First Major Snafu - The Flight Agent Chronicles

Apparently, booking your own airfare is reckless unless you’re a licensed flight agent. Who knew? According to United, the reason I missed two connections wasn’t TSA, weather, or even United itself — it was me, because I didn’t schedule a three-hour layover in San Francisco. The gate agent’s mantra? “You’re the one who booked the flight,” as if that excused her from lifting a finger. Maybe united.com should come with a skull-and-crossbones warning: “Customers, beware — don’t click ‘buy’ unless you’re a professional.”

Of course, I chose the very first itinerary their site recommended. No warnings. No “Danger: you’ll never make this connection.” Just a tidy “Buy Now.” So instead of arriving in Puebla the night before treatment, I staggered into Mexico City at 5:45 a.m (3:45am my time), then endured a three-hour car ride to barely make my 9 a.m. medical tests. For most people, that’s inconvenient. For me — running on pain meds and in desperate need of real sleep — it’s brutal.

And the help I got? Superagent suggested postponing my trip until the next day. Brilliant. She has no idea what's going on with me; six months of planning, $60k invested, and in dangerous MS backlash territory due to procedure-required deprivation of immunosuppressants. Also, don’t forget: take your mask off when addressing her royal highness. Who cares if the guy nearby is coughing up a lung, you're immunocompromised and only hours away from life-threatening chemotherapy. After 2.5 extra hours at SFO, I finally got it sorted (thanks, Mom, for keeping me from losing my sh@&;). Traveling is not for the light-hearted, and at this moment, I'm going for a Hail Mary.

UPDATE

We’re here. 21 hours of travel, one hour of sleep, and I’m already knee-deep in tests at Clínica Ruiz. They run it like summer camp: twelve patients split into three groups, each marching through procedures together. Bonding over blood draws — what could be better?

At least the traveling fiasco is over, and I'm in the hands of competent medical professionals now.