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.