Ready, Set, FALSE START!

Hello All! A lot has happened since I've last written, so let's get you caught up!

The United Arab Emirates is made up of 7 different Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al Quwain. The best way to describe it is if you think of each Emirate as a separate state. Each Emirate has different entry requirements when it comes to COVID-19. In order to get into Abu Dhabi, you need to have a negative COVID test within 24 hours.

On January 12th, I had my COVID test scheduled to prepare to move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. I went about the rest of my day, packing up my suitcases that I had emptied 10 days earlier and couldn't believe that I was having a tough time fitting everything back into its place, so I opted just to utilize the expand feature on each piece of luggage and thank goodness for that because I wasn't in any mood to try and Tetris everything back into its place when I initially packed my bags back in Minnesota.

I set out my clothes for my travel day, took a shower, and anxiously kept checking my phone and email for my results. Around 10pm, one of the other nurses I'm traveling with got her results, so I expected mine to be coming at any moment. An hour passed, still nothing. In my mind, I began to panic. What would I do if my results were positive? I called the American Hospital in Dubai to ensure they had my sample and that I would receive the results when it came through. They reassured me and I went to bed around 1am.

Now, to preface why I was anxious. 3 days prior to my COVID swab, I had a fever of 100.0 F and chills. I knew that my fever was mild, it went away with some ibuprofen, however, having worked with the COVID-19 remote monitoring program for the past 9 months and having COVID dominate my life for that time, it was hanging out in the back of my mind, "Could this be COVID?" I constantly checked my sense of smell and taste (I brushed my teeth so many times during those 3 days, just to ensure I could still taste the mint in my toothpaste) as well as my temperature. I had a little tickle in my throat the night before my COVID test, but it went away with a drink of water.

I didn't sleep a wink between the time I last checked my phone to the time I got the text message. I heard my phone chime, rolled over in bed, looked at the screen, and all I saw was POSITIVE. My mind immediately began racing. I'm supposed to go to Abu Dhabi today? Now what? Am I stuck in this hotel room for the next 10 days? Will I have to move to a different hotel? What if I get really sick? I sent a quick text message to my mom to let her know my results and sent another message to the HR representative back in the states helping me out with my move. I was so thankful of the time difference, knowing I wasn't waking someone up at 2 in the morning rather sending a message to them during normal business hours (4 pm). We made a plan to inform the HR team in Abu Dhabi to help determine the next steps (this message I felt a little worse about the time it was received - 4 am). I made a quick call to my mom and then tried to lay back down.

I didn't sleep a wink. When the sun rose, the HR team in Abu Dhabi was busy working on identifying the next steps for me. I informed my colleague that I was going to be traveling with that I had COVID and that she should go on without me, HR and I were working on the next steps. She reluctantly left, and I began waiting.

I turned on my TV and put on some movies. I dozed off between phone calls that came in from the hotel, HR, from the CEO, from my nurse administrator. All called to check in and see how I was doing and if I needed anything. From my perspective, I felt fine. No symptoms. I thought perhaps I was just an asymptomatic carrier (this would change - more on that later). I was told to wait for the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to call with further instructions - this would be sometime in the next 24-48 hours. About 10 pm, DHA called, asked how I was doing, when my symptoms started, and where I was located. When I told them I was at my hotel, they immediately said, "You can't stay there." Luckily, one of the phone calls I had earlier that day informed me this may be the case. I gave the DHA the phone number for one of my HR representatives and waited for confirmation on where I would be moving. I got a phone call about 20 minutes after that with what the plan would be. I could either move to the Holiday Inn where other positive travelers were being housed, or I could be moved to communal housing, so the Holiday Inn it was. I took a shower, repacked the few items that had made it out of my luggage, and went to bed.

I woke up the next morning to a message from HR at SSMC. They said they were going to try and get me an emergency escort to Abu Dhabi so I could be closer to the hospital, should my symptoms worsen and I require hospitalization. So I began my day waiting again. I watched a number of movies, and waited, and waited, and waited. I got a phone call that I would indeed be moving to Abu Dhabi via ambulance escort where I would be staying at the quarantine hotel that had been set-up. I was told the name of the nurse who would be escorting me and waited until they would arrive to pick me up. A few hours later, I got another message that the team was on the way, and about 30 minutes after that, they had arrived. The hotel called me to inform me they would be coming up to get me, I put on my mask, pulled out my antiseptic wipes to wipe down the handles on my suitcase and no sooner had I finished, they were knocking at my door. We got in the elevator and headed down to the back entrance where I hoped into the back of an ambulance and my journey to Abu Dhabi began.

