Happiness

Well our first family vacation kind of went the way I expected it to go, with some very big life lessons.

There were 2 families with a total of 13 in all (that should have been a red flag right there

Traveling was an experience for our family as we have not ever done any international traveling at all. Customs and security were an experience, once we where in Cancun you apperently have to hit a button to get a green or a red light, yep our family got red and all of our bags where searched, the look on the guys face when he stuck his hand in the pouch of my sons bag and his shamphoo had broken and was all over his hands was kind of funny.

We get in the resort at about 11 pm and the party started (boys only) Nothing to bad happen a few hangovers the next day but that is what laying around the pool is for right.

We spent the day around the swim up bar pool and met some new friends that thought tequilla was breakfast. I was a good mom and made sure that all the kids ate at various times throughout the day and every once in a while made the dont drink to much comment. Got the boys to their room with a few embarassing moments and told them to have showers and get ready for dinner. Went back to the room for something to find them trying to kill eachother. The only way I can discribe it is imagine 3 boa's wriggling around on the floor. Lots of Drama, a broken lamp and Daddy had to come in the room (not very pleasent for them).

The next morning after big talks, and tears the day started. Daddy said to the one who broke the lamp that he had to carry it down to the front desk and explain how it got broken. Then we all went fishing. Now as all of us are fishermen at home we are not in Mexico. Only one nibble in a 3 hr trip that never seem to end. We made it back got showered up and went to a nice steak dinner. I had the best filet ever. Now I think things happen for a reason all of the boys were drinking ice tea (thank god) At the resorts they have evening shows so after dinner off we went and tagged up with the other family. When we got there some of the kids had been drinking and seemed to be having a good time. After the show we had decided that we would go to the Disco. The other parents were tired so I said I would stay sober and keep an eye on the kids and make sure everyone got home okay. On the way to the club one of the girls started talking about 2 guys from the night before that were taking pictures of the 2 youngest girls with us. She said that they went up to them and asked them to quit but they kept it up so they left. These two guys were from Britian and the one looked like he was on steroids. The young man that was with us went up to him, talked and shook hands. I took a few pics inside the club and decided I should take my camera back to the room, so my youngest went with me (this is were I say omg thank god he was with me) We were gone for maybe 10 mins and as we were getting back to the club everyone was outside and something was going on. I get there and my husband has blood on him along with my oldest son, one of the youngest girls had blood on her face and was looking alittle pale. One of the girls was screaming where was her boyfriend. I looked quickly to see where my kids were and I was missing one and one of the other boys were missing also. I found them in the Drs office and I have to say it was was pretty bloody. The boyfriend had been hit many times in the face so hard the his front tooth was now in the middle of pallet. He lost 2 teeth and there was blood everywhere. My missing son (who dosn't handle blood well) was helping the Dr hold him down so he could examine him. I then left to go and find out what the hell happend in that 10 minutes and make sure that things were calming down. Get back to the club and the two Brits are in the middle of security and I am told that the police are comming so to stay.

What had happened is that one of the Brits said something inappropriate to one of the girls and she slapped him, he slapped her back and then spit on her. Her boyfriend went to intervine and the big guy punched him the face, dragged him to the middle of the dance floor and just started to pound on his face. My two oldest went towards them and the other guy tackled one son and punched him 4 times in the face, then my other son jumped in and some how the Brit wriggled free to go and get a few kicks to the kid that was down and out on the dance floor. Security tried to get in as fast as they could but I guess it happend so fast.

Statements were made and I was waiting for the travel insurance papers and the emergency credit card, the police arrested the two Brits and for some reason walked them past us. As they were going by they were smiling at all of us. The father tried to talk to us but we were at this point still alittle confused we asked him to leave us alone many times until finaly one of us told him to *(&^ off. I understand that he was also upset but when your asked to leave politey then leave.

I had wanted to see what the ambulance looked like in Mexico but not this way. The Dr decided that I was the responsible person in the group and asked if I would go with the kid. It was an experience to say the least. They have nothing in the cars, I looked at my car and I am ever so grateful that I have pretty much everything I need to take care of my patients.

We get to the first hospital and I go in with all my documents and the guy says to me, I need a deposit of 2k for services and I handed him the card and the papers. He looks at the insurance papers and says that insurance will not cover fighting, so I said he was assulted and then it seemed to be okay. They dont take you into the hospital until you have that deposit. One CAT scan and the fractures are reviled so then off to another hospital for surgery. The Dr in the first hospital said do not mention if any alcohol is involved or the insurance co. will not pay. It was never mentioned. I then had to call in the other mother on the trip and say you have to come here and sign all these things as it was you that paid for the insurance. Off to the next hospital we went. They were great and let us 3 extra's in for the trip. This ambulance was even worse for equipment and as it was raining outside, it was raining inside also. One thing I would like to say is that the medics and all the hospital staff were great. So surgery is planned and two of us have decided that we need to go back to the resort and let everyone else know we are okay. We left the gf to stay with the boy and learn a good life lesson on bad behaviour in a forigne country.

