Springing into Singapore and Japan.

[GarrettM]

Saturday night. May 13-14.

The evening started fairly normally. The child was showered and put to bed with her usual routine of violence and retelling of the day.
And about 9pm MrsGM said she wasn't feeling too well, and asked if I'd mind giving up the free bed to her, meaning I would co-sleep with child.

I said that was fine, and nodded off for a bit, but I was aware of her getting up once or twice and generally being uncomfortable. After a while I reached over to where she was laying, and she felt very hot and sweaty.
Just before midnight she got up for a shower to cool down, and when she came back she explained that she was feeling very unwell. She said it felt like someone was pressing both ways from inside her stomach. Pushing against her stomach, and also against her spine.

She tried to work through it, but before long it had become unbearable, and she asked me to go downstairs to see if we could get a doctor.
I tried to explain things to the staff at the desk, despite our language issues. After a few phone calls they told me it was not possible to get a doctor, but an ambulance was now on the way.

:shock:

 

[love_the_life]

Oh no, this doesn't sound good at all. As you are now home, I expect that she has recovered but certainly awful for her (and you all) especially as you were due to fly out.

 

[GarrettM]

Sunday May 14. 0100hrs

We're lying in a hotel room at the Canal City Washington, Fukuoka. Three of us. The wife in extreme distress, and myself tying to comfort her and keep myself calm amid the growing uncertainty.
And an almost two year old... completely zonked out and totally unaware of the drama.

In the distance, a siren. The sound of it increases as it approaches the hotel, and suddenly... silence.

Moments later, a knock on the door. Up I get to open it. Staring back at me are two staff from reception and FOUR paramedics kitted fully up and ready for action.
We turn on one of the room lights and the ambos surround MrsGM, asking her questions in halting English and trying to get a sense of what's wrong.

They attach a pulse monitor to her finger, and a couple minutes later they've decided we're off to hospital.

Still the toddler sleeps!

 

[GarrettM]

A brief discussion.

Ambos: "We have to take your wife to hospital."

GarrettM: "Ok let me get a couple of things ready, and wake up bub."

Ambos: "You can come, but you can't bring the child."

GM: "What?"

A: "You can't bring the child in the ambulance."

GM: "Well she can't stay here, and I am not letting my wife go alone."

A: .........

GM: ...........!!!!

Hotel staff: Something or other in Japanese to the ambos.

A: "Yes yes of course, the child must come." Converses with the hotel staff.

Staff: "Yes you will all go in the ambulance. Please take your passports, and credit card for the hospital. Please leave your room key. We will hold your belongings."

Now the paramedics bring in a large mobile gurney thing. Pretty much a tarp. There's no room for the genuine article in here.

MrGM is hoisted on on to the tarp and carried out in to the hall, down the lift, and placed on a real trolley in reception, and then wheeled out to the ambulance.

Bub and I jump in the back.
Bub... she's awake and as far as she's concerned this is all part of the adventure.

The ambos work for a bit as we sit there, and one of them makes a phone call to find out which hospital we can go to.
The winner is Saiseikai Fukuoka General Hospital.

Away we go!

 

[GarrettM]

It's a short ride, and in just a few minutes we're there.
When we back of the ambulance is opened, a middle age man in a suit greets me, and before I have time to think he has ushered me - along with bub - into a waiting area.
There's no one else there.

I didn't even have time to process it before it was done, but suddenly I'm alone, and more to the point so is my wife.

This is one of those experiences where you really would like some sort of language skill. Or at lease some wifi to google some things.
Like where the hell I am.

By nature I can be quite pessimistic, and with no idea what's happening with MrsGM I am starting to consider all sorts of awful scenarios that don't bear thinking about.

Luckily bub remains super stoic. Aside from asking where mum is she's just cuddling up with me, and holding on tight to her kitty (comforter).
I tried to get her to lay down to sleep but there's no way she's doing that.

At least there's no noise in here.

 

[GarrettM]

About half an hour after we were ushered in to the waiting room, the suited man is back, and he's leading me into the ER, where MrsGM is being attended too.

If you want a perfect metaphor for the differences between Australian and Japanese cultures, I suggest you look at Emergency Departments.

There's one patient here. My wife. She's surrounded by a couple of different doctors and three nurses.
They've managed to get an idea of her symptoms, and have administered some painkillers which seem to be making a difference.

They've also drawn blood for a series of tests, and are making plans to do a CT scan of her abdomen.
If this was Perth we'd probably be waiting another six hours before being seen, and as long after that before any real action was taken.

Helps if your resources aren't being used up by meth heads, drunken idiots, and the results of endless street crime.

