The adventure starts at Anna's

***This story is from the August 6, 2011. It is being posted now because I just set up the blog***

I decided to try the breakfast at Anna’s Taqueria at MIT today. In hindsight, I would say it was a fantastic choice for a breakfast burrito and I will certainly return. That is not however what I will write about. What was more interesting than the burrito itself was my experience when I entered the restaurant.

Anna’s is set up much like Chipotle or Subway where the customer stands over a glass window peering at all of the potential ingredients they may want in their burrito (much like a caged bear probably feels looking at the spectators visiting the zoo – “I wonder how that skinny brunette would taste when mixed with that fat guy?”) In any case, I entered the restaurant where there was one customer already at the counter. This customer, whom I later found out is named Jon, had just purchased a coffee at the local coffee shop inside the same building. Not but two steps into Anna’s I saw the coffee slip out of Jon’s hand onto his foot and subsequently all over the floor. Jon muttered “damn!” as he bent over to pick up the empty cup. He moved with a paralyzed look on one side of his body (what I initially attributed to cerebral palsy). I hurried over to Jon to give him a hand picking up the cup; when I got to him it was apparent that there was more than just a genetic disorder that has plagued Jon his entire life.

Jon fell to his butt as he bent down to pick up the cup. I asked Jon if everything was okay still under the assumption that he was simply physically disabled in some way. I then offered to help him up. It became immediately evident that him standing up was not going to occur with ease nor was it the medically advisable thing to do. Jon quickly slipped into what was evidently a seizure; his body convulsing, his head slamming the floor violently twice before I could get my backpack off and under his head to limit any further injury. Throughout this time the workers behind the counter were staring in utter confusion and perhaps shock. I then told them to call 911 as a manager who had just walked in was already picking up the phone. Throughout this time, Jon continued to convulse and stare rather blankly at the ceiling.

After getting of the phone, the manager came over to assist the best he could (we now improved from having one clueless Samaritan helping to two). Jon’s convulsion had slowed and become less violent as he began to hack and cough violently as if he had to vomit. As it was apparent that there was slightly more cognitive thought occurring I proceeded to ask Jon if he had any medical problems to which he responded, “I’m fine.” (So I said cool and ordered my burrito)… The manager (Brian as I later learned) told Jon that help was on the way. Jon then began to try to stand up as Brian and I encouraged him to stay seated in the burning hot mess of coffee that he was sitting in. He complied; or rather, his limbs would not cooperate with him in his attempt to stand so gravity took him back to the hot coffee.

On his next attempt, Jon was successful in getting to his feet where Brian and I quickly supported one side each as we called for one of the other workers to bring a chair so that we could have Jon sit down. Dazed and a bit confused, Jon agreed to sit down with a bit of physical force. I soon asked Jon his name (which I still did not know) and he was able to give a mumbled response to which I asked for clarification and received a reasonably clear answer. We continued to have an extremely elementary conversation as I attempted to elicit a response as to whether or not he had ever had a seizure in the past (why was it important that I know this, I don’t know. It seemed like a reasonable question to ask). He said he had not. After a few more attempts by Jon to get up and walk, all resisted by Brian and I, the paramedics arrived.

I then left and proceeded to the restroom where I attempted to clean the caramel flavored coffee off of my arms and legs. I returned to Anna’s to complete my initial goal of purchasing a breakfast burrito. The paramedics continued to treat Jon as Brian informed the employee at the cash register that my meal was on the house. I took my free burrito and drink and enjoyed them in the student’s common area inside the same building.

Jon eventually left and walked home under his own power. Come to find out that Jon is diabetic and suffered a diabetic seizure. For my incompetent assistance I received my meal for the morning, three free burrito passes and a backpack that smells of vanilla/caramel coffee. I am sure that Jon will be fine and I am sure I will be back to Anna’s (at least three more times in the next two years).