Two nights under a good duvet should fix most things. But no, this morning I was much worse. There was no question of carrying on. In fact reaching the washroom was a challenge. It was time for an ambulance, because all of my symptoms were consistent with stroke. We had batted around some other ideas, like somehow getting to Magdeburg, a bigger centre, and getting medical care and/or waiting for a miracle. The ambulance paramedics supported this a bit, saying they would take me (us) first to Bernburg, and then to Magdeburg if the Bernburg hospital could not help. We naturally also phoned Juergen and Birgit (at 6:30 a.m.), but found they had other plans for the day, and also were leaving for Hamburg tomorrow. For today, Birgit had to go to work, which also required the car. But in a short time they worked around that, and Juergen would come out to the hospital on a rescue mission, assuming I was going to live, and that I might be released. We had to give the hospital a chance to do their thing.

The ambulance paramedics were lovely young men, who were gentle and considerate. For the first time in seventy years, someone tied my laces for me! The hospital and its staff were top notch too. In would write more about it, but typing is difficult. I'll just say that it was immaculately clean, stuffed with high tech equipment, uncrowded, and filled with young, effective, friendly staff. 

The main game was to do a CAT scan, to check the stroke hypothesis. The scan happened in a, yes, immaculately clean, high tech, and uncrowded space, and the result was analysed within minutes.  No bleeds, tumours, or strokes. So why could I not walk, talk, eat? Maybe some kind of inner ear affliction? More study would be needed in Canada. Meanwhile they said I was OK to get on a plane, a big plus.

When Dodie asked the charge for the long ambulance ride, blood test, room for 2/3 of a day, and the scan, they looked at her quizzically. It was not the language barrier, we had just been living too close to USA for too long. This is a real country, where people come first. But really, this was not even we'll bill you sometime, it was we are here to help, and we hope you will be well. Even in Canada, I think they would have wanted to see about $600 up front. In Florida, when I stayed in a hospital for the same amount of time (not overnight) their bill was $US 23,000!

Jeurgen drove tge 85 km up to Bernburg to collect my sorry butt, and a further 15 km to Calbe for our gear from the guesthouse. The guesthouse lady sweetly agreed to hang onto the bikes, until Juergen could come back with a trailer. What angels they all are!

Juergen then ferried us back down the 100 km to the Leipzig airport hotel. And since he used to work at the airport and knows everyone, he went and talked to mobility people. They are geared up to take us to our flight, once we figure out what that will be. We need to hop "directly" to Frankfurt, Toronto, Vancouver (maybe) and Victoria. If I do not improve fast, it will be quite a show. But better to get it done, in case I get worse!

Please stay tuned to see how it goes. 

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Andrea BrownDefinitely not going to put a "like" on this photo, Grampies. But I do LOVE the care and help you are getting. Dodie, take care of yourself too. I hope the flights back go well.
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