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The long-awaited arrival of Thomas (David's older brother) from Germany was finally here. We were both eagerly anticipating his arrival for David's graduation from Russellville High School on May xx, 2002.
Thomas decided to come over a couple of weeks before his parents to spend time with David and me before they left for San Francisco to meet up with their parents. The Blaschke family was taking a four-week tour of the Western United States before returning to Germany (without David).
May 15, 2002
David and Thomas leave for San Francisco
It was a very bitter-sweet day for me as two of my favorite "sons" were leaving. Thomas I would not see again for seven months, while David would return for a few days before leaving for home as well.
June 21, 2002
David returns
I met David's plane at the Little Rock airport only to find him to be a very sick young man. On the way home, he was not even interested in stopping to eat, something I found very unusual. As we approached Russellville, my cell phone rang, it was Ryan, one of his friends from school. Ryan and several other guys were bowling and wanted David to join them as soon as he got home.
We drove straight to the bowling alley and went inside. Finding the guys in the "dark room", we struck up a conversation while watching the game continue. It seems my presence (or fate) gave one of the bowlers some good luck as he bowled three strikes in a row while we were there. Within 15-20 minutes, David said he needed to go home as he was not feeling well. That was just the beginning of several very miserable days for David.
June 22, 2002
First trip to the Emergency Room
David told me that he had not been feeling well the last few days of the family trip and was starting to feel even worse. After talking to his parents, we decided to take him to the ER so a doctor could check him over. So, about 10:00pm, I took him the short distance to the hospital's ER. There were a couple of patients ahead of him and the wait might be a little long. David suggested that I go home instead of sitting in the room while he slept, waiting on the doctor to get to him. I left and returned to the house. David called about four hours later for me to come get him.
The doctor finally got to him and decided that he had a bad flu bug, gave him a shot and some medicine and sent him home. Over the next couple of days, David stayed pretty much in bed. All the things we wanted to do before his final departure for home were now put aside. He had to get better in order to make the 13-hour plus trip home.
June 23, 2002
Second trip to the Emergency Room
The first of two trips to the ER today. Again, more medicine and a shot were given to David. This stay was just about 2 hours, one of the shorter visits I've ever encountered.
June 23, 2002
Third trip to the Emergency Room
David's health was now becoming very serious. His flight was leaving in just over 24 hours and he was looking more like someone who needed to be hospitalized than someone about to embark on an overseas journey -- ALONE.
David had not eaten or drank much since he got back from San Francisco and was beginning to show signs of dehidration. So, the ER doctor, a friend of mine this time, gave him some fluids by injection and checked him over as best he could during the visit, knowing that he was scheduled to fly out the next afternoon.
During this visit to the ER, I called the airline to see what would be required to change his reservation if he was physically unable to make the flight the next afternoon. There was a change fee, and that was about it. We did need to notify them a few hours before departure or the entire ticket would be lost. Time was becoming critical.
When I got David home, he was definitely in no shape to travel. It was difficult to get him into the car and out at home as he was so weak.