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Published: March 30th 2007
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Coriconcha
This is near where I fainted! Look how hard the stones look...yep...the Incas didn't mess around when they built things. Coming Home
Robyn and Aaron As some of you may already know, I am currently recovering from jaw surgery at my parents' house in Agoura Hills, CA. I am doing better, and Aaron and my parents, as well as numerous family and friends have been a tremendous help--I don't know what I would do without them!
Here is what happened:
Last Friday, Aaron and I had just landed in Cusco, Peru (elev. 3,400 m) after coming from Lima, Peru (sea level). We spent about 2 hours resting and drinking coca tea and taking altitude sickness pills, thinking that we would be alright for our city tour that afternoon. We went to tour a site where a colonial cathedral was built on top of an Incan temple (incredible), and right after I had asked a question in the Sun Temple, I felt dizzy and nauseated and very strange. I reached back to tell Aaron, but I fainted quickly afterwards and (in Aaron's words) "went down like a tree after it was chopped down". I was unconscious for a few seconds, and with some help, I was escorted to the First Aid station, where they helped dress the wound on my chin and gave me
A room with a view
Not bad, if you're staying in a hospital! oxygen. As contradictory as the cathedral-temple, there were depictions of the virgin above my head as they covered my shivering body with blankets of traditionally weaved alpaca wool.
Dr. Eduardo Luna arrived on his motorcycle wearing his leather jacket, and we took a taxi to a private hospital, where the doctor, who spoke amazing english, stitched up my wounds and lent me his jacket (it was cleaner than the blankets there).
After taking another taxi to get x-rays done, I also got a cat scan and they determined that I had suffered a minor concussion and broken my jaw in 2 places, requiring surgery. I had the choice to do the surgery in Peru, or to return to the United States. I opted for the latter.
We spent the night in the small hospital, with a gorgeous view of Cusco, and with the nurses coming in every 10 minutes, speaking Spanish and Quechua (I tried to learn it, but pain medication has a way of helping you forget things). They were some of the nicest ladies I have ever met.
My dad is incredible--he set up flights for us back home the next day. We went
Dr. Eduardo Luna and me
This guy helped me with everything--from dealing with health insurance to lending me his leather jacket. straight to UCLA Hospital Emergency when we arrived, and now I am safe at home with my jaw "wired shut", so as long as I can keep myself from craving solid foods, I should be fine.
Thanks to everyone for their continued support as we go through this process--we're planning on going back to traveling as soon as I recover, as missing out on our travel plans is one of the hardest things to cope with!
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Phil
non-member comment
crap on a crap cracker!
That sucks Rabyn...at least you didn't chip your tooth though:)