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| ONLY IN MY NIGHTMARES ARE EELS THIS HUGE |
Many people have asked me how I'm doing after my eel attack. Well, here's a humorous account of my healing process.
The
green moray eel that attacked me caused me to go thru many different feelings
and emotions. First there
was fear, severe pain and panic. Then
the nightmares started. I
was often upset and sensitive. Sometimes
I was indifferent, bored, annoyed, frustrated, and mad. Finally, I was darn right pissed off !
Eels
don't see very well. So
what ? My fingers look a
squid ? Apparently
so. Let's get something straight
right from the beginning. I
did NOT feed the eel, I wasn't befriending it, I never saw it ! It came out of a hole in lightning speed some 4 feet away from me. My
only mistake was probably the fact that I was wearing a ring.
Type
of emotion: UPSET
 |
| MY FINGERS MAY LOOK LIKE A SQUID IF THEIR TENTACLES WERE SEPARATED IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES |
Why did all the Asian tourists on the tour boat that picked me up take constant pictures of me while I was screaming and blood rushing out of my hand and fingers? At least let me know where you posted my agony, you tube ? Twitter ?
Type
of emotion: ANNOYED
At
the Emergency room, they didn't even ask me before cutting off my favorite rash
guard shirt and new bathing suit top. They
gave me an anti anxiety drip.
Type
of emotion: SENSITIVE
(crying)
The
first week or two, I was having the same scary nightmare. I was snorkeling by myself, got
attacked and passed out in the water because of the loss of blood. I then
drowned and the eel finished me off.
Type
of emotion: FEAR and HORROR
Because
of the possibility of bacteria, my Surgeon forbade me to go into the water for
a month. In the meantime, I took two types of
antibiotics, pain killers, and anti inflammatory medicine. All these meds put me into a zombie
like state.
Type
of emotion: INDIFFERENCE
I
visited the emergency room for 9 straight days after the attack. I felt like a Queen, the way I marched
up the stairs, thru the swing doors and straight into the emergency room. I sat on an empty gurney and not 5
minutes later, Dr. Forbes and her assistant showed up. They removed my bandages, cleaned my
hand by scrubbing hard and eventually removed my 25 plus stitches on two
different days. My surgeon tested my
hand and gladly said to me that I had no damage to my tendons.
Type
of emotion: OPTIMISTIC
The
eel also bit my thumb nail. As
the nail grew, it was catching on
my hair when I was washing it, pulling
the nail away from my skin, OUCH ! I
decided to apply epoxy which turned my finger nail yellow but it worked. Every sailor has epoxy on their boat,
right?
Type
of emotion: PISSED OFF
There
were good sides to being injured. I
did no cooking, no dishes, no cleaning, and my husband showered me and gave me
his side of our Pullman berth. Then I started feeling useless.
Type
of emotion: BORED
I
was the talk of Roatan. Everywhere
I went, because of my large bandages, they would say "Oh you are that
girl". My attack was
posted on the Roatan Crime watchers Facebook page but ultimately got taken down
because it wasn't a crime. On
the Roatan Marine Park Facebook page, they reminded everyone to NOT feed the
fish. I went on a mission
to protect snorkelers and divers. As
Jacques Cousteau once said "No
sooner does man discover intelligence than he tries to involve it in his own stupidity". Therefore,
to everyone I met, I'd say "Ask
the tour operators if they feed the fish. If they say yes, tell them you'll tip
them if they DO NOT feed the fish".
Type
of emotion: DRIVEN
My
Emergency room Doctor and Surgeon gave me exercises to do to regain
mobility. While on
"The Cay" at Guanaja, a German sailor saw my hand and invited me over
to his boat so he can show me some exercises. He was very concerned and
compassionate. His 30 year
career was building prosthetics for hand burn victims.
Type
of emotion: THANKFUL
 |
| THANKS JACK FOR SUGGESTING I USE A SPONGE |
 |
| UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN. YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW HEAVY AN ONION IS |
Six weeks have now passed and I'm sad to report that I've lost 50% feeling in my index finger and it's crooked. The rest of my finger is in pins and needles. Two of my fingers are still swollen. Because of the loss of feeling, I'm dropping my cocktail drinks ! And sorry Mom, I highly doubt I'll be able to ever play you Chopin's “Fantasie-Impromptu” #4 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 66, CT 46.
Type
of emotion: SADNESS and
FRUSTRATION
 |
BEFORE
|
 |
| AFTER 6 WEEKS |
 |
| BEFORE |
 |
| AFTER 6 WEEKS |
 |
| BENDING IS STILL DIFFICULT |
Once I arrived in the Cayman Islands, I found the courage to go snorkeling again. I met a man named Manny from Guanaja and his lovely wife of all places, Nova Scotia. For 12 years, he worked as a snorkeling guide in the Caymans. He saw that I was very fearful of the Rays and I told him why. He helped me face my fears by showing me how to hold a southern sting ray and kiss it. WAS I NUTS ? I think I'm cured.
Type
of emotion: RUSH and
HAPPINESS
 |
| MANNY SHOWING ME HOW TO HOLD A RAY |
 |
| I'M NOW CURED OF MY FEAR |
AND
THE THANKS GOES TO.....
Dana: Thanks for being there for me, swimming
me back to safety. Thanks
for taking care of my underwater camera & dinghy. What? You took no pictures with my camera?
The
tour operator: Thanks for
jumping into the water, helping
me back on your boat and driving me to shore but mostly, keeping the Asians
away from me.
Chris: Thanks for giving me first aid, driving
me to the emergency room and waiting for hours before driving me back. I sure hope you enjoyed that bottle of
Rum I gave you.
Rhia: Thanks for the towels;
I hope I left no blood in your car.
Cameron: Thanks for calling Tim on VHF for
everyone in the harbor to hear. Mostly,
thanks for practically carrying me to the car.
Debbie: Thanks for delivering me clean, warm
clothes at the emergency room. What? Lime green sweat pants
and a hoody ? I guess you
didn't want any blood on your nice clothes.
Linda: Thanks for rushing to me with your 1st
aid kit but...you missed me, you were just too slow. Thanks for being a true friend.
All
the cruisers at the marina: Thanks
for your concerns and help with carrying my groceries but what about giving me
a seat on the grocery bus ?
Chiqui
"the monkey": Thanks
for all the hugs every morning. Please
don't open up my water tank hose in my cockpit and let it run until my water
tank is empty.
All
the staff at the hospital: Thanks
for your all your kindness and compassion. No, I don't need to go to the
administration office...again.
To
all my friends and family who sent me get well wishes by email, phone,
Facebook, Twitter, Satellite phone, Skype, Facetime, etc.. etc.. etc..
My
husband Tim: I can't thank
you enough for helping me thru this ordeal, not counting helping me thru shoulder
surgery 4 months ago. You've
done so much for me and never ever complained. The love you have for me is amazing, I
love you.
it is very nice and useful information.
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