The ride took a little over an hour. I wasn't able to see outside of the ambulance except for the small window that lead to the front cab of the ambulance where I could see just a little of the world outside through the windshield. I talked with the nurse sitting in back with me. We talked about her work, what I would be doing, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and COVID. Her daughter messaged her asking what time she'd be home from work and she told her she was helping escort me to Abu Dhabi. Her daughter responded, it must be a VIP! I sure did feel like a VIP that day. All of the effort everyone went through to get me closer to my work family was extraordinary! We arrived at the hotel, my luggage was taken out and ran through a sanitizer, and I breathed my last breaths of fresh air for who knew how long it would be.

The hotel designated to hold COVID positive travelers was no run down place. It was the Bab Al Qasr hotel, a 5 star, luxury hotel on the Corniche near the Emirates Palace. I was in very good hands. I got checked in to the hotel and was examined by the doctor. I had another COVID swab done, and I moved up to my room on the 13th floor (was it an omen, I hope not!). I got to my room, opened the door and took a moment to just take a deep breath and share a moment of gratitude for everyone who helped get me a little closer to my future home. My room was big, the views were great, and about 20 minutes after I arrived and settled in, there was a knock on my door with my first food delivery. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. I sat down ate the food, and took in the view.

The next day is when my symptoms started to worsen. My swab from when I arrived came back positive, so I wouldn't be tested for at least another week. I had a near constant fever of 101.3 or greater over the course of the next 3 days, I was taking acetaminophen every 6 hours around the clock just to keep the fevers down. A cough set in, I wasn't hungry, and I was tired. I slept so much. A knock came to my door 4 times a day. 3 times for food, 1 time for a medical check-up. People called to see how I was doing and asked if they could get me anything. I thanked them for checking in and assured them I was being well taken care of.

My start date for my new job came and went. I slept, I tried to eat, I slept some more, I watched TV and movies, and I got started on my homework for my last semester of my Doctorate. I started to get better and with that came the boredom. I was itching to get out of the hotel room, to get some fresh air, to see other people, to eat different food. I talked to family and friends, and I watched the beautiful sunsets outside my window.

I got a delivery of flowers from my colleague I was supposed to travel to Abu Dhabi with, they were beautiful and something to enjoy while I was recovering. The medical team came by on Thursday, Jan 21st to do my reswab. I was feeling better, so I was hopeful it would be negative and I could begin the de-isolation procedures. I got a phone call on Friday noting my test was still positive, so I would be in quarantine a few more days.

The boredom set in really bad. I just wanted to leave! But I knew that wasn't going to be possible for at least a few more days. Then, today, Sunday Jan 25th arrived. I had a feeling the day prior today was going to be the day. I called the number on the sheet to get some answers. They said today was the day! Even though my last swab was positive, I could still be released since my symptoms had resolved. I was informed that in order to travel, I would need a negative swab, but I'm not planning to travel for a while. I was so excited. I packed my things, put on some make-up and waited for reception to call me for next steps. When the phone rang, they asked when I would be ready, I said I was and if they could send someone up to help me with my luggage that would be great!

Soon, they were at my door. I loaded my luggage, headed downstairs, grabbed my discharge paperwork, and stepped outside into the freshest air I had breathed in the last 12 days. I couldn't help but smile. A cab rolled up, my luggage was loaded, and I told the driver to take me to the Ritz! About 20 minutes later, we rolled through the front gates of the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, my home for the next few months. The cab dropped me off at the front doors, I paid my fare, and my door was opened for me and I was greeted and escorted inside. I checked in and was immediately met with, "You finally made it!" They were as excited to see me as I was to see them. I hadn't realized how much I missed human interaction too! I checked in, made my way to the golf cart that would be taking me to my garden suite villa.

I opened the door to my villa, finally unpacked everything from my suitcases (some things had still been in packing cubes from when I packed them back in Minnesota) and sent a message to my colleague that I had arrived. She came over and we went for a walk around the property. We strolled around, I took in the sights, breathed in the fresh air, and started to settle into my new home.

It sure has been a wild ride these last few weeks. I'll post more pictures soon, but for now, this view of the Grand Mosque from my backyard will have to do.

Thanks for coming on this journey with me!

Until next time, please make sure to wash your hands and wear a mask!

Brittney