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Gina my dear friend, I was absolutely horrified at the story you told. When I flew to Portland Maine a couple of months ago, I had a pleasant trip both ways. The wheel chairs were where they should be, the attendants were more than friendly - going out of their way to get me something to eat, - and outdoing each other in being nice. I guess it is just a matter of luck. But I'm really sorry that you should have had to experience such a nightmare. I hope you have recovered. And i hope the airline compensates you in some small measure at least. And i hope you got the name and address of those people who helped you - and if you write to thank them, tell them thanks from me too. This world needs more people like that. hilary Gina Cass wrote: > > 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