Annette's Adventure

Tuesday morning Annette slept in through family scripture study. That was the first clue that something was wrong. She is always so keen to join us and she is normally one of the first ones up before the crack of dawn. Dad mentioned that she was up during the night with pains and chills.

She needed help down the stairs that morning because she had a pain in her right side. As the day progressed, her condition got worse. She was tired and very uncomfortable. I went to a meeting at the school and when I phoned Dad, he said that she was very sick and that we needed to take her to the hospital. He said she couldn't walk and that she had collapsed. He was afraid she had had a stroke. She was vommiting and, because she could not walk, he dragged her across the floor on a rug to the bathroom. When I arrived home, she was in the bathroom, white as a ghost and unable to speak. I was so afraid. I feared the worst on the way home and seeing her so weak and helpless only supported my anxiety.

Ever so strong and unwilling to be fussed over, Mom didn't want to go to the hospital because she said it was too expensive. I ran next door to Kirstie to ask her the name of a doctor. She called her doctor and was able to secure an appointment in the next 10 minutes. We three: Dad, Kirstie, and I, helped Mom into the car and drove to the next village, Bonstetten.

Dr. Kern was very attentive and thorough. He examined Annette and even drew blood for tests himself. She had a very high fever and the blood showed a strong infection. The doctor told us we needed to go to the hospital for xrays and an ultrasound. He called the local hospital and spoke to the doctor there explaining Mom's state for nearly 5 minutes. Blain was very impressed with the level of communication and attention Annette was receiving.

We drove to the Affoltern hospital which is called "Bezirksspital." (Dad said, "Isn't 'bezirk' the word used when people go crazy?" From then on we referred to the hospital as the looney bin. Although, "bezirk" means district in German.)

The doctors in the emergency room treated Mom for over 2 hours with compassionate and hands on care. They determined that she had pneumonia and needed to stay in the hospital. Mom didn't want to stay at first, but they soon put her mind at ease. In fact, by the time we left her, she was looking much better and even smiling.

All this time, Joel was in Sweden. I couldn't reach him until late that night. He cancelled his meetings for the next day and flew home Wednesday morning.

Wednesday morning Annette had rosey cheeks and a new friend. Bertie was English-speaking from South Africa. She and Mom made quick friends. Annette looked 100% better. In fact, she looked better than she had since she arrived in Switzerland.

She was cheerful and very impressed with the care she was receiving. In fact, we started to joke that Mom would want to get sick every time she visited us from now on. Switzerland is known for its health spas, buy who knew the hospitals were also so wonderful! Annette managed a nice vacation with her health insurance covering the bill!

Back in America, Ann was hysterical and even David was deeply concerned. Ann threatened that she would never let Mom come over here again. I can understand their distress, because I felt it myself in the first hours of the ordeal. But, as Blain would say, it has been a great blessing. Annette received top notch, personal care. She was able to experience a bit of "culture" in the hospital, as well as make new friends.

We are so grateful for the tender care the doctors, nurses and staff at the "Looney Bin" showed Annette. We are also thankful for dear friends and neighbors who supported all of us during Annette's adventure.

Bertie, Annette's friend

a sweet nurse

the Head Nurse

Leaving the "Bezirk" Hospital