Now for the smiling Brits, they were in a holding jail for 2 days before the father realized that the family has to bring food and water or they die. He had to come up with about 40k to pay for the medical bills and to get the fines and bail paid. We had only wanted to make sure that these kids were not comming back to the resort as Im sure they would have caused more crap. (They looked kind of mental and my sons were sure they were on drugs that night) In the end they could have recieved 2 to 6 years in prison and up to 13 as a max. You dont even get that in Canada for murder. So the other parents and the boy decided that they would say it basically never happened to a judge (it dosn't matter what happen, if you are the one in the hospital you are the innocent one in mexico) as the father was very desperate to get his son out (the big one was just a tag along and apperently a trouble maker) jail. The case went through and as long as everything was paid they would be released no sooner that tommorrow. They were then tranported to a federal prison for a few days longer.

We tried to have fun after but it was not until the last day that we could relax and try to salvage part of our vacation.

We did have some good times and lots of laughs but this is what I learned..

1. Never take 13 people as a group

2. Pay for the insurance

3. I am a terrible babysitter

4. If you ever want to complain about what you dont have or the skills your not taught go see what it is like in Mexico, I guarantee you will think twice.

5. My next family vacation will not involve family

Here is a pic of the boys before it all went sour and they were having just plain boy fun.

I totally agree with artic, go and ask the leaders of temples and get their opinion, then talk to your employer and you should be able to come up with some sort of agreement. Personally when I go into someones house (in consideration of what type of call im going into) I will take off my shoes just so Im not dragging in the mud. And of course there are times that I don't but when your talking to your leaders (if they dont accept the shoe coverings) you will have to explain that there are going to be times that it is not acceptable to remove your shoes because the time you take to remove and then put back on may be the difference between life and death for your pt.

It is very hard to be able to accomodate every religion in our profession. We have had JW medics here and I have actually asked one of them what they would do in certain situations. We are required to be children advocates in our jobs and there are times that medics may be called for a JW child and then to find that a parent may not want a critically ill child transported. Depending on the age if that happens we are required to call child services. So with that being said there are those JW's that would rather you do that and then later go and go to court to have the child returned so that their child will get the life saving messures need to save their childs life and save face to their religioun. Not right but effective.

Well it is a well thought out approch if it is going to get the education out there. So my question is this, in the states once you go through the permit process are you required to take any fire arms government certified courses. In BC you have a few to go through to be able to legally go hunting.

I'm with you Rock.

As a sidenote, in Sask, when I used to KED someone they did not get boarded.

Just put on the KED and lay them on the cot.

As a third note... I have used a KED with no board for people who cannot tolerate lying down in this province (Ab), and have never been drug over the coals. Perhaps we just need a few more cowboys to break the mold and make the medical directors ask questions?

Cowboys are awsome:)

I happen to use the KED when ever possible, but it should be noted for new medic's, that here at least in BC it is to be used on stable pts only.

I honestly can not remember the last time I have used a back board, but it is common practice for First aiders that work in the bush to use them when loggers get hurt and bring them to us by heli.

Now that I said that

Okay here is another question. What about children. Normally our equipment is geared for adults, how do you use a board for a child (with spider straps) or do you use the KED along with a board, or do you use the KED with a Clam shell.

To be honest and knock on wood, I have had one child in 15 years that required a spinal. I used the KED then put on the board and padded the hell out of everything so that he didn't slide on the board.

So what does eveyone else do to modify adult equipment to be used with kids?

What kind of CVA produces bilateral pain?

I have seen this once and it was a brain stem stroke. When he was assessed both by myself and by the doctors here everything was equal. This pt even had a cat scan but apperently they do not scan the brain stem and they found the stroke by MRI, and only at the persistance of the family. The only real symptom with this pt was his emotions, they went to the extreme of bursting into tears for no reason.

The fact that he survived this stroke is amazing and his deficits to date are that he is cold most of the time and he has to be on happy pills to level his emotions out.

Oh didn't see the pain word just bilateral, I honestly dont remember if pain was a factor in this pt.

I dont know much about the hunched back but would it not eventually put pressure on the heart and stomach which would have these symptoms present and also how has this pt been feeling days, weeks, and months befor this episode ? Did you listen in abdominal area the whishing sounds of a triple A. (I was lucky early in my career to hear that sound and you never forget it)

^{How apperent is the kyphosis.}

This artical is so very true. One thing I have noticed in my community is that they are thanking myself and my crew. It is very weird to say the least...............

