Rescue at sea for sick baby

[amberjul]

I think Charlotte's entry below, alone, is quite telling of how common infants are at sea:

April 13 ( Rebel Heart Blog ) "Crewmembers made a crib for Lyra, and both of the girls loved it."

Of course this little fact went over Charlotte's head.

Moo

 

[Snoods]

I do think Eric made the right choice by sinking the boat. He could have tried to get the boat back on his own but he chose to stay with his family so I have to give him credit for doing that. For the most part I do think they realize how fast things can turn from bad to worse with a small child in such a short time. An expensive lesson to be learned but thankfully it was not tragic due to the help provided by the California National Guard jmo

RSBM But wasn't it the authorities who made the decision to sink the boat? I could be wrong, but the news reports I've read have all stated that the authorities made the decision to sink the boat, not Eric. I thought Eric wanted to tag it so they could find it later?

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loc...t-with-Sick-Baby-254056951.html#ixzz2yBcGvO3X

 

[LambChop]

I agree with everything you said except one. I hope they never try this again. This couple, from their blog posts, message board posts, etc., appears far too arrogant and stubborn to be equipped for something like this. Again, for me it's not that they took children on an adventure. Instead, it's (as many others have said), that their arrogance made them believe that being ill-equipped and inexperienced didn't matter.



Reminds me of another infamous person's lovely online presence. Kate Parker anyone?



Yes, it would be. But they do not appear to have learned the lesson at all.

This is an extremely arrogant couple. They appeared very ready to lambaste others for making the same mistakes they ultimately did (and worse), and skewering those who made polite suggestions to wait, and now are accusing everyone who has criticized their decision-making, as conformist idiots. I think that arrogance is the very reason for the trouble they got into.

To them:
1. No one dared tell them they were too inexperienced when it came to open ocean sailing, to try such a trip.
2. No one dared tell them they might consider postponing the trip until Charlotte felt better.
3. No one dared tell them they might consider postponing the trip until their children were totally well and off medication.
4. No one dared tell them that their boat was not fit for such a voyage as it is prone to taking on water, and is very small for rough seas and a trip with two children and was jimmy rigged by the husband.
5. No one dared tell them they were ill-equipped for such a voyage, with a boat that had unsanitary conditions, without pot locks, without the size and safety mechanism built in to prevent small children from rolling into the ocean or getting tossed around by high waves, with only 30 gallons of gas, etc., etc.

Their extremely defensive and critical post-disaster comments evidence these people have not learned from this event and, coupled with their past displays of extreme arrogance, that they are unlikely to in the future.

If people want to risk their lives doing crazy things due to a deluded sense of grandeur, fine. But when they decide to take two babies along for the ride, it becomes everyone's business and it becomes very, very serious.

These people should never be allowed to take their children near a boat again, unless a professional is in charge and at the helm.



I can imagine how safe and easy that would be, to boil hot water on the stove, in a tiny boat, with no pot locks, that's rolling in seriously heavy seas. Oh,s he also had to wash out and reuse her sanitary pad as well. Ick.

I never read that in your last line. Why would someone do that and more importantly why would they write about it???? Some things are just way too much information and on a public blog, no less. jmo

 

[killarney rose]

Re:that last line and the use of cloth diapers.

There are people in a green movement that are going back to cloth diapers and reusable hygiene products. I wondered why cloth diapers on the boat and figured maybe because there was no ways to dispose of dirty disposables other than throw them overboard and perhaps they didnt want to do that. Same with hygiene products, so for both she used washable.

I also figured both are kind of an either or situation. By washing reusable, you sure have a margin for cross contamination on the boat and it was obvious that C was not careful to prevent it.

 

[LambChop]

Re:that last line and the use of cloth diapers.

There are people in a green movement that are going back to cloth diapers and reusable hygiene products. I wondered why cloth diapers on the boat and figured maybe because there was no ways to dispose of dirty disposables other than throw them overboard and perhaps they didnt want to do that. Same with hygiene products, so for both she used washable.

