Last week, Paul was sent to the school office. His teacher was concerned about his eye. The school was unable to reach me, so they got hold of my emergency contact, Ana Lopez.

Paul has multiple food allergies and is anaphylactic to tree nuts (walnuts, pistachios, and cashews). An allergic reaction must be taken seriously as his allergies are life-threatening.

Ana is the proprietor of a convenience store in Luperón, Dominican Republic. Her family has deep roots in Luperón. Ana provides a mailing service through her shop and has contacts within the cruising community.

When Ana heard from the school, she had no way to reach me. So she contacted another cruiser who happened to be in Puerto Rico. He sent out a Facebook message.

That message was seen by people in Canada, a friend in Mexico, and a cruising family in Grenada. Several cruisers in Luperón also saw the Facebook message. They found Rick and brought him to the school by motorbike.

Even my aunt in England saw the Facebook message.

Meanwhile, I was oblivious to the effort to reach us. As I stood in the schoolyard, it appeared to me that I was doing a standard after-school pickup. When I saw Paul, I thought he looked like he had pink eye.

I began treating him with antibiotic eye drops. Nagging doubts led me to take Paul to the hospital the next day.

The doctor was sure it was an allergic reaction. But an allergic reaction in one eye only? We have no idea what sparked his reaction, though I have seen him react to pollen in a similar fashion.

Paul is now taking eye drops for allergies, and has been prescribed a powerful antihistamine.

Thanks to the community in Luperón, and friends, and family in countries beyond!

I will be carrying my cell phone from now on. Paul will be back at school tomorrow.

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