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Austin Man Concerned Over Wife's Health On Cruise Nightmare


Joe Smith has counted down the days to reunite with his 90-year-old wife, Louise. She is onboard the Carnival cruise ship Triumph.

"We are in the waiting period now, and it's kind of bad because you think about it quite a bit." Smith said. "It scared me. It was Sunday morning and they said the ship was on fire."

Smith said he has been sitting on pins and needles for updates, but only hears reports about how the living conditions have gone from bad to worse.

"Some of them said they only had onion sandwiches and were using plastic bags and setting them outside the door," Smith said.

Louise's comfort is not her husband's main concern; instead he is more worried about her health. Joe said he called Carnival several times to make sure they gave her extra heart medicine, but each time they give him the same response of uncertainty. He said if he finds out she never received the heart medicine then he and his wife would consider legal action. 

"If she felt ill because of that, and if she comes back and I find that she was unconscious, or was semi-conscious, or she was in pain, yes, I am going to discuss it with her to find out what she wants to do."

A private plane is expected to pick up Louise and 18 other stranded passengers from Mobile, Alabama Thursday when the boat docks and bring them back home.

By Cassie Gallo