I also figured both are kind of an either or situation. By washing reusable, you sure have a margin for cross contamination on the boat and it was obvious that C was not careful to prevent it.

Plus, I do not think she gave herself sufficient time to ensure that they were all well enough to travel. Plus they were living in Mexico and CK may have picked up the salmonella from food she purchased to eat, maybe raw vegetables or salad. That could explain why the baby did not have it initially. jmo

 

[blue22]

Did she say she used cold water to wash the diapers? It is possible they were soaked in a bucket in cold soapy water and she rinsed them in hot water in the sink. Even if she were to take a lot of precautions it is not preferable to wash cloth diapers by hand. Just way to risky unless you have a lot of bleach to kill the bacteria. Diaper duty would be a full time task. jmo

I cloth diapered for my son. On land, with a washing machine...it was a big job. There is simply no way to properly sanitize a diaper in cold water. Not even with a hot rinse, or even with bleach. You are right, it's very difficult to wash diapers by hand. (Ask me how I know...lol. Our washing machine broke and I tried to wash them in the bathtub.)

 

[LambChop]

I cloth diapered for my son. On land, with a washing machine...it was a big job. There is simply no way to properly sanitize a diaper in cold water. Not even with a hot rinse, or even with bleach. You are right, it's very difficult to wash diapers by hand. (Ask me how I know...lol. Our washing machine broke and I tried to wash them in the bathtub.)

Yes, I had to do the bathtub route when my machine broke while my husband was stationed in Virginia. It was awful. With the bleach, hot weather and no air conditioning. I'd put them out in the Sun to dry and they would be a stiff as a board when I'd go to take them down so in they would go again for a couple of more rinses. With no support group available and being new to the area and a first time Mom it was awful for a couple of weeks until the washer was fixed. By the time my other children were born they came out with disposable diapers.

I just can't imagine doing them by hand in a sink. jmo

 

[SwampMama]

It just seems to be arrogance, ignorance and total oblivion to the needs of the children. The children are really too young to get any benefit from the trip. Lyra is too young to ever remember it and Cora is rather young as well. Even if there was some benefit to Cora by "showing her the world", the bit of world she would see compared to the hardship of being a 3 year old confined to a small ship with a sickly sister, a mom who didn't even care enough to share a treat with her and a dad who puts his ego above everything else.

To bring a 1 year old on a long trip in such cramped conditions when she requires diapers is an issue all in itself. Then add in a 3 year old who is confined to a small space, has a limited amount of toys, is seasick or not sleeping well because of the rocking of the small boat and you have a recipe for disaster.

I have nothing against those who want to sail the world. For a well seasoned family, with a larger boat and ample equipment to handle things, I would not object as much to a baby or toddler being at sea. But this simply was NOT the case for this family.

I am curious how much square footage they had in the cabin. I have had ample experience living in small quarters such as 6 months on a cruise ship with my fiance in a cabin that was less that 200 sq ft and 6 months in a fema trailer that was about 200-300 sq ft. It was just me and my fiance and it got to be a bit crowded at times and due to space, we had to adjust and learn to live without things.

I remember the days of washing clothes in the shower and hanging them to dry. I remember the difficulties of being in a small space. I cannot imagine doing it with small children. Of course we were free to walk about the enormous ship and go into the city and get away anytime we liked and go buy anything we needed.

How annoying that these 2 act like they were giving their children a "gift" by taking them to sea. The children had no interest in this. it was all Charlotte and Eric. So it annoys me to see them try and put it on the kids like that.

Just like the failure of the trip. rather than take the blame for the failure by admitting they were ill prepared, under experienced and floundering, they just blamed it on the baby.

 

[gitana1]

I never read that in your last line. Why would someone do that and more importantly why would they write about it???? Some things are just way too much information and on a public blog, no less. jmo

The weird details she posted are what clued everyone in that these people had no business being out there! All she did was complain, pretty much.

