My Trip to My Homeland - Part II

While getting MY boarding pass at the Pakistan International Airline counter, I requested AN exit row seat. As always, nothing comes EASILY, so I had to USE MY GUILE. I noticed a picture of an infant next to the lady behind the counter. The infant, a boy, had a very cute smile. He, no doubt, was adorable and that was, I guess, the magic words TO USE AND she called the shift manager and asked for AN exit row seat for me. I guess exit row seats were blocked in the computer system and were assigned to specific people. The "specific" people are usually related to airline officials or somebody like me who requests THEM with a smile.

I wandered around at JFK observing people. I NOTICED a blend of culture, race, color and MANY languages. Some people were crying and others were happy. I am not sure what my emotions were. I was happy to go home and YET I was sad to leave my friends behind. Anyway, I safely boarded Pakistan International Airlines at 9:15 PM.

I had the ideal seat. It was an AISLE seat. The lady who was supposeD to sit next to me moved to the window seat. I didn't mind BECAUSE people from Muslim countries ESPECIALLY the women tend not to sit next to males outside the family. I had about 6TO 8 feet of leg ROOM. The aircraft crew seat was facing me. That crew seat is usually used only while landing or taking off. The toilet was behind THIS seat. The refreshment area, or so called kitchen, was next TO THIS. A WOMAN ATTENDANT SAT IN THE CREW SEAT. After all the announcements, we were in our seats, seat belts fastened, and taxiIng on the run way.

While taxiIng A couple of minutes before take off, I noticed a man in the refreshment area who was either looking for something or for someone. It was very unusual for someone to be out of HIS seat minutes before take off. I was puzzled with the situation as the worst case sCenario was "hijack!" But why this early? The stewardess appearED puzzled too, and she addressed the man, "Get back to your seat." The gentleman, with his arms extended, was trying to support himself. It appearED that the gentleman didn't hear what THE stewardess HAD said. Before she COULD say anything else, the gentleman fell forward. His arms were extended sideWAYS in an effort to avoid fallING. His efforts to support his weight failed. He landed on his face, hitting his nose and forEhead on the FLOOR. I was shocked, but at the same time, I unbuckled myself, got off my seat, and apprOAched the gentleman. I witnessed the fall and he was lying about FIVE feet from me. I asked him, "Are you ok?". I noticed he was sWeating profusely, appearEd confused,and WAS shakING. After a brieF moment, he replied, "I am." I was happy to hear that as it ruled out some other life threatening stuff that I face on a daily basIs. I didn't have to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). I asked him A few more questions which he answered appropriately. During this time, A few crewMEMBERS also came to help. One of them asked him, "Are you diabetic?" He replied, "Yes I am." We sat him up. I asked some more medical questions while crew members got some sugar packets. We gave him, TWO packets of pure sugar under his tongue AND A few sips of orange juice. THIS IS not an accurate way to administer sugar, but in such a situation, I believe this was the best apprOach BECAUSE we administer nitroglycerine tablets sublingually (under the tongue) for people with chest pain. Nitroglycerine, a blood vessel dilatOr,IS usually given to people with chest pain all around the world.

NoBODY informed the captain about the situation and the plane continued to taxi. One of the crewMEMBERS said, "Lets put him back IN his seat as the plane will take off any moment." I didn't think the gentleman was strong enough to support himself to stand. He attempted to get up but wasn't able to. I offered him my seat BECAUSE that was the nearest seat TO HIM. WHILE HE WAS HALFWAY UP AND struggling to stand, the engineS SUDDENLY roared AND THE speed of the plane increased dramatically. I knew the plane WOULD take off in 15-20 seconds. AN Instant decisionWAS made: let the patient sit on the floor with his back toward the kitchen counter. This way, while taking off, he WOULD have complete back support but without A seatbelt. Totally unsafe and probably against the law, the plane took off. I was hardly able to get back to my seat. I was not able to buckle my seat belt. I guess, one of the crew memberS was partly in her seat or she might have sat next to the patient.

Once the plane achieved some height, I had to get back to the patient. SOme crew members gathered around the patient and wanted him to get back to his seat. I am glad that they listened to me knowing my medical background. I let the patient sit on the FLOOR for AN additional 15 minutes. He was able to consume ONE more packet of sugar and a glass of orange juice. HIS Medical history revealed that this gentleman was diabetic. He was on insulin and useD to eat frequently at home. HE never HAD had ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN TO HIM BEFORE. HE ALWAYS had excellent control of his diabetes. He TOOK his daily insulin BEFORE COMING, but didn't have access to food while coming to the airport and prior to TAKEOFF. He became hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) just prior to take off. Hypoglycemic is dangerous and can be fatal. Confusion, agitation, sweating and shaking are A few OF ITS manifestations. This gentleman, never had such an episode before, so HE was unable to recognise THE symptoms. After 15 minutes, he was able to get off the floor safely and I escorted him to his seat.

I was surprised with the comment of one of the crewMEMBERS, a lady who actually asked the question about diabetes. We were struggling to get back to our seats just before take off. She looked at me and said, "You should have asked those questions later?" I guess she might have MADE such A comment BECAUSE SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT THE patient's safety BECAUSE he was not in his seat, and most of us were struggling to get BUCKLED UP FOR TAKEOFF. If I HAD NOT asked any medical questions, we might have been in our seats, but I am sure that gentleman wouldn't have been. BesideS, if it WERE SOMETHING OTHER THAN A DIABETIC EPISODE, we may not have taken off at all!

I SAT back in my seat, relaxed, and analysED what had happened and what I WOULD have done differently. I was CONTENT knowing what I did was right. At the same time, if it was a hospital setup, the situation and mode of treatment would have been completely different. I took a deep breath AND closed my eyes. I THINK I was hallucinating, I COULDN'T believe what I was hearing, "If there is a doctor on board, we need you urgently in the front cabin." The announcement was repeated. The passanger next to me looked at me and said, " I guess they need you again."