Earlier this summer, we took two of our granddaughters to India. We enjoy taking grandchildren to foreign places after their bar/bat mitzvah. Most of the time we take 2 or 3 cousins, but sometimes it just works out to take siblings. These two delightful young ladies were a joy to travel with. Having been on numerous foreign trips with their parents and siblings, they are seasoned travelers who understood when our ride from Manali to Dharamsala consisted of some 7 hours of hairpin turns over bumpy roads. One remarked, “It only felt like 4 hours.”
I won’t go into detail, because this isn’t what this post is about, but I became ill close to the end of the tour and had to be hospitalized in an ICU in Delhi (the city is Delhi; a section of the city is called “New Delhi”).
So as not to ruin the girls’ trip because there were three more days with with highlights such as the Abha Neri Stepwell and the Monkey Temple and the Elephant ride and the Bollywood movie) and because there was no better solution (the girls sitting in a hospital lobby for hours on end??) my husband continued the tour with the girls while I was in the hospital. We agreed then and are certain now that it was the right decision.
Through the magic of WhatsApp, I kept my children informed as to what was happening to me. At some point (I am guessing it was very very early in this saga) the MTeam began its deliberations and planning. My 5 children went into immediate action, determining what had to be done and doing it- informing the insurance, deciding who should come to be with me, canceling my air ticket, monitoring what was being done for me at the hospital (MTeam affiliate and now full member- also known by my insurance as my daughter Nurit- was our wise medical consultant who was monitoring everything going on with me scrupulously). The MTeam worked like a well-oiled machine and nothing was left to chance- WhatsApps (I was not allowed to use my phone at all in the ICU, but since I was alone, they allowed me to use it on silent), photos of the injury, photos of my medical chart, questions that I never would have thought of for the doctors (I think every specialist in the hospital visited me at least once)… everything was monitored- and by the end of my second day there, my oldest son informed me that my middle son was on the plane on his way to be with me. At least 3 other children (including my daughter Nurit- who is actually my daughter-in-law) were ready and willing to come.
My son arrived and from then on he paved the way- interacting with the doctors and the hospital bureaucracy- in a foreign country where the most reliable English speakers were the doctors themselves who were exceedingly busy. He provided me with light and happiness.
The care was topnotch. The doctors followed every system; they monitored everything, Each specialist visited each day and gave feedback- Thank G-d, it was always positive feedback.
Meanwhile the MTeam was working in the background, dealing with the myriad of paperwork and reports requested by the insurance company. They were giving me strength through their messages and I felt held in their loving arms.
But all of this is not really about me and the hospitalization. It is about the MTeam- about my children working together- about how everyone contributed to the discussion and everyone added their input to the plan. It is about how they all kept in touch and how they all worked for one goal- to get me home healthy.
Of course every story should have a moral and of course mine does: When raising children there are some things people should remember
- Someday they will grow up and like it or not, there may be situations when you will need them to help you.
- If you have 5 children, 5 intelligent, caring heads are able to achieve the impossible.
- If you are lucky enough to have a Nurit, you have hit the Jackpot.
- Therefore: Take good care of your children, because someday, they may be the ones who make it all happen for you.
- Give them opportunities to think creatively.
- Show them what love and caring are.
- Respect their intelligence.
- Love and appreciate them
- Be ready to deal with a group of Super-Heroes!!!!
End of story: My son was magnificent in dealing with the hospital, he rode over an hour- and then walked through the main bazaar to get us food from Chabad, he brought me snacks, and on our shabbat (the day before we left India) I had a private room where we sat and talked all day and every moment was a delight. Air India had stopped flying, but we were able to return home via Dubai and blessedly touched down Monday morning.
The caring and kindness continues- with daily dressing changes by my daughter (Maccabi Healthcare sent me a list of cities – not including Modiin- where I could get my dressing changed daily) under Nurit’s supervision, Prepared food, fruits and vegetables- literally everything we need is being provided. What a blessing! Whatever I did for my children has been returned to me 500-fold.