It just seems to be arrogance, ignorance and total oblivion to the needs of the children. The children are really too young to get any benefit from the trip. Lyra is too young to ever remember it and Cora is rather young as well. Even if there was some benefit to Cora by "showing her the world", the bit of world she would see compared to the hardship of being a 3 year old confined to a small ship with a sickly sister, a mom who didn't even care enough to share a treat with her and a dad who puts his ego above everything else.

To bring a 1 year old on a long trip in such cramped conditions when she requires diapers is an issue all in itself. Then add in a 3 year old who is confined to a small space, has a limited amount of toys, is seasick or not sleeping well because of the rocking of the small boat and you have a recipe for disaster.

I have nothing against those who want to sail the world. For a well seasoned family, with a larger boat and ample equipment to handle things, I would not object as much to a baby or toddler being at sea. But this simply was NOT the case for this family.

I am curious how much square footage they had in the cabin. I have had ample experience living in small quarters such as 6 months on a cruise ship with my fiance in a cabin that was less that 200 sq ft and 6 months in a fema trailer that was about 200-300 sq ft. It was just me and my fiance and it got to be a bit crowded at times and due to space, we had to adjust and learn to live without things.

I remember the days of washing clothes in the shower and hanging them to dry. I remember the difficulties of being in a small space. I cannot imagine doing it with small children. Of course we were free to walk about the enormous ship and go into the city and get away anytime we liked and go buy anything we needed.

How annoying that these 2 act like they were giving their children a "gift" by taking them to sea. The children had no interest in this. it was all Charlotte and Eric. So it annoys me to see them try and put it on the kids like that.

Just like the failure of the trip. rather than take the blame for the failure by admitting they were ill prepared, under experienced and floundering, they just blamed it on the baby.

Not only that, with two kids who need to be watched and cared for 24 hours a day (just washing diapers would be a full time job and for safety reasons, the kids had to be monitored constantly), and a boat that needed to be manned 24 hours a day, at least in rough seas, and they only had one person who could sail it, when did they ever have time to sleep? They needed a third adult or at least a teen to help out, otherwise, what they were doing was virtually impossible.

Also, with Charlotte not knowing how to sail the boat, what would've happened had the husband fallen overboard in rough weather, and drowned, or had some other kind of serious accident or illness? What was there back up? The Navy?

 

[LambChop]

My understanding from what was posted in their blog was that someone had to be on deck 24/7 to monitor shipping traffic and other vessels on the high seas. I guess they had a few close calls with large shipping vessels almost running them over. So it's not as if they were even getting the proper rest from what I understood from their posts. jmo

 

[kaki]

Omg..these people are something else. Charlotte posts on FB that they are about to do something more dangerous then sailing with their kids...driving to San Diego. She just does not get it!

Sailing around the world unprepared, no crew, no experience, inadequate vessel....with babies...not just an afternoon or weekend of sailing along the coast....big big difference!

Hmmm. How many highway accidents require the navy to rescue them in a multi million dollar operation? Lol

These 2 are so hard headed!

 

[LambChop]

Omg..these people are something else. Charlotte posts on FB that they are about to do something more dangerous then sailing with their kids...driving to San Diego. She just does not get it!

Sailing around the world unprepared, no crew, no experience, inadequate vessel....with babies...not just an afternoon or weekend of sailing along the coast....big big difference!

Hmmm. How many highway accidents require the navy to rescue them in a multi million dollar operation? Lol

These 2 are so hard headed!

Their boat is at the bottom of the Pacific. What could be more dangerous than that? It's not like you can pull a boat over to the side of the road to change a flat tire. I guess no one told her about the ferry sinking in S. Korea. jmo

 

[Lilibet]

One word: HUBRIS

Hubris (/ˈhjuːbrɪs/, also hybris, from ancient Greek ὕβρι&#962, means extreme pride or self-confidence. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence, accomplishments or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

In its modern usage, hubris denotes overconfident pride and arrogance. Hubris is often associated with a lack of humility, though not always with the lack of knowledge. Those accused of hubris often come from higher social backgrounds, such as politicians or wealthy celebrities, than the accuser, who accuses them of having marginal experience with the realities of the topics they attempt to address. An accusation of hubris often implies that suffering or punishment will follow, similar to the occasional pairing of hubris and nemesis in Greek society. The proverb "pride goeth (goes) before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (from the biblical Book of Proverbs, 16:18) is thought to sum up the modern use of hubris. It is also referred to as "pride that blinds", as it often causes one accused of hubris to act in foolish ways that belie common sense. In other words, the modern definition may be thought of as, "that pride that goes just before the fall".

