Final Maui Chapter

I thought I was done talking about Maui. I am certainly ready to tell you about something else but I got a couple more tidbits for you. First off, let me change subjects, and tell you how cute the little dude was on Sunday. We were hanging at the house, having some guy time, watching TV, playing on the computer, etc.... I had my back turned to the TV so didn't see the Dwight Howard dunk in the NBA dunk contest with him wearing a blue cape. However, I had heard about it already. Anyway, the little dude said to me, "daddy, you just missed the silliest basketball player... he was playing basketball dressed like superman." Of course, he really was dressed like superman in a blue uniform with red cape! Just the way a 5 year old says it is so darn cute to me.

Ok, back to Maui. So, yesterday morning Kitty Kat calls me as she is taking the little girl to the hospital in Maui. My family has had more hospital time the last 4 years than any family EVER should have. I imagine my crappy health insurance company will cancel us soon.... The ER doc acknowledged the little girl had possible pnemonia but her ears were probably ok for flying. Kitty Kat told me she wanted to come home that day. I called Aloha Airlines and explained the situation. Aloha already knew of the medical issues, had received the doctor's note and had waived a change fee to change the flight from Saturday to Tuesday. We now wanted to change it from Tuesday to Monday. Presumably the doctor's note would still help avoid any unnecessary fees... surely... right... no chance they would charge....

Well, my glee in avoiding another $600 night at the hotel was quickly vanished when the Aloha Airlines reprsentative explained it would be $1,100 or so. I don't remember the exact amount and in fact might have been closer to $1,200 but Kitty Kat wanted to come home, had already checked out of the hotel, and thus I really wasn't in a position to argue with their highway robbery pricing. The $1,100 or so bucks was a combination of $250 in "change fees" for changing the day of the flight and the balance was a "fare change" due to our less expensive fare not beiing available. I understand both of these fees are customary in the airline industry but surely you would waive the change fee since you already know of the medical issues and why charge the fare change when it's just a few hours before take off? I sent Aloha Airlines a long letter this morning explaining why I feel these charges are so unfair. It's not as if we were some party animal who missed his plan or some such thing. It was 100% medical and, in fact, my family would have preferred to have all gone home together and avoided the excessive hotel charges. We shall see what they say to my letter and I will update if Aloha Airlines does the right thing....

Well, I just talked to Kitty Kat. I was asleep when she got home and she was asleep when I went to work this morning. I asked how the flight went... just hoping the little girl's ears didn't hurt too much. Well, it was a dream flight... most of the way anyhow. The little girl played for a half hour, then watched movies on the computer for 2 hours (which is about 1:55 minutes longer than her normal attention span to movies/tv), and then fell asleep for 2 hours. That leaves only a half hour more... how bad could it get in a half hour?

I figured Kitty Kat would tell me the little girl had some ear pain, yada, yada, yada.... Well, I was wrong. At about the half hour mark the little girl started throwing up and throwing up and throwing up... 3 bags worth. She then had ear eyes roll back into her head and she passed out. Just a few seconds. Kitty Kat had alerted the airlines crew to the situation before the flight and they were very quick to bring oxygen. When they landed everybody had to wait in their seats while a 3 person medical crew came on board to work on the little girl. Nobody could get off until they took the little girl off. This is a great way to get off the plane first even when in row 26, eh!?

After being whisked off the plane the medical personnel told Kitty Kat they wanted to take the little girl to the hospital. Kitty Kat declined. She had a problem though, she had a ton of carry on bags as Grandma M had bought out the city in hopes of brightening the little girl's day on Saturday when the rest of us left. She had a new life sized baby, baby carrier, clothes, and a ton of other stuff. The stuff had sort of expanded in flight after the little girl had brought stuff out of the tightly packed bags. Luckily, the security guard walked Kitty Kat to the car and carried everything for her. A good thing to remember when you have too much luggage to carry!

With that, I hope I am done talking about Maui for a while. Great trip but I am ready to tell you about something else... I am just not sure what yet.

peace out.