets any easier. Hearing the doctor say “We need to get you to Children’s Hospital right away” takes a big toll on my mental health.
When flying with air ambulance, you are able to bring a small suitcase with you. I have learned over time, to always have an emergency bag somewhat packed with my overnight essentials so that packing is a bit easier with less thinking during a very stressful time. Thankfully my husband is wonderful and knows which clothes I would want packed and is often the one packing my suitcase with my emergency bag for me as I’m in the hospital with Dylan. He always makes sure to include snacks for me, which I appreciate. I always have a hard time eating when I am under a lot of stress and I partially just don’t think to eat so having snacks at hand is very helpful. I’ve also come to learn that the nurses from the hospital you leave from, or sometimes the paramedics, can give you zofran to help with nausea. This is something I always need when riding in the back of an ambulance and getting flown out.
One of the most intimidating things about the emergency flights are when you finally arrive at the hospital you were being sent to. For us it’s always been to BC Children’s Hospital. Usually when we are flown, it’s for Dylan so it is the Nephrology team requesting that we be there ASAP. Every time we have been flown, the Nephrology team is in the room or nearby the room waiting for our arrival. Things happen fast as they have already made a plan for what they want upon our arrival. Imaging, bloodwork, any other testing is usually done within the hour of us getting here. There is a lot that happens and a lot of people coming in and out of the room to talk to. It can become very overwhelming very quickly.
Thankfully, everyone I have encountered for our flights that are a part of our trip are very calming and understanding. From the nurses at the hospital we are sent from, to the paramedics on both sides of the flight, to the BC ambulance flight crew, to the ER staff and physicians admitting us when we get to Children’s, everyone is very supportive and do a good job of making sure that Dylan is taken care of, but also that I am being taken care of. While we are in a healthcare crisis with severe staff shortages, I have the utmost respect and appreciation for these workers going above and beyond to make sure that we both get where we need to be and have what we need, as well as taking the time to talk with me to make sure that I am doing okay during such a difficult time.
Have you taken an emergency flight to another hospital?