 

[GarrettM]

We're moved into a corner of the room, with a curtain for privacy. The painkillers are doing wonders now, and MrsGM is much more relaxed.

The doctors and nurses are coming and going, and bub is wooing them with her charm. This kid...

Not long before MrsGM is wheeled off again for her CT scan. Back in 10 minutes. Things really work fast here.

Half an hour after that, the results are back, as are the blood tests.

Nothing in the bloods to indicate much, but the CT scan has offered some information and the doctors are pretty confident she's got acute gastritis, which has been settled with the earlier painkillers.

Just to be sure they prescribe some other medications, and explain what she needs to do for the next few days.

They give us a medical certificate for insurance, and a bill. 36000Y or so. Good times.

Honestly though that's a small price to pay, and I am extremely grateful.

The suited man is back, and he walks us through the payment of the bill, gets our medication, and then organises a taxi for us to get back to the hotel.

Which we do, just after 3.30am.

The entire process from hotel to hospital and back has taken just over two and a half hours.

The wife is feeling better. The child is ready to go back to sleep, and we have just over two hours before we have to be up again and on our way to the airport.

I didn't think I would sleep after all that, but with the relief of knowing we won't miss our flights home hitting me, I crash as soon as I am on the bed.

Phew!

 

[love_the_life]

Well that's a relief. Had visions of you staying on in Japan.

 

[GarrettM]

I would have loved to stay on in Japan, just not under those circumstances.

 

[GarrettM]

Sunday May 14. Home time.

We wake just after six, still feeling the effects of last night's ordeal. But at least we're ready to go.

I must admit I've been looking forward to this part of the trip. Singapore was our entree, Japan the main course, and this - our first ever international J experience - was going to be an excellent dessert.

Arrived at Fukuoka Airport just before check-in opened at 8. There was only one line which was filling up, but somehow when 8 o'clock hit an SQ staff member had already tapped us up as business passengers and we were escorted to the check in desk.

A couple minutes later we had boarding passes in hand and off the lounge!!

 

[GarrettM]

There is no SQ lounge in Fukuoka, or any other dedicated carrier lounge as far as I can tell.

There's just Lounge Fukuoka. It opens each day at 0745, and we were the first people in at 0810.
I'm sure it's no TPR, but for us it will do quite nicely thank you.

Small selection of pastries, cereals, juice, coffee et cetera. No runway views though.

 

[GarrettM]

Plus a choice of booze, if you're into that so early in the day. Plenty were.




I wasn't too interested in a drink until I saw someone using the automatic beer pourer. I just had to give it a try.

 

[GarrettM]

The lounge filled up very quickly, but before too long it was time to head, and onto the plane.

Welcomed by name (!!) and ushered right to our seats 11A & C, and within minutes enjoying a pre-departure glass of the Charles Heidsieck Reserve.


It was ok, but I think I prefer the Ayala on VA's transcontinental service.

 

[GarrettM]

The cough - SIN menu.

Japanese.


Western.


The sleeper service.


Opted for the Western. Satay, snow crab, and wok-fried chicken.

 

[GarrettM]

Drinks.



I started with the Selbach, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Mixed it up later trying the Chablis and the Rully, but went back to the Selbach very happily.

Probably knocked off a bottle or two of that by myself.

 

[GarrettM]

Time for a shout out to the cabin crew. I have already mentioned this in the SQ thread, but it belongs here too.

From the time we boarded, the staff were incredible with out little girl. Engaging her, speaking to her, giving her a couple of gifts, and just helping us make sure she was happy.

What we didn't know, was that the CSM had quietly arranged for another passenger to give up his seat in 11F.
He then came to us and said he would set up 11E as a bed for bub, who was starting to feel the effects of our overnight dramas.

We thought she might be reluctant to sleep on the plane, but within minutes of putting her down she was zonked out, and slept for almost three hours.


The timing was perfect, as it freed us up to enjoy our lunch, and most of the flight.

We could not have been happier with that service.

I know that passenger was under no obligation to move, and may have been offered inducements to do so, but I hope karma rewards him for his willingness to do so.

As for the staff, I took the advice of Cruiser Elite and emailed SQ my deep gratitude. I haven't got a reply yet, but I'm told the sentiments will reach the relevant cabin crew.

 

[GarrettM]

Afraid that's all I have for tonight, as my laptop needs to charge.
More tomorrow.

I'm getting to the end I promise!

 

[VPS]

Glad to hear the medical drama wasn't too bad (as medical dramas go) - enjoying the TR

 

[love_the_life]

How was MrsGM after the night. Hope she had recovered sufficiently to enjoy the J experience.

 

[Cynicor]

Last time SQ asked me to move for a child I got the only shadow in business. Not really needed, but nice of them to ask and offer rather than demand.