It’s been a while, but it’s also strange times and an emergency

This is an update from that stage of our family journey; the plans below describe what we were arranging at the time.

We had been quiet here because family decisions, appointments and travel arrangements were taking up most of our attention. Since our last update from Germany, we had brought my mother to the Philippines. Even that journey had not gone quite to plan.

Our flight diverted to Hyderabad because another passenger needed urgent medical help. It was not related to my mother. We were already worried about travelling with her, so making that distinction brought an immediate sense of relief—alongside concern for the person who needed help.

An Unplanned Landing in Hyderabad

On a long journey with my mother, comfort and getting there safely were already uppermost in my mind. When the crew called for a doctor, the flight became something very different from an ordinary trip home.

We were told the emergency involved a pregnant passenger. I did not have direct medical information about her condition or what treatment she needed. What we knew as passengers was that the aircraft was diverting so she could receive help.

The Waiting After Landing

Once on the ground, there were questions about the delay, the onward flight and what would happen to the rest of us. We eventually left the airport for a hotel before continuing the journey. The fuller account is in our Hyderabad “Blitzbesuch” story.

We did not learn a confirmed outcome for the passenger. Our inconvenience was one part of that day, and it was important not to mistake our view from the cabin for the whole story.

Helping Mum—and Listening to What She Needed

We had brought my mother to us for support and time together, hoping she would settle and feel comfortable.

After a few months, she was finding life in the Philippines difficult. We could see that she was uncomfortable, but could not neatly separate missing home from the heat, health concerns and the strain of a major change. Familiar routines, language and surroundings matter, especially when someone is already having a difficult time.

We needed to listen rather than keep trying to persuade the situation to match the plan. Being cared for and feeling at home are connected, but they are not automatically the same thing.

At the time of writing, we were arranging to take her back to her own place. Whether that would be a break or a lasting return was still open. The decision about where she felt able to live belonged to her.

That was what made these strange times: practical tasks kept moving forward while the bigger questions stayed unresolved. Life does not always divide itself into tidy chapters. Sometimes it is one long paragraph waiting for a full stop.

Sri Lanka, with a Changed Plan

We had also been planning Sri Lanka, originally with my mother. As things changed, the trip would be for Lizz and me instead. I looked forward to it while still wondering whether my mother would be comfortable and whether we had made the right decisions.

We were trying to support her while leaving a little room for our own lives too.

One Step at a Time

More stories would follow once we had dealt with the immediate arrangements.

For anyone who recognises that mixture of care, uncertainty and logistics, I hope the update offers some company. It is possible to be doing your best and still not know exactly what comes next.

Lizz & Andi