Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2008. This was Mattie's first month in the hospital receiving treatment. Mattie's room came with a big white erase board. We used that board to communicate with the nurses and to also record Mattie's inputs and outputs. However, that afternoon, Mattie erased the board and decided to draw! Not sure exactly what he created but if you look closely there were two blue people with umbrellas who looked like they were getting devoured by this big bug! Mattie loved bugs and the since the whole notion was creepy to me, my reaction to bugs inspired Mattie's interest even more.
Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.
- number of people diagnosed with the virus: 5,524,398
- number of people who died from the virus: 172,965
It was another red letter day in "paradise." As always my day started at 6:15am. In addition all my other tasks, I took on a few more projects for my mom today. One of which was to get a refund on their December air line tickets. Pre-COVID and before my dad's decline, we had plans to go on a Christmas cruise together. As Peter and I know all too well, life can change on a dime.
My parents already bought their airline tickets for December and in May my mom wrote a refund request letter to American Airlines and mailed it. With it she included a medical letter signed by my dad's physician. Yet four months later my parents have yet to hear from the airline and of course there has been NO refund processed. So I decided to call American Airlines. Get this, I waited on line to talk to a live human being for 90 minutes. I think I should have received a gold star for hanging in there. However, once a representative heard my concerns, she explained that my parents had to cancel their airline reservation first before they can apply for a refund. Really? Why did my mom receive different instructions in May????? I know airlines are on overload now because of COVID and therefore, I am tried to be patient.
I wasn't too successful on the patience front! The representative gave me two choices, 1) cancel my parent's flight reservation or 2) wait until December, when American will most likely change the flight number and time of departure and then apply for the refund. She let me know that using option #2, would most likely enable me to get the refund faster! REALLY??? I lost it. As she wanted me to wait until December, with the HOPES that the airline would change the flight number and time. What if that doesn't happen, then what? I told her there were too many if's and I need to work the problem and with certainties.
I learned today that American Airlines NO LONGER gives ticket holders a refund for medical excuses! DID YOU HEAR WHAT I AM SAYING?!!! So I said, if my parents don't get their money reimbursed, then what? The answer is they get credit on their account to pay for another airline ticket in ONE YEAR'S time! Also ridiculous, and as I reminded her, my dad is UNABLE to fly period. A one year grace period won't cut it.
Given all I am balancing, today's call caused me to become dizzy while on the phone. The dizziness triggered a migraine and intense nausea. As soon as I got off the phone, I popped my migraine and nausea meds. I pushed through the issues and within two hours, I felt more stabilized.
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