DooMer_MP3
Member
Hey all. I've been off the board for the last week or so. My father retired from his job last year and decided to celebrate with my mother, sister and I. We took a 4-night cruise to the Carribean on Royal Carribean (Nassau, Cocoa Cay, Key West). I apologize about the length of the story.
We were having a great time. On the first few nights, my father and I stayed up late and hit the bottle hard and had a great time in the casino and lounging by the pool at 3AM. After these couple of nights, he obviously wasn't going to keep up with me for the last two.
On the second last night, my family went to bed and I had just won $200 in a video poker machine. I decided to head to the cocktail lounge next door and sit at the bar and celebrate my victory with a Manhattan. Sitting next to me were a younger guy (mid 20s) and older guy (upper 50s) who seemed to know each other. It turns out they had just met and were just making chit chat over a few drinks.
I joined their conversation and began sharing what we do and funny life stories. Seemed like really cool people. The older guy was on a cruise with his friends. It was his first one, and he was having the time of his life (he said). He also said this was the first time he had been drinking in awhile. I decide to go back to the craps table for a bit, and after losing $100 of my earlier winnings decide to call it quits. They said they were going up to the discoteque to listen to some better music (hip-hop etc).
Sure enough, they were up there. We continued to chill, look at the EXTREMELY actractive women aboard and make small talk with them. Of course, I, with a girlfriend of 4 years didn't let anything go anywhere. I requested some songs I wanted to hear, and danced a bit. Next thing I know, its 3AM and the bar is closing. The three of us get one last beer. We decide we're going to go up to the pool deck and finish our beers outside.
So the younger guy and I head up the stairs while the older guy is just behind us. We make a round in the stairs (kind of a half spiral), and as the older man goes for the first step, he either passes out, or loses his balance and falls backwards. We didn't think anything was horribly bad (just got really drunk, even though he didnt look it, and passed out), so we rush down to him to make sure he is alright.
Next thing we know, there is blood coming out from his nose. I mean, it is just rushing out. We are freaking out. I run into the bar and yell at a bartender to get his ass out and get us some help. He sees the condition. By this time, there are large pools of blood on the carpet. The bartender gets on the phone. While we wait, we turn the guy on his side so he doesn't choke on blood or vomit.
Medical personel arrive. At this point I am just like "Holy s***, what the hell is happening". The next thing I hear is the words "cardiac arrest". I look down over the railing with my hand over my face and just begin sobbing. I dont know why, probably because it was just so damn traumatic, and I was quite drunk. They work on this guy for awhile and revive him. The younger guy I am with is pretty much in the same condition, looks like he saw a ghost.
So we go outside and have a cigarette. One of the crew members comes out and asks us what happened. We explained from our view it looked like he didnt hit his head hard; especially on the thick carpet that he fell on. He gets our information and tells us he will update us tommorow.
By this time its like 4:00AM. The younger guy and I go up to the pool deck and have a panic cigarette. We then decide to go down to the medical deck and see if this guy is alright. The doctor on board is in a good mood, and says he is fine and stable. We leave and go to bed thinking everything is just fine.
The next day, after spending the day in Key West, one of the (gorgeous) women who was with me trying to console me at the time, comes down and wants to talk. She explains that the guy is not in good shape, and was taken to a hospital earlier that morning. She also says his friends want to meet with the younger guy and I to thank us for everything we did.
We meet up, and explain what happened. All of a sudden, one of his friends says "So you know about his condition?", and I'm like "Well, I know he isn't in great shape, but the doctor yesterday said he would be fine". My heart skips a few beats with the next thing I hear. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but when he fell, he had seriously fractured the right side of his skull. Blood built up inside of his brain and caused a great deal of pressure. He is basically brain-dead right now. And we are talking with his family members about 'pulling the plug'". The other guy and I are just shocked. I am still in awe two days later.
I never would have thought this guy's first cruise would turn into his last ever. His friends said when they talked to him at 2:00AM, he said he had never felt so good in his life. I guess that is a decent way to go, but still. The only somewhat good thing that came out of this was that I didn't go through this alone, and the other guy I met and I became pretty good friends and were there for each other.
