while i worked as a nurse at a camp for developmentally disabled adults for one week, surfer boy (one of his many nicknames) made ALL of our plans. our tickets were purchased, cars were rented, resort stays scheduled, and everything one could think of for camping was prepared (down to the ever crucial rolls of toilet paper). C did a fantastic job. and despite my return from camp at 5PM on a friday night and our departure at 9:45 AM on saturday morning, i barely felt crazy. just a bit!
all in all, kauai was a delightful trip. surfer boy and i got to know one another better. in fact, we got to know one another on a very intimate level. one that is safe to discuss on a public blog that my mother reads. in fact, it's more than appropriate for a nursing related blog because it has to do with yet another ER visit and hospital stay! i am proud to say, i remained healthy in kauai - even after our strenuous hike and more bug bites than i can count!
tuesday and wednesday, C and hiked the napali coast. it's an infamous hike, on the top 10 most dangerous hiking list (which also includes mount rainier). we trekked 11 miles along the coast line, switchback after switchback, up and down cliff sides in crazy hot, very humid weather. one misstep could have wound us stranded hundreds of feet below, dead, or in shark-infested tumultuous waters. the 7 hour journey was grueling. and sleeping in a tent that night was equally as challenging - we were SO hot, there was NO breeze, and any idea of romance i had created in my mind vanished!
wednesday morning, we decided to pack up and hike out. neither C nor I is very good at relaxing and although the beach on the coast was beautiful, we couldn't imagine an ENTIRE day with nothing to do (it's not recommended to swim there because of the currents). so, at about 11AM, we began the hike back to our car. the return trek might have been harder than the approach; we knew what we were in for...
but thursday, friday, and saturday brought about the most challenging part of our trip. thursday AM, C woke up with right lower quadrant pain. as a nurse and with C in school to become a physician's assistant, we both worried about his appendix. did he have rebound tenderness? was he nauseated? did he have a fever?
C is an amazing man for numerous reasons. not only is he very intelligent (which makes his sexy), but also, he is very fit. both mentally and physically, C is one tough man. he waited out thursday, coping with periods of nausea and sharp pains. we discussed getting checked out, but with our "expertise," C felt comfortable waiting to see if things got worse. which, of course, they did. on friday at 3 in the morning! C was smart enough to check which hospitals in kauai have CT scanners. and so, we headed to wilcox memorial hospital. should your appendix ever misbehave while in kauai, go there!
this could be a very long story. it already is. i'm a blabbermouth. but suffice it to say, C did indeed have a potential appendicitis. his CT scan showed an enlarged appendix. but chronic gastrointestinal issues complicated diagnosis and treatment. C ended up being admitted for surveillance. the surgeon wanted to keep an eye on him. our departure flights were cancelled. and we set up shop in room #300. C did his best to be a decent patient. and i did my best to keep him in line!
C has never been a patient in a hospital. and i have never been a nurse to a significant other. it was a new experience. a new kind of relationship. and although we both survived the experience and are doing well, back at home in seattle, i think we would both choose to remain healthy in our futures. it feels weird to be a nurse AND a girlfriend. just as i imagine it would feel weird for C to be a physician's assistant AND a boyfriend.
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