Reader report: Thankful for caring strangers on the bus

Just out of the WSB inbox, from a grateful West Seattleite who wants to be anonymous:

Today was an “ordinary” cold late fall Tuesday morning. I bundled up and headed for my bus stop, the last one on the West Seattle RapidRide Route, Avalon and Yancy.

Along with my fellow commuters, I stood patiently waiting while frequently glancing at the new Metro sign tick down the minutes for the arrival of our “C” line bus.

The bus arrived; I was the last one on ….no seats, so I stood ….no problem. As we headed north, then east onto the Bridge, soon there was a problem. That old unfriendly visitor of motion sickness set in, as did the bus’s heater. I began to seriously sweat, just as my body was reacting to a then-unknown blood-flow issue to my brain. Within about 5 minutes, I was completely passed out on the bus floor.

I woke around Seneca and 2nd with a dozen or so people around me. Concerned eyes, and moving mouths suggested one thing after another to assist me in my still-unclear position. One lovely woman took my coat off, while another held my hand. Someone else offered me fruit while the driver said to dispatch, “….she seems to be coming around….”

My new friend and Angel, Jennifer, walked me, arm and arm, to my work building.

As this day ends, my heart aches for those in Clackamas…but at the same time, I am exceedingly grateful to the compassionate strangers on the bus.

Thank You.

12 Replies to "Reader report: Thankful for caring strangers on the bus"

  • Rachel December 11, 2012 (9:46 pm)

    It’s stories like this that help us regain our faith in humanity :)

  • Chuck and Sally's Van man December 11, 2012 (10:15 pm)

    Thanks for sharing your story–and thanks to Jennifer and all the other helpers. Glad these “angels” were flying low and slow today ;)

  • kim December 11, 2012 (10:16 pm)

    Lovely. Glad you are okay!

  • dsa December 11, 2012 (10:20 pm)

    Really? Is this normal motion sickness? I’m concerned for you. Get checked out by your doctor to be sure.

  • Mike December 11, 2012 (11:13 pm)

    dsa, sounds fairly normal really. Lack of sleep, lack of food/water, overheating, bad circulated air in the bus sucking diesel fumes into the passenger area, could be a number of things.

  • themightyrabbit December 11, 2012 (11:51 pm)

    this is how real people act towards a perfect stranger. this should be the minimum expectation of all those present on a day to day basis. Don’t hide in the shadows if this is a new experience for you. Just remember. It could be you also, one day. Could be just a side effect of a cold. Could be an undiscovered physiological issue until that precise moment. Noone knows. Life is unpredictable. All that matters is you help out that stranger to set that example for others around you.

    Thank you for sharing, wsblog.

  • RayK December 12, 2012 (7:49 am)

    Despite the terrible news stories we read about incidents in the world and in our lives, stories like this are very uplifting.

  • LisaP December 12, 2012 (10:11 am)

    Thanks for taking care of my co-worker yesterday morning, and to Jennifer a special thanks for taking time out to see her to the building.

  • MB December 12, 2012 (11:17 am)

    So thankful for kind strangers who help, not enough around anymore! Please go get checked out for an underlying issue, just to be on the safe side. Best wishes!

  • miws December 12, 2012 (12:39 pm)

    Very nicely written…

    .

    Kudos to all of the good Samaritans, but especially Jennifer!

    .

    Mike

  • awrohhenngeeohhohhdee December 13, 2012 (7:16 am)

    Glad you are feeling ok. see a doctor yet? Something similar happened to a friend of mine, but he was very stubborn and it proved to be a precursor to a stroke that he didn’t survive.

  • Liz December 16, 2012 (10:42 am)

    Thank You all for your kind comments. To awrohhengeeohhohhdee (that’s a long name), I have vasovagal synocope. I saw a doctor the same day. I will be fine. However, my days of standing on the bus are over, at least in the morning (when the fainting is more common). Thank You for sharing the info on your friend. I took the episode seriously. Happy Holidays, :)

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