The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Prayer Requests => Topic started by: MikeBjerum on September 14, 2018, 04:57:34 AM
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This category is used far too little. This is partially because we share privately, but mostly because we aren't used to sharing. Well, I have a need:
I lost contact with one of our drivers Tuesday afternoon, had a little contact with him Wednesday morning, and then while watching his movements through the day on Wednesday he wasn't doing well following my text messages concerning his deliveries. Because of a late arrival, not his fault, a store closed him out and forced him to come at 8:30 Thursday morning.
Thursday morning I was watching him, and he wasn't doing anything to start work. He was not moving from sleeper berth to on duty, and it was time for him to be driving. Worse, he wasn't answering his phone ...How long do you wait before you call the truckstop and ask them to go beat on his door.
At 8:20 he finally answered the phone, and he sounded like he was in a hangover from a three day drunk. Talked of vomiting all night two nights in a row, cramps, muscle spasms, and no strength.
I finally convinced him that the delivery was not important. Couldn't talk him into leaving the truck behind, but got him to take his trailer to an LTL we work with, drop his trailer with the last of his deliveries, and I arranged with them to finish the route, and got John to bobtail to urgent care.
He called me at noon that they wanted to admit him to the hospital, to which I convinced him to do.
I talked to him at 7:00 last evening, and it isn't good. He is St. Joseph's in downtown St. Paul, MN, has a naso-gastric tube, is severely dehydrated, an enlarged spleen, and a bowel obstruction. He went through tests all yesterday afternoon and has more this morning.
Today, at 10:00am, I take off from Chicago to fly to St. Paul to see him and pick up the truck. I know he is going to be glad to see me, but not comfortable when I take his (our truck). We will fly him home when he is able, so we are not dumping him, we just need the equipment.
Pray for John's health and emotional state. He is extremely lonely and scared being 400 miles from home and not knowing what will happen.
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Done. It's great you care enough to do this.
How old is the gentleman?
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God Bless and prayers for John’s recovery!
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Prayers indeed.
Being stuck away from home is bad enough.... to be sick and in the hospital is a tough bit.
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Please tell him there are people praying for him.
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Got it.
If we have anyone near St. Paul, and they were of a mind to, would it be out of place to visit your friend?
Sort of let him know in person there are really folks out here who do care?
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This category is used far too little. This is partially because we share privately, but mostly because we aren't used to sharing.
Very true.
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John was released from the hospital yesterday, and got home last night.
I will get more details later today, but he was one sick man.
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Great news!
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Great news!
+1
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Great news!
+2
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Great news!
+3
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I haven't had a chance to see John since he got home. He did stop into the office after most of the office people had left and left the doctor's reports on the desk of the human resources person. She came over and talked about it with me the next morning.
The doctor in St. Paul stated that he cannot return to work until the 28th. This means another week out, and then depends on what his followup with his local doctor reveals.
At this time it appears that the whole episode is due to dehydration. He does not take good care of himself, and did complain about the heat the week before. When I visited him in the hospital, he thanked me for making him stop and go to the doctor, and his wife told me that he felt so bad he almost called in sick and didn't take the route. His typical routine is to rely on Pepsi, Monster, and 5 Hour Energy. When I used his truck, and gather his items together to leave some at the hospital and put the rest in storage at the company, I didn't find any water in the truck, three bags of high sugar "kiddie" cereal, chips, Ramon Noodle cups, six packs of cigarettes, and three vape pipes.
I don't know what will come of John's final doctor visit, and if he will change his lifestyle. But, before he was even out of the hospital, two of our drivers made appointments for physicals, and one who recently had one called his doctor and scheduled a colonoscopy.
Thank to all of you for being here!
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Gosh...well, now it's up to him... Good to know his experience might have lead to others considering their well being.
Get him a CamelBak to hang in the cab and drink while keeping both hands on the wheel =))
Someone here should be able to come up with a list of "good" snacks for truck drivers to live on. =)