What promised to be the journey of a lifetime for 68-year-old Wanda Stump of Ogden has spiraled into a harrowing tale of mental crisis in Germany.
Decades of frugal living enabled Stump to finally fulfill a long-held ambition: visiting Germany, a country she had wanted to see for as far back as her daughter Mallory DuBose can remember. “My mother’s always talked about how much she loved Germany,” DuBose said, reflecting on just how powerfully the desire was etched in Stump’s mind. “So this was kind of a lifelong dream come true.”
It was a day of celebration — Stump’s recent retirement alongside her sister Sandy to a picturesque river cruise in Germany on July 20. What seemed like a happy moment suddenly turned nightmarish with Stump’s behavior changing drastically.
“She became paranoid, with evident confusion, as the days went by,” DuBose recalled anxiously.
The unsettling change began with acute emotional swings, careening from mania down to deep despair. Her cognitive functions changed; she forgot even the pass code for her phone—a simple, everyday detail.
As the journey progressed, Stump worsened. By the fourth day, insomnia had kicked in, sleep eluding her for three nights continuously.
“My aunt stayed in the room with her sleeping in front of the door to try to keep her safe,” DuBose said.
No Warning Signs
On July 27, doctors were called to the cruise ship and Stump was rushed to a hospital near Nuremberg immediately.
“The doctors diagnosed her as having a manic psychosis episode,” said DuBose, adding that at no time before the trip had there been any indication that Stump might be mentally unstable.
Stump has spent the past 15 days in the hospital. She barely recognizes family members and her recovery appears to have plateaued.
“Fortunately, she hasn’t gotten worse, but we’re not seeing any better days, either. Some days, she’s so sedated that she can hardly open her eyes,” DuBose said. “All I can do is just keep telling her that I love her, hoping I get that part of her that’s still in there.”
Since then, DuBose has been adamant about bringing her mother home. She has even reserved Stump on a commercial flight flying with a medical escort; this would have cost $20,000. This, too, was turned down by the Germans.
The Long Battle to Fly Home
The German doctors now insist that Stump be flown back to the US by air ambulance, a staggering $140,000 price tag.
“I’ve ridden the whirlwind of emotions—anger, frustration—but I know I’m her only daughter, her only child. She would move mountains for me, so I’m doing everything I can, every day, to bring her back home,” DuBose said in a very determined tone.
This article was originally published on ksl. Read the original article.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is manic psychosis?
Manic psychosis is a mental illness that includes extreme changes in mood, delusions, and hallucinations whereby immediate medical attention is necessary and oftentimes leads one to hospitalization.
2. How Can Travelers Protect their Mental Health?
Before embarking on long trips, travelers must make sure that they enjoy good mental health. It is also highly imperative for such a traveler to have a support system in place and to learn how to recognize early signs of mental distress.
3. Options of Medical Flights
Medical flights are special services that provide the patient with a means of transport together with medical attention during the journey. Such flights are staffed with medical personnel and fitted with medical equipment, but at a high cost.
4.How can families planning some time abroad plan ahead for medical emergencies that may arise?
A family should research and be familiar with the country’s healthcare system to which they will be visiting. It is also recommended to have travel insurance, which covers medical emergencies and knowing of the emergency numbers locally.
5. What support would be offered to families who found themselves in similar situations?
No. There are tremendous support groups or organizations that can help a family if they are facing such medical emergencies in another country. The family can contact the U.S. Embassy in that country for help and guidance.