I have arrived safely in my airbnb in Hyde Park Chicago. As many of you know I have been referred by my favorite Grand Junction plastic surgeon to a surgeon here in Chicago. Dr Chang is one of the experts in the exciting new procedure of micro lymphatic surgery.
I have lymphedema from the lymph node resection i had for breast cancer 7 years ago . It has created some seriousl health challenges and I have done all the recommended conservative measures to try to treat it. . After appealing Rocky Mtn HMO for the last year, I was able to get them to approve part of the surgery and there is a portion that i will be paying. The surgery is scheduled for this Friday am. check in time 5:30 AM. It is predicted i will be in the hospital for 3 nights
So today i started my travels to Chicago. I had some anxiety because often the route from Grand Junction to Dallas to Chicago ends up with some serious delays or turnarounds. Tonight the travel was on time, planes we not full so there was ability to spread out and I arrived in O'Hare at 10:30, half our early. I was on a roll. Got my uber. Only took about 40 mins to get the the air bnb as there was no traffic and he dropped me off at the airbnb. Nice looking brownstone.
Now this is southside of Chicago. But near the University. I know that the southside can be sketchy. I was so proud of how smooth everything was going. The only problem i had was that my cell phone about died in the last flight but i was relieved the Uber driver had a charger. Only problem is that as i got out of the uber the phone totally died. It did not seem to be accepting a charge.
I had my instructions. I put the code in the box and the gate opened. I could see an apartment that was all lit up that was sure to be mine. The door was locked and I was trying the codes but they would not work. I looked in the streets and in the nearby apartments and being after midnight there was not much action. an occasional car would drive by with a black man or woman. I really needed help but noone would have anything to do with me. I started freaking out If i could use my phone to call the manager of the air bnb i would be all set but there was nowhere to charge up.
Feeling desperate i remembered that about 1/2 .a mile away there was a McDonalds and a gas station. I walked 3 blocks north and a couple of blocks west and then had to go under the train tracks. Keep in mind it is 12;15 am ish and this is southside chicago and i am walking with a purse with a wallet and credit cards, a back pack with an imac and iphone .
I finally got to the mcdonalds hoping i could charge my phone there but it was drive through only. I am not racist but there was not one white person anywhere. I was so desperate for help i went up to a couple of car windows to see if they had phones and they just shook there heads and would not open the window of their car's.
One lady said to go over to the gas station. When i tried to walk up to the drive through window to ask for help the lady said stay away, back up and don't come any closer on a loud speaker . omg crazy!!! So i went to the gas station across the street and there you also could only go to a drive up window. you could not go in and i tried to ask several people if they had a phone i could use to call my airbnb manager. All i got were nods of no.
I have to say i was terrified. i had dry mouth and i started to walk the 1/2 mile back to my airbnb. It is a beautiful street but there was no sign of life and i had a dead phone so i could not contact the owner. I started to think i may be sleeping on the porch of this attractive building. When i got back to my building i saw a car sitting out front. I approached her drivers seat window and told her it was an emergency and that i needed to get in my airbnb.
She did not know the owner but she did know that it was an airbnb and she CHOSE to trust me and offered to let me use her phone to get the right directions. Soon i was safe inside my cozy place.
That was seriously scary. I realize in retrospect i should have stayed at the airport until my phone was charged but my uber driver had a charger but it did not seem to charge my phone. walking back from the McDonalds i was praying to God to send me help. I don't think I have every felt so alone and unable to find help.
The kind black woman in the car trusted me and she helped me.
she was so kind. In fact she committed to stay until i was in the apartment .
I have never felt so out of place and isolated in a city. Granted it is after midnight
It is now 2 AM and i am in my cozy spot with a nice glass of Merlot feeling the need to document this incidence.
I was truly scared and did not know what to do
Grateful to God for hearing my prayer and sending me that kind woman
here safe and sound and comfy . Mapping out my walk to the University of Chicago ( via President Obama's home and barber shop) tomorrow for my preop appointments and the i plan to walk to Jackson Park to see the Osaka Japanese gardens.
Wow what a trip tonight was . The fear of possibilities and impossibilities. I have never felt like i was so out of place in my life.
a white girl carrying a backpack and a purse and an i phone and iMac computer with credit cards. lost and helpless. in the southside of chicago. I truly felt what it felt like to be a total minority and i was vulnerable.
God, thank you for sending that sweet woman who was willing to just let me use her phone so I could get indoors.
Moral of the story, if you are going to the southside, have your cell phone charged before you get there.
