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Gina.... What a sad and painful commentary on the way the business and service world seems to be heading. And what a picture of the "disabled person's nightmare travel experience from HELL" you painted! <shuddering> Perhaps we need to have the same type of "airport/flight assistant" to meet us at each stop? The same type of airline service which meets and guides unaccompanied minors when they fly? (they're generally stewardesses, aren't they?) I wonder if there aren't a lotta retired stewardesses who'd like to bring in additional income by shepherding those who need such a service thru various airports? And if there ISN'T such a service, maybe it's time has come? Food for thought.... Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Gina Cass <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Monday, June 14, 1999 5:52 AM Subject: Travel No More/Beaten - Long Piece >TO: My fellow PD's (maybe not in spirit but in disease) > >I need to tell you this tale for me to get it out, not necessarily to have >you respond or even understand. >I was invited to New Hampshire by friends for a rest of 2 yrs of changes, >flight from Elkhart, Indiana to Manchester, New Hampshire was uneventful. I >stayed for a week and headed back to Indiana on Friday, June 10 flying a well >known Airline that I will name after I talk to the CEO, on their position. >My first flight out of Manchester was late, making me miss my connection in >Newark, NJ. They had advance notice that I needed a wheelchair to get to the >next gate on the other side of the airport which was not there. It seemed to >be a hinderance to get one and the person pushing was having a conversation >with someone I could not see. They were discussing a picture of a fire and >if this person had taken the photo. >Like I stated I missed my connection in Newark to Cleveland. The next flight >to Cleveland was the one I was booked on this one was delayed due to a light >that would not light. Yes the thing that it was attached to had to work and >was but we needed that light, I understand. I started flying at 10:05AM EDT. >from New Hampshire. I asked at each leg of this adventure to preboard due to >using a cane. >Was told that was fine but had to remind them each time. One time they >completely forgot and I had to battle the crowd, which don't care if you walk >or not. >They no longer have meals on the flights so I was having a problem finding >things to eat. Need to eat after some of the meds. O'hare I found best to >get a light something to eat OH that is later. >I finally got to Cleveland, OHIO. I kept telling my hosts I did not want to >go to Cleveland. Over and over was my lament. But Cleveland is a hub city >of this particular Airline. I orginally started with a 4 hr layover in >Cleveland but due to missed flights, hobbling to gates etc, I had about 1 hr. >This was a trek from Concourse C to B opposite sides of the airport (Why are >they so far apart?) I had not been able to take my meds, I was hot, tired and >upset. But I had done so well this whole week. I was right "on". While >standing in line at the check-in I found out my flight from Cleveland had >been delayed. Twenty minutes later the flight was cancelled. Due to >weather. I looked around and not a cloud or problem appeared. I felt it >coming, but I could not stop any of it. Standing in line, I mentally went >away. A wonderful young woman, her husband and daughter together asked if I >was OK. She took a hold of my arm, took me out of line, set me down, and >asked if I was diabetic (I could only nod), I couldn't get out the fact I had >Parkinson's. My Tremors had gone crazy. I was shaking so violently that it >was hard to hold my ticket. They gave me juice, candy and something in a >tube called glucose. Told me they first thought I was drunk or needed a >drink and then realized that something else was wrong due to the color of my >skin, plus the fact of the cold, clammy touch. The Airline representative >commented that she was going to get to me next. TOO LATE >An ambulance was called, Perimedics put me in ambulance, and took me to a >hospital due to the fact that my blood pressure was dangerously high and my >blood sugar was so high. They kept saying something about my heart and >wanting to give me Nitro. In my confused state I cannot remember what they >said. I will call hospital and have them tell me. >Nice little hospital, close to airport. Doctor was very busy, say him only >very briefly but was hooked to D5 to lower everything. I told them I needed >something to eat to take meds which I was allowed to use my own was given a >snack that was wonderful. I was treated to a 6hr stint there with various >nurses visiting, sitting on my bed and talking, a wife of another Emergency >Room guest bringing her chair over to my cube and sitting with me. I do have >a way with some people of being there for them and putting them at ease. Two >ladies from the airline brought me Vouchers to go to a Hotel that night what >was left of it, to stay the night, Taxi Vouchers, and meal vouchers. They >finally arrived after 3 hrs of promises that the vouchers were on there way. >Remember the Airport is very close to the Hospital. I was finally released >and got a cab. The young man was very rude to start but I just wanted to get >to a room, take a shower and rest. He refused to take my travel voucher due >to the fact he picked me up at the hospital and not the airport. So I paid >him. Got into Hotel and asked for my room and was told I did not have a >room. The real confusing part was they had my luggage. Why did it go there >if I had no room? I cracked, crying, I called home to rant, when the hotel >staff person said they had a room at the other hotel for me and a shuttle to >take me. I ended up 25 minutes away from the airport now and not 5 minutes, >1:30 AM no food (I had some trail mix luckly) and so upset I could not get >right to sleep. I had about 4 hrs sleep, ordered breakfast that cost $11.23 >when the voucher was for only $8.00, and I ordered just a basic no frills >breakfast. >Got a shuttle, just for me to the airport for the flight the Airline had put >me on. Which the Airport was a zoo, then I got to the check-in and again my >flight was cancelled due to weather (South Bend nor Cleveland had a weather >problem, I checked). The next( 12:00) flight was cancelled (Feeling like >the "Out-of-Towner). They had put me on a 1:45 PM flight on another airline >to Chicago O'Hare now. This flight had been schduled to leave at 12:03 now >was leaving at 1:45 PM, I felt that this would end up like the other flights. > I went up to the counter, placed my ticket up there and said I am very ill >and I need to get home now. She looked at me and agreed so booked me on the >1:30 PM flight to Chicago as I wanted to travel with the couple that had been >there for me. This flight was delayed. We got to Chicago O'hare with no >problems. No Wheelchair again, they called for one but it never came. No >Electric Cart either and I was so scared that I would miss the next and final >flight. From D Concourse to B Concourse walking with my cane but I made it >with time to spare. Also, found a little stand and got some water, and a >lunchable to eat to take meds. This flight was delayed once not due to >weather but something else. Oh yes the flight never came. >I finally got to South Bend, Indiana (Notre Dame Fame) with one piece of >luggage with the other piece coming 20 minutes later. >This is a Nightmare that wouldn't end. I am beat physically and emotionally. > I lack the faith that I did have in myself. I know many will say don't >travel alone, but I am new at this. I have always been fiercely independent >and now have to confront my limitations. >I just needed to get this out and thanks for understanding. > >gina >