As you already know, I had to urgently take a patient to Paris. Foretunately, it all turned out fine and the patient continues to do well.
I knew I had left Niamey the minute we got onto the plane. We had just left the airport and were loaded onto a bus to take us 100 feet onto the tarmack to board the plane. Rediculous! As soon as we entered business class, we were being offered champagne and/or orange juice before we could get our seatbelts on.
The flight was uneventful and the patient remained stable. We arrived in Paris at 6AM and were taken to the hospital by ambulance. We spent most of the day doing exams and procedures. She is a star patient and handled the crisis very well. My hotel was only a 10 minute walk from the hospital and a 15 minute walk from the #1 metro line.
Surely you didn't expect me to go to Paris and not get Dina something! Did you?! I only wish I had more time. But I did manage to eat the worst meal I've ever had (shocking for France!) and also had the smoothest cafe creme with a pear pastry and pan au chocolate for breakfast the next day to make up for it , shopped and walked the rue Rivoli from the Concord to the Bastille, and took in the sites and smells of that decadent city! You just never know where to look it's so visually stimulating.
I left on Wednesday night and returned Friday late afternoon. The final shipment of things we sent from Oregon, our vehicle, and the mail (which hadn't come in over a week) all arrived in my absence. Even the bike that we found in DC and snuck into the car made it all the way to Niamey (Thank you Tyotya Lana)!
Now I'm back and trying to catch up. It was stressful because of the circumstances but all told, it was great to be in Paris; even if only for a Medevac stint! It's not the same without you love.