Calling all BDW Members...Help me get my baby girl home! Updated: We're home!!

[DreaW]

i agree with everyone else with regards to getting an RV and stopping at BDW members, or friends houses to spend the night. I know this would take a lot of time but it would be worth it.

[ErinB]

American RV Rentals Motorhome rentals one way trips

 

I did find this company that will do a one way rental for an RV.

 

I really think that might be your best option.

 

You could make the trip in a car. I nannied one summer and took care of a 3 week old and a 3 year on a 22 hour drive.

 

It would take a while, but you could stop nightly so you can all rest and not have to deal with finding a place to park an RV. Maybe combine that with Yari's idea and you could crash with a BDWer to save on hotels!

 

I think you've exhausted every other means of transportation. With a car you would have better control of the situation and if you needed to stop or (god-forbid) go to a doctor, it would be a lot easier than trying to stop a train. With Gwen being so young, she should sleep most of the trip.

 

I will warn you that if she gets used to sleeping in a car to soothe herslef, I can see many nights driving around the block in your future! LOL

[TammyB]

Ann if you do the road trip, I don't think Michigan is too far out of your way, I think you'll need to stay at our house for the night.. :-) (just trying to help)

[Nrvsbride]

Ok James friend's dad owns a plane. Not sure what kind or how big but I know he owns one and flies it himself. I am going to call them tonight and see if he would be willing to go get you guys in Cali and fly you home. I don't know him like that so I can't just ask that they do it for free but maybe he would be willing to do it for a reasonable price that isn't outrageous like thousands of dollars. He just retired so he may want to do it. Maybe if your lucky he will just make you pay the fuel (which I'm sure is not cheap) and any other costs to pay to land it somewhere. I will have to get back to you later tonight after I speak to them b/c I don't have their number I have to ask James for it.

[lambert13]

If all else fails and let's say chartering a plane is the only viable option...

 

I know I would put as much money as I could towards helping with the cost. If we got enough of us behind an effort like that, I bet we could absorb a good portion of the cost for them. A $10,000 bill for them to handle alone is astronomical. But, if all of us, their friends and family chipped in whatever they could...that could become a possibility.

 

Ann..if that is the only option that looks possible...don't count it out before coming to all of us for help. I can pledge my support for what I can part with.

[Yvette]

my best thought is Amtrak but it doesn't seem so helpful if you have to get onto a bus for half of a day. sorry i can't think of a better option for you guys. i hope you find something that will work. good luck & keep us all posted!

[Opice34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnR The flight is about 4 hours, and there is a direct option on Northwest. The doctors here just don't recomend babies flying before 44 weeks (gestational), and since she will likely be discharged from the hospital at 37 weeks, we'd rather not wait another ~2 months to fly home. It would be ideal in terms of getting her home faster, but not sure we're willing to risk it. The doctors agree, that nothing would probably happen. But not sure that's a chance I am willing to take! It's the altitude, pressure, and recycled air they're most worried about. They even told us not to drive up into the mountains with her because of the altitude. Argh!

So, is it okay for her to fly at all? Even on a private plane? Another post mentioned that she may have problems with the air pressure and altitude?

And what part of CA are you in now?

I'm asking because FI used to be a Navy pilot stationed in CA and he still has a good buddy out there who has his own plane and flies regularly. He's also a sweetheart of a guy and would probably do it for the cost of gas. (Which might be a lot - but I'm sure we could raise something!) It's an older plane, definitely not up to Donald Trump's standards, but it would get you home. Let me know if flying is even an option and I'll look into it. (He may actually be deployed at the moment, but I don't think so. I can't keep up with all of these deployments!)

Also - I think this would be something the Ronald McDonald house could assist with. I bet this kind of thing happens frequently, especially with car accident victims who are in hospitals away from home and want to get home. This has to have happened before, so there has to be a way. I would call them and see what they recommend.

And finally - since you were on a business trip when little Gwen was born, is your company helping with this at all?! Goodness, I hope so! Seems like they have an obligation to get you and your family home! In the most comfortable way possible!!!

[cheese_diva]

I would want to get home the sooner the better.. personally I would rather be in the air 4 hours than have a medical emergency in some ho-dunk town in Wyoming.

 

Being in a car will take a long time. (I drove WI to southern CA in 3 days, but I drove morning until dark with hardly any stops.) You'll have to stop all the time to feed, burp, and change diapers cuz otherwise she'll be out of her car seat.

 

Renting an RV is expensive too... shoot!

 

Will your insurance help pay for any of the transport costs?

[Opice34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambert13 If all else fails and let's say chartering a plane is the only viable option... I know I would put as much money as I could towards helping with the cost. If we got enough of us behind an effort like that, I bet we could absorb a good portion of the cost for them. A $10,000 bill for them to handle alone is astronomical. But, if all of us, their friends and family chipped in whatever they could...that could become a possibility. Ann..if that is the only option that looks possible...don't count it out before coming to all of us for help. I can pledge my support for what I can part with.

And I think her company should chip in, too! That's crazy! (I have an HR background, so maybe that's why I'm a bit more concerned about that.)

[Spazz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambert13 If all else fails and let's say chartering a plane is the only viable option... I know I would put as much money as I could towards helping with the cost. If we got enough of us behind an effort like that, I bet we could absorb a good portion of the cost for them. A $10,000 bill for them to handle alone is astronomical. But, if all of us, their friends and family chipped in whatever they could...that could become a possibility. Ann..if that is the only option that looks possible...don't count it out before coming to all of us for help. I can pledge my support for what I can part with.

I agree with Jason. Ann, if you guys need it, you know that we're all here.