Picto Diary - 22 to 28 March 2025 - TIMDT: Mid Atlantic Setback and Recovery
Above: Infirmary, Regent Grandeur. 22 March 2025.
Image: TIMDT on nebulizer.
All night coughing spree two nights ago left TIMDT exhausted and feeling down yesterday. We hoped for improvement in her condition, but it got worse... aches, pains and fever. We went to the ship's infirmary mid-day today. It's difficult to get TIMDT to agree to see any doctor any time, but clearly, discretion being the better part of valor, she needed to be looked at. Diagnosis? Viral influenza with beginnings of pneumonia showing up on the X-Ray. Because of TIMDT's compromised lung condition, Dr. didn't hold back on treatment. Intravenous antibiotics to stem pneumonia risk, intravenous steroids to open lung passages, and advanced Tylenol for fever. Room quarantine for three days, returning to infirmary each of those days for new meds and assessment. Sessions at infirmary for meds recharge lasted for three hours. TIMDT was feeling much better after first day treatment and her condition continued to improve until she was released from quarantine on 25 March. The infirmary was well equipped - five hospital beds. All the bells and whistles seen in a typical hospital setting.
This was supposed to be a leisurely 14-day transatlantic passage to enable Mwah (sic) to recover from my ski injury induced rib fractures and to enable TIMDT to enjoy a period of relaxation sans supplemental oxygen while at sea level. TIMDT's unexpected medical emergency added to the plight of two struggling, but intrepid, geezers. We both felt that the ship's doctor and his team of two female nurses (all Filipinos) were competent. The average age of the Regent Grandeur passengers was seventy plus... no doubt medical emergencies of this sort happen all too frequently. If you are considering a cruise and are worried about unexpected medical predicament, it seemed that Regent was set up about as good as could be possible to deal, with, at least, TIMDT's situation. Get insurance pre departure. The bill for TIMDT's treatment was, shall we say, eyepopping.
Subsequent days of TIMDT quarantine. To eat, we ordered room service. I was not quarantined and was able to go to my favorite breakfast place at the Veranda Restaurant and otherwise tool about the ship. TIMDT's condition continued to improve throughout the three-day quarantine period.
Above: 5th level deck. Regent Grandeur. Somewhere west of the Canary Islands. 25 March 2025.
A daily deck walk of three miles has been de rigueur for me on cruises. I'd pace myself to the rhythm of Bob Seger's songs: They Love to Watch Her Strut, Fire Lake yada. This time, slow walking because of the rib condition, I switched to listening to podcasts: All In, Commentary, Megyn, Glenn Greenwald, and Goodfellows are favorites.
My rib condition seems to be discernably better day by day. It's still difficult to turn over in bed. And I can't find a position on my right side that is without pain.
TIMDT's recovery is going well.
Above: TIMDT, Observation Lounge, Regent Grandeur, 26 March 2025.
She's baaaack!!!! Released to roam the ship after three days of quarantine in cabin. TIMDT, looking regal. This image received 35 clicks on Facebook. If I want a lot of clicks, I just post the latest picture of TIMDT. TIMDT: most photogenic wife ever.
Above: Botanical Garden, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Canary Islands, Spain. 28 March 2025.
Regent Grandeur substituted a stop at Santa Cruze de Tenerife for originally planned destinations of Bermuda and Azores because of bad seas further north.
Above: Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Canary Islands, Spain. 28 March 2025.
Image from Regent Grandeur.
Tenerife, with 300 no rain days, a year is popular with Brits. Not our first visit here. In 2019 we stopped in the Canary Islands on a cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town. On that visit, Bond and I took a walk thru downtown Santa Cruz while Bridge and TIMDT took a day trip around the island.
Above: Opera House, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. 28 March 2025.
Above: Elephant Club Summit County and LSDM attendees. Alta Club, Salt Lake City, UT. 28 March 2025.
Wish I could have joined you all!
Above: Roy. 28 March 2025.
Image of thespian playing in Cardon School production of "Treasure Island."
Addendum:
Above: Fleury's Bakery and Coffee. Kolkata. India. Image picked up randomly off the internet. TIMDT and Mwah (sic) were frequent goers to Fleurys when we lived in Calcutta for 18 months in 1973 and 1974.
Just heard that Sundance is moving from the Park City area. What a shame.