I went to a house party last week and saw a friend I hadn't seen in while and even before I could say hello, she piped up and said "I could never do what you do and thankyou for being able to do it" A little surprised I asked what she was talking about. I had had a full cardiac arrest on the fishing docks here and I guess she wittnessed what we do. Funniest thing I remember maybe 5 people at the dock and apperently there were alot more that that.

I really am a truly lucky person to have the community realize what I have sacrificed over the years to be there for them and their families. I love this job and I love my community. I also have to up most respect for teachers as I would have to kill all the children...........

That is so awsome................

Well I will tell you this,(shuuussss) you think we are crazy now, you just wait for it.........You should get some vailum...............

A father buys a lie detector robot that slaps people when they lie. He

decides to test it out at dinner one night. The father asks his son what

he did that day. The son says, "I did some schoolwork." The robot slaps

the son. The son says, "Ok, Ok. I was at a friend's house watching

movies." Dad asks, "What movie did you watch?" Son says, "Toy Story." The

robot slaps the son. Son says, "Ok, Ok we were watching porn." Dad says,

"What? At your age I didn't even know what porn was!" The robot slaps the

father. Mom laughs and says, "Well he certainly is your son!" The robot

slaps the mother!

P.S. Robot For Sale

Okay I have a question. If this ends up as a spinal cord injury would there not be something underlying as he is only 28?

Guess I wasn't close but I guess thats how we learn

You attending the service is perfectly fine. You need not explain your actions to anyone. Most of the services I attend are those of my pts.

Sounds like the partner needs to have a few lessons in compassion and may even be a bit jelous of yours

Im going with it is a drug reaction between the Metoprolol and the Atorvastation. there is a drug interaction between the two. Yes I did research this on the net but the reason I did is because my Husband was on Lipitor at one time and he had horrible pain in his forearms after taking it for about a month. And drinking made the pain worse. Am I close?

It is a gravel lot.

Rolling around? my version of a "scuffle"

No chemicals noted

So when he was rolling around on the grass was there any pesticides sprayed befor that.

Well my first road is blocked. So next question What color are the arms, are they flushed or are the pale, and what is his cap refill

How much does he drink on a daily basis.........

That is a sad state of affairs when our elderly feel they have no other options. Sometime we forget that these are the people that fought for our countries so we are free. Now with that being said are we truely free, apperently not when you have some government agency deciding your end of life options, because of their beliefs not your own.

You could almost consider this a sort of Racism in my opinion.

Now in thinking of a young friend of mine who died of ovarian cancer 2 years ago, I have to say taking her own life was not an option for her. She fought until the day she passed. I think of her wasting away and turning various different colors, she always had the hope that something would work. She never was angry at the world, she accepted her condition, and she may have wished she made different choices in her treatment. She never lost her sense of humor. She truely had the support of her family and friends,(and not eveyone has that). We took turns near the end spending the night with her, holding hands while we slept so that if she needed anything she just gave us a squeeze. Her only pain Meds were pot and we came up with creative ways for her to smoke it (by the she never did drugs untill the end). A few days before she died she was taken to the hospital as we convinced her it was the best place for her incase she wanted other drugs. Her room was decorated with stars and moons and it was a big camp out.

The last two days of her life, all she wanted to do was pass on and finally (here is the sense of humor) she said to her family "I want dead silence tonight and I mean Dead silence!!!!!!!" Those were her last words...............................

This whole issue is a personal choice.

I agree with Rock_shoes. A young man from here was an experienced Mountain Climber and died mountian climbing in Alberta. He loved it and encouraged young people to try out the sport. His parents have an annual bursery for the graduating class in his name. The medic who passed would probably see it as a good thing not bad.

happy

I was driving in front of one of the local restaurants about 15 years ago and hit a seagull with my ford truck. The stupid bird had just pigged out and couldn't make it up in the air and poof it was all feathers. The worst part is that the kindergarden class was on a walk and saw the whole thing. Lots of crying was going on.........

You need to find the one that gives him a woody as soon as he smells it...I'll bet he'll complain about it less... :-)

hummmm already have

I have been thinking on this one and here is a long shot. My question would be where did all of these episodes happen and were they under the same circumstatnces. My husband told me long ago not to have incense burning in the house. For some reason as soon as he entered the house with them going he would have to go to the bathroom. So me being me I had to test this, because I figured he was just saying this because he didnt like the smell. So one day had the incense going and low and behold he walked through the door, one sniff and he ran to the bathroom. Needless to say I dont burn incense anymore

Done

To question the career path we have all chosen is so normal. We all have those days and we all question what we do, but you have to remember is why we do this job. It can be the most rewarding profession in the world. We have the strength to help those that need our help.

I agree with Dwyane if you choose to leave the profession then go for it but make sure your leaving for the right reason and not because you dont think your making a differnce.