Weird Wanderings has been a little off-kilter over the last couple months (one post a week! posts on Sundays!), and while an unusual schedule for an unusual-themed blog might work in theory, this hasn’t been entirely by choice. Instead, thanks to my dad’s lifesaving double lung transplant, my family and I have been trying hard to make the best of our hospital travel.
Strange though it might sound, hospital travel does indeed count as travel. After all, it has all the usual markers of a run-of-the-mill trip: getting to the location; finding parking if you have a vehicle; planning somewhere to stay; locating places to dine; and, of course, trying not to be miserable in the process.
While most of us have visited someone in the hospital, many major procedures–transplants included–require prolonged convalescence, meaning you and your family are in it for the long haul. At the Cleveland Clinic–which has become our own unlikely Marriott–the waiting room on the transplant floor is something of a sterile refugee camp. No one wants to be too far away if the doctors have an update, and hotel rooms add up too quick (as if medical bills aren’t enough). Consequently, the waiting room is a sea of suitcases, blankets, and electronic devices. Families who have been there the longest have staked out claims on certain corners or couches. You meet people from all over the world, and they learn about your family while you learn about theirs. It’s basically the weirdest slumber party ever–or a super orderly hostel with plenty of beeping machines.
So what have we gleaned over the weeks-long visit to the hospital? Lots of random tidbits. And just in case you’re ever in the same position, here are a few tips to make your hospital travel a little easier.
Easy-to-carry snacks are your friend.
During my father’s transplant, none of us wanted to leave the waiting room, especially after the five-hour mark, which was when the doctors told us they’d have some form of an update. But while there were magazines, laptops, and crocheting to keep us occupied, we hadn’t planned out food. With the added stress of medical procedures, it’s easy to forget all those must-haves you usually pack for a hike or a plane ride. So be sure to remember how much easier your life will be with granola, energy bars, and fresh fruit in tow, both during the procedure and for the many visits thereafter.
Don’t forget the chargers.
So you’ve got your phone or e-reader or laptop. But when you’re already frazzled (you’re heading to a hospital!), it’s not always super easy to recall the little things. For my dad’s transplant, I remembered the cord for my laptop (mostly because I always carry them together), but my husband forgot the charger for his phone. By the time we got home a day and a half later, there was four percent left on the battery. Don’t make our mistake; have a bag for the hospital that includes the usual clothes and toiletries along with any cords and other accessories you might need.
Valet parking is sometimes a necessary evil.
Like hotel accommodations, valet parking is one of those things that can add up quickly. But in the dead of winter along Lake Erie where the nearest garage is several blocks away, you better believe my family and I have made best friends with the valet team. Fortunately, at Cleveland Clinic, the parking isn’t super expensive (less than daytime parking rates in most cities), which at least keeps costs to a minimum. Also, another quick reminder: don’t forget to bring cash to tip. It’s probably not at the forefront of your mind, but the guy or gal who parks your car in the cold (or the heat or the rain or the snow) will appreciate it.
Enjoy the scenery the best you can.
Chances are you won’t be doing a whole lot of sightseeing while you’re visiting a hospital. But that doesn’t mean when you do get out, even if it’s just a quick trip home or across town for basic supplies, you shouldn’t take a moment to savor the scenery. You never know what you might discover. For example, the abandoned industrial landscapes of Cleveland are an urban explorer’s rusted dream come true. Beautiful structures and equally beautiful graffiti is a sumptuous experience for any offbeat traveler to behold, even if you can only enjoy it from the comfort of a window seat.
Have you ever made a hospital your temporary home? Comment below with your own tips to improve hospital travel!
Happy haunting, and happy health!
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.