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Michael Doyle
One of our classmates who has tried so hard to encourage classmates to join the website, spearheaded the emailed Birthday cards, and was totally responsible for the wonderful military recognition table at the reunion "Oh What a Night" dinner party, had an unfortunate accident. Lorraine Bundy (Thurber-Fernlund) was on a cruise earlier this week and had a bicycle accident in Cozumel, Mexico. She has scrapes, bruises, a broken nose, dental problems, and much pain, but is basically alright. If you want to wish her well, go to her profile and give her some encouragement. Here's her story:
"Actually, I had ridden that bike really well to the beach and back, a distance of about 10 miles. You probably know Sky Reef, where there is a nice outdoor restaurant and snorkeling. When I turned into Beach Bum Bikes parking lot, maneuvering around some scooters, there were two pylon cones guarding a pothole. I hit one and down I went, planting my face in the pavement. Knocked out a tooth, loosened two others, broke my nose. I have two black eyes, cuts and bruises on my face arms, hands and legs. Of course, I was only wearing a swim suit on the ride back from the beach. Lots of bleeding. My mouth is cut up and needed stitching, but I refused. I'm a mess.
An EMT/Firefighter from Michigan was with our group. He jumped in immediately and assessed the damages. Due to the profuse bleeding he asked for an ambulance to take me to the hospital.
Cozumel hospital was like an Urgent Care clinic. I was the only patient, so I had a lot of good care. But the ENT specialist said I needed surgery on my nose that evening. Anthony sent out a group text to family. My daughter's brother in law is an emergency room Dr. and owns an urgent care clinic. She called him and he called Anthony and me. Assessed the situation and said to "get the hell out of there as they would hold me hostage for weeks."
The hospital director did not want to release me under doctors orders of needed surgery. Anthony called the consulate at the American Embassy. He explained the situation and they suggested I go home for care. In the background he overheard some one say, "Oh, no another medical hostage situation." They helped me with discharging myself. Then the hospital didn't want to release medical records to us, which I need for insurance. Again, Anthony called the embassy. They helped. Paid the hospital $2,600. A man working as a go-between for the cruise lines and passengers who have problems, helped us get a ferry to Playa de Carmen and a shuttle to Cancun. We were able to obtain a flight with Southwest. Delta wanted $1,300 out of Cozumel for the both of us. We have points and a companion pass with Southwest.
My friends and family say that I am too old for doing activities like that. What is the right age for having an accident?
Well, we had to miss the rest of the cruise and I didn't do those dangerous other excursions, (zip lining in the jungle, hiking, climbing Mayan Ruins or drinking the water).
Well, if you would like to do something with this report and put it on the website, I would appreciate it. I've written so many texts and on Facebook posts I'm really tired. Talking hurts my mouth as it is quite cut up and swollen. My tongue hits the two teeth that are loose. Guess what I'm getting for Christmas. Front teeth."
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