BBM

Hubris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Snoods]

My understanding from what was posted in their blog was that someone had to be on deck 24/7 to monitor shipping traffic and other vessels on the high seas. I guess they had a few close calls with large shipping vessels almost running them over. So it's not as if they were even getting the proper rest from what I understood from their posts. jmo

That's surprising to hear, why weren't the rest of their crew relieving them? Those two lazy toddlers definitely weren't pulling their own weight, he needs to find a new crew.

 

[Snoods]

Omg..these people are something else. Charlotte posts on FB that they are about to do something more dangerous then sailing with their kids...driving to San Diego. She just does not get it!

Sailing around the world unprepared, no crew, no experience, inadequate vessel....with babies...not just an afternoon or weekend of sailing along the coast....big big difference!

Hmmm. How many highway accidents require the navy to rescue them in a multi million dollar operation? Lol

These 2 are so hard headed!

Ugh, she really said that? They don't get it and they'll never get it. You can tell they haven't even tried to consider anyone else's viewpoint, but conversely everyone else is supposed to understand their viewpoint and anyone who doesn't are to be ridiculed.

 

[LambChop]

What are the dangers on the open sea, aside from the obvious water that surrounds your vessel? While there are shipping lanes there is no guarantee that you won't have a collision with another vessel sending one or both to the bottom.

 

[Lilibet]

Ugh, she really said that? They don't get it and they'll never get it. You can tell they haven't even tried to consider anyone else's viewpoint, but conversely everyone else is supposed to understand their viewpoint and anyone who doesn't are to be ridiculed.

BBM

Yes, she really said that! And she told a negative commenter to go back to their couch! :banghead:

https://www.facebook.com/svrebelheart

They are responding to all criticism (the mean, nasty and caring concern) as an attack on their lifestyle. That way they can avoid considering that those of us who are supportive of their choice to raise their kids on a boat, might, just might, have legitimate concerns about the way they went about this particular trip. This isn't about lifestyle. This is about a poorly prepared boat and sailing crew combined with very young children who had been sick. Impatience trumped common sense, resulting in putting children and rescuers at risk. Period.

Rather than humbly acknowledging that fact and doing some specific thinking about what they can do differently next time, they have turned the criticism into an "us versus them" fight against an enemy society of "bubble-wrapped, couch potato conformists" who want to restrict their freedom. Their followers are egging them on, which shows what poor thinking skills many people have.

I repeat...This is not about the cruising with kids lifestyle. It is about the Kaufman's poor decisions in this situation, that they show no sign of ever acknowledging. Until they do, and make corrections, they have no business trying this again IMO.

 

[CHERIE.T]

I never read that in your last line. Why would someone do that and more importantly why would they write about it???? Some things are just way too much information and on a public blog, no less. jmo

They are attention seekers who don't seem to give a day about their children...NOR cleanliness.

Reusing sanitary pads? Nasty azz.

 

[1&2&3]

Attention seekers they are! On their FB, there is a picture of the family in front of their car, on the back window is written "San Diego or bust"! The license plate is not on the car.

My guess the license plate was not put on so people would not recognize their car in the future. However, it seems they sure want attention on the drive. Amazing how this couple wanted to dodge the media when they first got off the rescue ship, and now they are advertising themselves!

They figured out they would take all the publicity they could get, a faster way to get that new boat!

My opinions only!

 

[redheadedgal]

Attention seekers they are! On their FB, there is a picture of the family in front of their car, on the back window is written "San Diego or bust"! The license plate is not on the car.

My guess the license plate was not put on so people would not recognize their car in the future...

there is a temporary permit in the back window.