10/26/2026
‼️‼️For those of you considering NOT taking out travel protection,think again!
My Breathtaking Alaska Adventure
Megan
I had always dreamt of visiting Alaska. But this trip included some unplanned parts of Alaska that I never meant to visit, like an emergency medical flight and Alaska’s largest hospital. We planned a tour from Fairbanks to Anchorage in July 2026. The first few days were picture-perfect. We walked for miles through Fairbanks, enjoying the museums, shops, and restaurants. In the coming days, I started to get unusually breathless doing simple tasks like bending over or climbing stairs. I simply couldn’t catch a full breath. I also began experiencing an odd pressure in my stomach that couldn’t be attributed to the culinary delicacies of Alaskan cuisine. I even mentioned that I’d make a doctor's appointment when we returned, because “this isn’t normal.” As the week progressed, so did my shortness of breath. Walking short distances grew increasingly difficult as I had to stop and catch my breath. Still, I was determined not to miss Alaska’s beauty or let a "minor inconvenience" ruin our dream vacation. On the last day of our tour, we were scheduled on a six-hour wilderness cruise to Kenai Fjords National Park. I was so excited to see Alaska’s wildlife. When I woke up, I was immediately out of breath. My husband checked my heart rate—it was dangerously high, even though I was simply sitting on the bed. We made our way to the hotel lobby and I was gasping for air. We knew we’d be missing the fjords. Suspecting a heart attack, my husband dialed 911. The EMS team arrived in minutes and rushed me to the ER with sky-high vital signs. After blood work and a CT scan, the doctor delivered shocking news: multiple pulmonary embolisms in both lobes of my lungs. I’ve traveled all over the world without a single health incident; this was not on my bingo card. The ER team stabilized me with oxygen and blood thinners, but my critical condition required advanced care at the hospital in Anchorage. Minutes later, I was air-lifted to Anchorage. The 25-minute flight was followed by an ambulance from the airfield to the hospital. I was admitted to the ICU for life-threatening side effects of the medications I was given for the embolisms. After two days in the ICU and two more in a step-down unit, I was discharged and given the green light to fly home. Boarding our cross-country flight home brought a new wave of anxiety, as long flights can affect embolisms. Fortunately, the flight was uneventful, and we made it home safely. I’m home and taking it day by day. Looking back, I’m immensely grateful to everyone who saved my life and also to the team at IMG. From daily check-ins by their medical claims team while I was hospitalized, to handling our trip interruption and remaining claims weeks later, we could not have asked for better protection. This unlucky turn of events won't keep us down. We are heading back to Alaska this spring for an Inside Passage cruise—complete with a mandatory "side quest" to finally visit the Kenai Fjords. Consider it our ultimate Revenge Trip!
