hesterredhen
Registered: 07/02/07
Posts: 167
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Reply with quote | #1 |
As promised, this is on my son Matt who has been working on a drilling rig off the coast of Rio De Janeiro for awhile now. He works 4 weeks off shore on this one and then comes home for 4 weeks. He had been out for about 2 weeks or more when I realized he hadn't answered my last email for a couple of days. Not unusual, so figured he was busy and so was I. Checked with his sisters a day or so later and they hadn't heard from him either. But since he was on the rig with about a hundred other people with no place to go we figured he would contact us later. His only way is email. (And even when he does email getting any information is limited. He is a man of few words!
In about a day or 2 our youngest called and told me that she had missed a text message from his cell phone that afternoon, and all it said was "Are You There? She checked with his girlfriend to see what she knew and she had gotten the same message. Now we were really concerned, since the only way he could use his phone was if he wasn't on the rig.
Finally Brandy got another text and found out he was in a hospital in Brazil under quarantine. They hadn't found out what he had yet, and wouldn't let him out. Was talking about just leaving and catching a plane home. I told her to tell him he could wind up on CNN causing an international incident if he tried that without the government's permission.
He said he had been very sick but was better.( Only very hungry since he wasn't able to eat the food.  Matt is pretty particular about what he eats, even when he is feeling ok. An that is an understatement!
Nothing packaged, or microwaved. Steel cut oats and brown rice.
Grills a lot of his meat, makes a lot of stir fry, and homemade soups, and usually only fresh vegetables, and fruits. Plenty of water, but not chilled. And above all he eats
REAL baked potatoes about TWICE a day.) I look at him and think was this really the teenager who kept me busy buying Mountain Dew and Pizza and baking cookies??
I was pretty worried. We didn't know what city or hospital. I didn't know if he had his phone charger with him or if it worked in that country since he usually doesn't call until he is on shore in the states. I told his sister to get this information as soon as he contacted her again. Was afraid his phone would go dead before we found out more. He had told her that they had evacuated him and one more guy by helicopter with the same thing. The other guy had been taken to a hotel but Matt was quarantined and they would not release him until they had tests results back. He had been sick for a few days on the rig, but he couldn't remember how many before they airlifted him to shore, where he passed out in the hospital. Matt is seldom ever sick.
I went on line and got the numbers of the American Embassy, and the U.S. Counsel, for working hours and after hours. We also have friends that are pretty well connected in the offshore business, and the one man is good friends with another big wig .( When I asked what his position was, I was told he was "Over the Americas, North and South. He also knew Matt. )
So as a worried Mother, I talked to our youngest daughter again . Told her to ask Matt if it was time for me to pull out the big guns and
contact our friend for help. Didn't get an answer for about 12 hours. She called me , unable to control her laughter.
Matt's reply----- DON"T NEED HELP>>>>>>NEED POTATOES!!!
I knew then that he would be all right.
We eventually got some of the pieces to the puzzle filled in when he was able to call Brandy. We found out more when they let him fly home about 5 days later.
The government had a hand in his being quarantined as well as helping pay for the bill. He wasn't in Rio as we thought but in a city north of there. He said the medical people were all pretty nice just not the food.
They were checking for swine flu and other tropical diseases. They still haven't let him know what it was---------- only that he wasn't contagious anymore. He is due to fly back to Rio in a couple of weeks.
If nothing else my children keep my life from being dull 
L. Red Hen
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Pburgh
Registered: 07/03/07
Posts: 169
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Reply with quote | #2 |
OMG, what a helpless feeling that must have been. I worry when mine are sick and in this country where I can get to them within 6 hours!!!
So glad he's better and getting his "real" baked potatoes. I certainly hope he likes lots of butter on those. We always need some fat in our diet. Well, I always need some fat in my diet. LOL
Yes, I know what you mean - my kids have kept me going from the time they were born. The oldest is now 43 and the youngest 41.
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hesterredhen
Registered: 07/02/07
Posts: 167
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Surprisingly enough I didn't feel completely helpless since there were people to call. But I was pretty anxious until I found out more . The first 36 hours were the worst.
My oldest is 48 and youngest is 28. Eleven years between number 3 and 4.
He only eats real butter. I like it all But since Sam is on his diet we have switched to I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spread and it is pretty good. I use the spray for my diet and I like it. Still keep real here for Matt.
How's your garden , Karen? My tomatoes have been a disappointment on quantity, but the flavor is great. The darling Raccoons ate my melons. Best crop of them I ever had. Guess they thought so too. Managed to put up a half gallon on diced peppers last week and suspect there are more ready. I really need to find time to water today. I never got to plant any new flowers this spring. Been too busy with Doctors etc. I'm hoping to find time to spray roundup on some edges today. Played hooky Tuesday and met my girls and their kids at a lake about an hour from all of us so kids could have one more day at the beach and a picnic. Used the trip to deliver all of them some more peaches. Matt can eat a half bushel in a day and a half. I don't know how he stays so skinny. I never had that kind of a weight problem!
Well time to garden or chase raccoons or groundhogs or feed the birds. Guilt is creeping in while I type. Later.
L. Red Hen
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Pburgh
Registered: 07/03/07
Posts: 169
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Reply with quote | #4 |
Well you know me Rebecca, I don't have the patience to grow veggies. I've just never been good at it and I've found that I'm an "instant gratification" type person and can't stand the wait.
My perennials and annuals are beautiful this year. I just had a guy cut a large portion of my chestnut tree last night. It's been having a hard time for the past few years and I thought a little surgery was in order. It is definitely one of the messiest trees around. It blooms and stinks to high heaven in July and then drops these worm shaped blooms. In the fall I have spiky balls all over my yard. Chestnuts are great but before I can harvest them, my dog thinks they are play things and cuts his little mouth to pieces. I'm having the siding on my home and my shed painted next month so all of the landscaping around the house and the vines on the shed had to be cut back. Always something to do.
I've learned not to send myself on guilt trips over relaxation period.
The memories you made with the kids on your trip to the lake are worth more than anything.
Please pass me a peach.
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