Just a quick ask if anyone has info on:
a) websites/ways to find cheap airfare for last minute flight to Paris- son has appendicitis will have surgery in morning
b) recovery time for surgery?
thx in advance
b) depends upon whether it ruptured or not. H was in the hospital for a week because his had. He was very weak for a week or so after that. My brother had his appendix out when he was a teen, but I have to assume his did NOT rupture as he went on a Boy Scout weekend hike a couple of weeks later (I think he didn’t wind up carrying a pack - they spread his stuff out among the other scouts, I believe).
Yikes - good luck to you all!
What city can you fly from?
.Seattle
The least expensive flights (but none available tonight) seem to be on Icelandair. I suggest calling the airline, explaining the situation, and asking if you can book a ticket and be put on standby for the earliest flight tomorrow.
I hope all goes well for your son and you. Does the study abroad program have someone on site in Paris to help your son and communicate with you?
there is a flight tomorrow (6am) on alaskair arrives sunday 7:20am one way $639
Paris- Seattle $533 one way
Round trip 2/16 - 2/22 $987 (long layovers)
Looking at skyscanner.com
Call a travel agent. Seriously. We had to do this when our daughter had a bowel obstruction in Provence a few years ago. She got us on a flight, booked a hotel and a car in no time.
Ditto.
OTOH, D’s appendix ruptured on a Thursday, spent one night in the hospital, was back in class the following Wed if I recall.
Good luck.
D1 developed acute appendicitis when she was 3rd med student. She had surgery around 3 am Sunday, was discharged by 2 pm Sunday and went on psych grand rounds at 8am Monday morning.
The IM intern who had an appendectomy immediately after D1 (there were 5 acute appendicitis cases in the ER that day–the med student and med resident let everyone else go ahead of them for surgery) had his appendix rupture right before surgery. He was hospitalized for 1 day for post-surgery observation and was back at work before the end of the week.
And do call a travel agent if you have one that you’ve used before. There are special family emergency fare rates and seats available.
Hang in there.
Thanks all so much for your suggestions. Called travel agent and booked Iceland Air. Hoping recovery is uneventful. I think son would prefer I not make a fuss, but just in case need to be there. Disappointing communications with the program but just heard a representative is on their way to the hospital and will be there during surgery. His home stay ‘mom’ took him to the hospital and is waiting until the rep arrives.
The doctor spoke to us and told us he won’t be cleared to go back to classes for a week. He will be out of surgery and likely back at his homestay when I arrive and then hopefully a little tlc from mom at a hotel will get him back up and moving.
Appreciate the quick responses and support from CC!
@2mrmagoo Best of luck, hope all falls into place for you and your son. I’m sure he’ll appreciate having you there even if he doesn’t admit it 
Thinking of you and your son today, OP. My D got very sick on a study abroad a year ago. She didn’t need hospitalization, but if she had I would have been on a plane. It was still scary and hard to be far away. We had a visit planned and another friend was there the week before us so she had some support, after the worst was over, and it was a relief to see her and see in person she was ok after having been so sick. I wish I had been there to bring her food and take care of her during the worst of it.
You’ll need to work with the study abroad program/foreign university and stay on top of any requirements as far as missing class. In my D’s country (not France) there were hard limits on attendance and missed class, for any reason. A medical excuse was needed but only helpful to a point. She missed a week on doctor’s orders, after struggling through for at least two or three weeks before that, and any more would have cost her all her credits for the semester.
Save every medical receipt and all the paperwork. The medical insurance we had through D’s program covered every penny, but we had to pay up front and then D had to send in copies of all the paperwork. We were reimbursed very quickly. It was cheaper than if she’d gotten sick here in the US. If there is a handbook from the program that covers medical care, read every word.
@2mrmagoo best wishes for a speedy recovery for your son. Europe is much more generous about recovery times. My BIL came down with appendicitis Christmas Eve, and was back with us Christmas Day.
I know how scary it is, our kid called us from a study abroad in Jordan, asking how high your temperature should be before you head for the emergency room. It was 103 and we told him to go. He did eventually. They had no idea what he had, but luckily he recovered quickly. We never saw a bill for anything.
