Dry Ice

The medicine I was taking to keep leukemia at bay had to be kept frozen. Not a problem until the power went out during the night and was still out when I woke up. One of my neighbors tried to drive to work and told me there were so many downed trees and wires it didn’t seem possible power would be restored any time soon

I had to take out one of the bottles to inject myself and noticed the ice around the package was no longer hard. I began to worry. If the ice packs melted what would happen to the medicine? Would it spoil? Would I have to find someone to drive me more than two hours to the National Cancer Institute in Maryland to get refills? What about the downed trees? Time passed. The power remained out. I had to force myself not to open the freezer to check.

Around 4pm there was a knock on the front door. I opened it to see an exhausted uniformed man, holding a box. After introducing himself, verifying his credentials, confirming I was Nancy King, on interferon, he said, “You’re on a list for people who take medication needing to be kept frozen. With so many trees down it’s been hard to get to you and some others.”

“List? I didn’t know I was on a list. What does it mean.?”

“It means I have a box of dry ice to put your medicine in to keep it frozen or as cold as possible until power is restored. It’s a bit tricky. Would you like me to do it?”

“Yes, please.” He followed me into the kitchen, opened the freezer, placed the dry ice, strategically around the bottles of interferon, closed the freezer and leaned against the refrigerator, as if too weary to move.

“You look tired. Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a gas stove so I can heat water.”

“If it’s not too much trouble. It’s been a long day. Started at 5 this morning.” I suggested he wait in the living room and brewed coffee. He was asleep, lying against a couch cushion when I brought a tray with coffee and apple cake. I wondered if I should wake him. Fortunately, the smell of coffee woke him. 

He apologized for sleeping. I told him there was no need, I was grateful for his help. He looked a bit less tired after drinking and eating, which made me feel better about his effort to ensure my medicine would stay frozen. What a gift he had given me.

The power came back on during the night. My medicine was fine. 


What help have you received during an emergency?