Blah, I don't know why I posted this, but I needed to get it off of my chest, and I cannot stop replaying the events in my mind. Take care all, and be careful out there.
Chris
We were having a great time. On the first few nights, my father and I stayed up late and hit the bottle hard and had a great time in the casino and lounging by the pool at 3AM. After these couple of nights, he obviously wasn't going to keep up with me for the last two.
On the second last night, my family went to bed and I had just won $200 in a video poker machine. I decided to head to the cocktail lounge next door and sit at the bar and celebrate my victory with a Manhattan. Sitting next to me were a younger guy (mid 20s) and older guy (upper 50s) who seemed to know each other. It turns out they had just met and were just making chit chat over a few drinks.
I joined their conversation and began sharing what we do and funny life stories. Seemed like really cool people. The older guy was on a cruise with his friends. It was his first one, and he was having the time of his life (he said). He also said this was the first time he had been drinking in awhile. I decide to go back to the craps table for a bit, and after losing $100 of my earlier winnings decide to call it quits. They said they were going up to the discoteque to listen to some better music (hip-hop etc).
Sure enough, they were up there. We continued to chill, look at the EXTREMELY actractive women aboard and make small talk with them. Of course, I, with a girlfriend of 4 years didn't let anything go anywhere. I requested some songs I wanted to hear, and danced a bit. Next thing I know, its 3AM and the bar is closing. The three of us get one last beer. We decide we're going to go up to the pool deck and finish our beers outside.
So the younger guy and I head up the stairs while the older guy is just behind us. We make a round in the stairs (kind of a half spiral), and as the older man goes for the first step, he either passes out, or loses his balance and falls backwards. We didn't think anything was horribly bad (just got really drunk, even though he didnt look it, and passed out), so we rush down to him to make sure he is alright.
Next thing we know, there is blood coming out from his nose. I mean, it is just rushing out. We are freaking out. I run into the bar and yell at a bartender to get his ass out and get us some help. He sees the condition. By this time, there are large pools of blood on the carpet. The bartender gets on the phone. While we wait, we turn the guy on his side so he doesn't choke on blood or vomit.
Medical personel arrive. At this point I am just like "Holy s***, what the hell is happening". The next thing I hear is the words "cardiac arrest". I look down over the railing with my hand over my face and just begin sobbing. I dont know why, probably because it was just so damn traumatic, and I was quite drunk. They work on this guy for awhile and revive him. The younger guy I am with is pretty much in the same condition, looks like he saw a ghost.
So we go outside and have a cigarette. One of the crew members comes out and asks us what happened. We explained from our view it looked like he didnt hit his head hard; especially on the thick carpet that he fell on. He gets our information and tells us he will update us tommorow.
By this time its like 4:00AM. The younger guy and I go up to the pool deck and have a panic cigarette. We then decide to go down to the medical deck and see if this guy is alright. The doctor on board is in a good mood, and says he is fine and stable. We leave and go to bed thinking everything is just fine.
The next day, after spending the day in Key West, one of the (gorgeous) women who was with me trying to console me at the time, comes down and wants to talk. She explains that the guy is not in good shape, and was taken to a hospital earlier that morning. She also says his friends want to meet with the younger guy and I to thank us for everything we did.
We meet up, and explain what happened. All of a sudden, one of his friends says "So you know about his condition?", and I'm like "Well, I know he isn't in great shape, but the doctor yesterday said he would be fine". My heart skips a few beats with the next thing I hear. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but when he fell, he had seriously fractured the right side of his skull. Blood built up inside of his brain and caused a great deal of pressure. He is basically brain-dead right now. And we are talking with his family members about 'pulling the plug'". The other guy and I are just shocked. I am still in awe two days later.
I never would have thought this guy's first cruise would turn into his last ever. His friends said when they talked to him at 2:00AM, he said he had never felt so good in his life. I guess that is a decent way to go, but still. The only somewhat good thing that came out of this was that I didn't go through this alone, and the other guy I met and I became pretty good friends and were there for each other.
Blah, I don't know why I posted this, but I needed to get it off of my chest, and I cannot stop replaying the events in my mind. Take care all, and be careful out there.
Chris
