Repatriation - The Flight

After nine days, I was flown home via Turkey and Germany in a Lear Jet. On board was a Doctor, a nurse and two pilots. I do not recommend having a stroke to go private.

The day I was to be repatriated back to the UK from Dubai was very tense. My son had told me the night before that everything was arranged, but I had to have a fit to fly medical in the morning. Around 5 am, the nurses came to wash me and change my nappy; it was so degrading. I was pushed to another area where a German doctor came and did an examination put omitted to tell me the results, he kept coming back to check me BP but still said nothing I was feeling sick inside thinking that I will be to unwell to fly I began to think that I would die in Dubai if I weren't allowed to fly I think that I was ready to give up if I couldn’t go home. Still, I couldn’t say or do anything.

Then Jeannie, John and Sarah came in. Poor Lila couldn’t face seeing me, so she stayed outside and looked after Sarah’s youngest. I was relieved to see them and wanted to ask what was happening, but I couldn’t. Then, John said he would go through the alphabet, which he did. A, B, C, and on he went. I eventually I spelt “left behind” John said No, we are following in another plane then Jeannie asked if I meant that I would be left behind. I blinked once, and tears were rolling down my cheeks.

At about midday, John came rushing in and said that my plane had landed and the medical staff were on their way, and in they came two giant white clothed German angels, at least that is what I thought. A doctor and male nurse were ultra-efficient as they hooked me up to their machines and took some photos of the hospital machines, which didn’t please the hospital staff. They asked when I was last changed, to which the reply came, 10 am! What a lie, I thought. It was five this morning, and I was full of nappy, but I couldn’t say anything.

We safely arrived at the airport after a blue light tour through the city. It was very hot on the runway. I remember the doctor covering my eyes from the sun as they transferred me to the plane, which was very small; the inside seemed very cramped as well. Still, I was squeezed and strapped in I could see lots of medical equipment to which I was plugged in. The next moment, we were in the air on the way home. I remember thinking with great relief, “HURRA! ON THE WAY HOME”

It wasn’t till much later that I discovered Jeannie wasn’t allowed to travel with me for fear that I wouldn’t make it.

I was heavily sedated during the flight, but occasionally I would wake up in pain. My legs kept going into spasms, which was causing the pain. I also remember the nightmares; it was horrifying.

Inside a medical Lear Jet. Its cramped and there is little room for the crew to move around.

I was awake as we landed in Germany where they cleaned me up; it was most upsetting when the aeroplane door opened and the landing crew they started shouting words like “shitesenhousing” then they took the aeroplane to the other side of the airport to change me at least that’s what I thought as the next thing I knew we were in Norwich. I was alive, and 16 hours had passed, praise God.

Thank you to all the staff who got me back home on that freedom flight.