I hope that you landed and all is well.
I’m with him and so glad I came. He’s very pale, big dark circles, light-headed at times, and quite sore. He’s moving, but very slowly and with pain. His surgery was Sat. morning and he was released by the hospital around 5 on Saturday. I arrived at his apartment Sunday at 1. His homestay is a single woman (grown kids, all out of the house) who works and she provides him with breakfast foods and three prepared dinners/week. I think both she and my son are relieved I came as well. Both were concerned about him being alone the first few days and meals. The night of the surgery when he came home, he was alone in the apartment (homestay mom brought him home, but had plans). Son was thankful he had frozen crepes as he had no other groceries and was starving.
I still haven’t heard from anyone in his program, which is surprising. It took son several calls/emails to finally connect with someone at the program since everything started Friday after work hours. He left a message Friday, and again on Saturday. He finally got a response the morning of the surgery. It’s good a representative was at the hospital for the surgery, but i’m frustrated they weren’t involved earlier and didn’t call/text/or email to let me know he was out of surgery and all ok. I had to wait until son was recovered enough from anestheia to let me know. And the representative knew the homestay only required 3 dinners a week, and never thought to follow up to make sure son had help/groceries/medication if homestay mom wasn’t able/willing.
Just thankful it wasn’t more serious and son was able to communicate with doctors and with me.
Thanks to all for your well-wishes!
Wow. That’s pretty… hands-off… on the part of the program. (And the homestay host.)
How long will you be able to stay?
My daughter is in Paris this semester too, and I feel like her program would be much more on top of things if something like were to happen. They actually had a couple of students in the YMCA student foyer that was right next door to that gas explosion in the bakery last month - thankfully no students were hurt but they had to be relocated, and the staff definitely stepped up and took care of things. I hope and assume they would do the same if someone were ill.
I would definitely give feedback to the study abroad office at your son’s home institution, once the crisis has passed. Glad your son is okay.
So glad to hear he’s ok. It’s normal he’s sore - does he have a follow-up appointment with the hospital? He shouldn’t hesitate to go to a general practitioner for a follow up (they cost €25).
If there’s a small grocery store like Petit Casino nearby look in the jam/canned fruit aisle and see if you can find apple sauce pouches “sans sucre ajouté” (no added sugar). They have different flavors and fruit mixes, they’re super practical, easy to eat, and healthy. They also have chocolate pudding in the same type of pouch. They keep a couple weeks, so having a few boxes would allow him to have healthy food in his room.
My DD was in the hospital for a week with a kidney infection…we made sure she contacted the dean of students and her professors. she got accomodations in her classes (extra time) after she came back, but she withdrew from Org Chem as she didn’t think she could catch up (and her prof hinted that as well) So if your son is taking classes have him contact the college as well
@myos1634 he has a follow-up in March. Thanks for the tips on the groceries! I will be taking him to stock up before I leave Thursday.
Today he got up, showered and we had breakfast in the hotel. Then we got out of the hotel and walked across the street for lunch. Three of his new study-abroad friends joined and it was so fun to get to meet them. It was clear that too much laughing was not in his best interest, however. He’s a bit sore again tonight.
It’s hard to know how much he should be up and moving. I think yesterday was not ideal. He was so incredibly pale when I first saw him- he could have used a solid day on a couch or in bed. Today felt about right and he looks a bit better. Hoping tomorrow he’ll be moving a bit more than today.
Thanks @bopper. Yes, he let all his professors know. All were great and told him to not worry.
@aquapt that must have been really frightening for those students and your daughter. I’m glad her program was responsive. My son seems to think this is unusual for his program as they have been very communicative regarding emergency procedures and have a system in place. I will be calling them to discuss.
It’s nice to be in Paris, even if i’m not leaving the hotel much. And even nicer to be with my son. ;0)
I really appreciate you taking the time to provide an update, @2mrmagoo. I was wondering yesterday how things were going for you and your son.