Crashing Stephanie

11 Gray Goo

The ride to the airport took about twenty minutes, and neither Tom nor Steph said another word. The airport was a dirt strip with a huge antenna and nothing else. The driver was the local constable, and he chatted constantly until the plane showed up an hour later. He kept telling them nothing happens fast in the remote areas of Alaska.

Tom and Steph were standing next to the Jeep when the plane stopped in front of them. Seeing them standing up, the paramedic got some basic information from Tom and Steph before loading them into the aircraft. Tom noticed Steph had a death grip on the armrests as the plane took off. Tom reached over and put his hand on hers.

At the hospital, they were taken directly into the emergency room. Steph lost sight of Tom as he was wheeled off in a different direction. The staff kept asking Steph about when she had last eaten and what she had eaten. They asked several times if she had eaten anything since being rescued. Steph took exception to being "rescued" and told the nurse in no uncertain terms that she had not been rescued. They had walked out on their own.

She was checked over, and an IV was placed in her arm to give her fluids. Once in a room, she was allowed to shower. She would never underestimate the value of a hot shower again. A doctor came in that evening to discuss her treatment plan. She would adhere to a rigid diet to begin bringing her weight back up and ensure there were no long-term side effects.

Steph went from eating fish, small mammals, and fresh edibles from the forest to a gooey gray mass that tasted horrible. She began to question the wisdom of having contacted the authorities rather than just going home. Whenever she asked about Tom, she was told, "He is doing well, recovering just like you." When Steph asked if she could see Tom, she was told, "Soon."

Diary Day 43: We made it, we survived. We walked out of the woods and onto a paved road today. We were flown to the hospital by the Alaska State Troopers. I haven't seen Tom since we arrived at the hospital.

We are at the end of this journey, so this will be my last entry. I am thankful for the experience and for our survival. I feel like a different person now - a better person.

* * * * *

On the third day, there was a thump at the door as Tom pushed his wheelchair into her room. Tom, with a big smile, said, "Makes you miss the wilderness cuisine, doesn't it!" Tom looked great to Steph. She had never been happier to see someone in her entire life! His eyes were bright. He was moving well and seemed happy. Tom jokingly asked Steph how her gray goo bowel movements were going, which made Steph laugh.

Tom spent a few hours in Steph's room until the nurse on his floor finally found him. Tom was a mischievous patient and caused those charged with his care all sorts of grief. The nurses got together and decided the best thing for the nurses was to wheel both Steph and Tom to the atrium for a few hours in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Being around Tom raised Steph's spirits, and Tom's nurses didn't hate their job quite as much.

Steph's mom and dad flew to Alaska and spent a few days. Her mother was worried when she saw how much weight Steph had lost. Steph told her mom that her weight was improving but joked she still had a shot at being a starving Italian supermodel. Steph's parents really liked Tom and thanked him for saving their daughter. Tom told them he did not "save" her. They only made it because they had worked together.

A friend of Tom's had flown in from Fort Worth and was sneaking in small packets of condiments for Tom and Steph. Steph's favorite was the peanut butter packets. There was so much flavor she would sigh out loud with each squeeze of the packet!

On the seventh day, Tom was released early if he promised to follow his prescribed diet. The Alaska Air National Guard, along with the local FAA crash examiner, had requested he accompany them. They would attempt to locate the crash and recover the pilot's body.

Steph had already been interviewed by the FAA and had been as honest as she could. Tom told Steph he had given them a detailed report on his experience, including that the pilot acted recklessly. Tom reminded Steph the responsibility lies with the pilot. Tom promised to be back before she was released.

* * * * *

The last three days in the hospital were a time for reflection. Steph did not like who she had been before the crash and was determined to be a better person. After what she had gone through, there had to be something positive to come out of it.

She was allowed to walk around the hospital and, encouraged by the nurses, spent a lot of time in the children's ward. She could feel deep in her heart the love these kids gave so unselfishly. She was amazed at the spirit these kids had, even the ones with serious illnesses.

She joined the volunteers feeding newborn babies, which sparked something within her. Steph had no siblings and had never been around any babies. Her "no babies, ever" rule from before the crash was out the window. Now, she could see herself being a mother.

Late in the evening, she would sit in the atrium and watch the people on the street below. Where were they going, where had they been, were they happy or sad? Steph wished she could talk to each of them. Watching people was now one of her favorite things to do.

Steph had talked with her mom every day, and her mom had sent clothes for Steph to wear when she flew back to the city. The day she was to be released, Steph put on the clothes her mother had sent. She had always loved clothes and getting dressed up. It was her suit of armor against the world she had so often told herself.

Expensive clothes had also been a way to separate herself from the crowd. It is easy to remain aloof wearing designer clothes in an "off the rack" world. But that was the old Steph. While the new Steph still loved her designer clothes, she would have to work at not letting them be a barrier to others.

Tom was there with a wheelchair to take her to the taxi and then to the airport. Dressed in the clothes her mom had sent, Steph looked amazing, and when Tom saw her, he said, "Wow!" Tom laughed, then reminded her that he had seen her face down in the mud and that she had fished naked, so he was not impressed.

She asked him about the plane. Tom said even with his help, it hadn't been easy to locate the wreckage. Steph's map with the landmarks had been the key to finding the crash site. Without her map, Tom doubted it would have ever been found. They also recovered Jim's body, which would be flown home so his parents could bury their son.

Tom learned that Jim was well known to the FAA and had been reported for many safety violations. His commercial license had been suspended. He should not have been flying them that day. Steph didn't feel any better about it, but maybe Tom had been right.