The sweetness and safety i feel in this condo tonight is making is a Godsend. I am comfortable and relaxed and as it approaches 3 AM. i must find rest.
Love to you all
Stacia
I have lymphedema from the lymph node resection i had for breast cancer 7 years ago . It has created some seriousl health challenges and I have done all the recommended conservative measures to try to treat it. . After appealing Rocky Mtn HMO for the last year, I was able to get them to approve part of the surgery and there is a portion that i will be paying. The surgery is scheduled for this Friday am. check in time 5:30 AM. It is predicted i will be in the hospital for 3 nights
So today i started my travels to Chicago. I had some anxiety because often the route from Grand Junction to Dallas to Chicago ends up with some serious delays or turnarounds. Tonight the travel was on time, planes we not full so there was ability to spread out and I arrived in O'Hare at 10:30, half our early. I was on a roll. Got my uber. Only took about 40 mins to get the the air bnb as there was no traffic and he dropped me off at the airbnb. Nice looking brownstone.
Now this is southside of Chicago. But near the University. I know that the southside can be sketchy. I was so proud of how smooth everything was going. The only problem i had was that my cell phone about died in the last flight but i was relieved the Uber driver had a charger. Only problem is that as i got out of the uber the phone totally died. It did not seem to be accepting a charge.
I had my instructions. I put the code in the box and the gate opened. I could see an apartment that was all lit up that was sure to be mine. The door was locked and I was trying the codes but they would not work. I looked in the streets and in the nearby apartments and being after midnight there was not much action. an occasional car would drive by with a black man or woman. I really needed help but noone would have anything to do with me. I started freaking out If i could use my phone to call the manager of the air bnb i would be all set but there was nowhere to charge up.
Feeling desperate i remembered that about 1/2 .a mile away there was a McDonalds and a gas station. I walked 3 blocks north and a couple of blocks west and then had to go under the train tracks. Keep in mind it is 12;15 am ish and this is southside chicago and i am walking with a purse with a wallet and credit cards, a back pack with an imac and iphone .
I finally got to the mcdonalds hoping i could charge my phone there but it was drive through only. I am not racist but there was not one white person anywhere. I was so desperate for help i went up to a couple of car windows to see if they had phones and they just shook there heads and would not open the window of their car's.
One lady said to go over to the gas station. When i tried to walk up to the drive through window to ask for help the lady said stay away, back up and don't come any closer on a loud speaker . omg crazy!!! So i went to the gas station across the street and there you also could only go to a drive up window. you could not go in and i tried to ask several people if they had a phone i could use to call my airbnb manager. All i got were nods of no.
I have to say i was terrified. i had dry mouth and i started to walk the 1/2 mile back to my airbnb. It is a beautiful street but there was no sign of life and i had a dead phone so i could not contact the owner. I started to think i may be sleeping on the porch of this attractive building. When i got back to my building i saw a car sitting out front. I approached her drivers seat window and told her it was an emergency and that i needed to get in my airbnb.
She did not know the owner but she did know that it was an airbnb and she CHOSE to trust me and offered to let me use her phone to get the right directions. Soon i was safe inside my cozy place.
That was seriously scary. I realize in retrospect i should have stayed at the airport until my phone was charged but my uber driver had a charger but it did not seem to charge my phone. walking back from the McDonalds i was praying to God to send me help. I don't think I have every felt so alone and unable to find help.
The kind black woman in the car trusted me and she helped me.
she was so kind. In fact she committed to stay until i was in the apartment .
I have never felt so out of place and isolated in a city. Granted it is after midnight
It is now 2 AM and i am in my cozy spot with a nice glass of Merlot feeling the need to document this incidence.
I was truly scared and did not know what to do
Grateful to God for hearing my prayer and sending me that kind woman
here safe and sound and comfy . Mapping out my walk to the University of Chicago ( via President Obama's home and barber shop) tomorrow for my preop appointments and the i plan to walk to Jackson Park to see the Osaka Japanese gardens.
Wow what a trip tonight was . The fear of possibilities and impossibilities. I have never felt like i was so out of place in my life.
a white girl carrying a backpack and a purse and an i phone and iMac computer with credit cards. lost and helpless. in the southside of chicago. I truly felt what it felt like to be a total minority and i was vulnerable.
God, thank you for sending that sweet woman who was willing to just let me use her phone so I could get indoors.
Moral of the story, if you are going to the southside, have your cell phone charged before you get there.
The sweetness and safety i feel in this condo tonight is making is a Godsend. I am comfortable and relaxed and as it approaches 3 AM. i must find rest.
Love to you all
Stacia
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