Making a Way in the Wilderness

I’m thrilled to report that my transatlantic flights were uneventful! It was my first time flying out of State College during a home football game. It was pretty cool to see the filled stadium.  For those who don't know, the stadium is the 2nd largest in the US and 4th largest in the world. Flying out of Philly, there was the brightest rainbow I’ve ever seen – a double rainbow at that. I’m not really into signs or omens, but I took comfort and joy in seeing the rainbow. I don't need extra O2 for short flights (<1 hour) at lower altitudes, but I definitely needed it on the transatlantic flights. At one point, I unhooked from the oxygen and got up to use the bathroom. I was gone maybe 3 minutes, but when I measured my O2 saturation, it was only 77%. I didn't really feel short of breath. This indicates that my O2 on the 2022 return flight from Germany must have been horrifically low, because I couldn't even walk a few steps.  In Manchester, my friend/colleague Carol...

The last time I took a transatlantic flight, I barely survived. I had to be carted off the plane by EMS personnel because I was too short of breath to walk even a few steps. Tomorrow I'm flying to England. Needless to say, I'm hoping this flight is uneventful. I'm relieved that my friend and colleague Carol is flying with me (we are presenting at the British Educational Research Association conference in Manchester). I wouldn't have felt comfortable making the trip by myself. I will bring a heavy backup battery for my portable oxygen concentrator because airlines stipulate that you need enough battery power to last 1.5 times the flight duration. I'm not looking forward to having to wear the concentrator tube plus my glasses and a mask (too much COVID still going around) for the 7- to 8-hour flight -- lots of tubes, bands, and apparatuses on my ears, nose, and face. I am grateful that my blood thinners are working and that my lungs have improved enough that I can o...