November 6, 2016
The saga lasted for only 60 hours, but it was a 60 hours that felt like a week, and will take even longer for recovery.
I am writing this down partly as a record for me, some as an opportunity to give a HUGE thank you to so many people who have called, texted, provided meals, helped in translation, provided housing, and been an ear to talk to, and finally as a testament to God’s faithfulness!
At 6 AM Saturday morning, Stephen came in to the bedroom and said, “I don’t want to freak you out, but my chest and arms are really hurting, and I think I might be having a heart attack.” Of course the first part of the phrase did happen. I called Brandon our co-worker, and told him that I did not know what to do, then gave Stephen some aspirin, and somehow the three of us were heading for Managua about 10 minutes later.
Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at the hospital that is most popular with Americans and considering the urgency of the situation we stopped and checked into Emergency. After 2 EKGS, ultrasound, X-ray and blood test, they said that things looked okay but that they would know more in six hours when the blood tests came back. Around noon Brandon and I headed back to Masatepe, and Stephen was checked into the ICU. The visiting hours were minimal and it seemed to make sense for me to get the car and plan to come back later.
While I was home I felt the urge to pack up some stuff and take advantage of our friends offer to stay at their house which is about 10 minutes from the hospital. As I was packing, I got an urgent call from Stephen saying that things did not look so good and that the doctor wanted to do a stent immediately. We have been around enough to know that this particular hospital likes to act quickly and sometime rashly, so our antennas went up. I told him that I was on my way to the hospital and we agreed that we would talk about it with the doctor when I got there.
I had a Skype conversation planned with a friend at 4 PM. We had had to postpone the call three times, so before Stephen had called I had planned to talk with her and then head out the door to the hospital. Right after I talked with Stephen she rang through.
Here is part of God’s hand in this. Several years earlier she went through this same procedure. Of course our conversation was cut short that day, but she was able to speak to me clearly about what I needed to hear from the doctor to confirm the diagnosis. This helped me tremendously an hour later when the doctor spoke urgently about Stephen’s need for this surgery- so wonderful when He thinks of the details!
It was clear that he needed a stent, but the decision was how and where. Option 1) Stay in this hospital and it would cost about $20,000. 2) Medi-vac to the US where we do not have insurance 3) Get to the Military hospital where we have public insurance. The gamble was that we would first have to go to a very basic hospital and hope they would move him onto the Military Hospital.
At this point I sent out a message to pray! We knew that our only real option was number 3, but God would have to work out the details. I found myself between worry and calm for the next 5 hours, as we waited, I read, Stephen slept, people called with love and encouragement, I settled the $2,100 bill for the day, and the doctor at the hospital worked to find a way for us to get to the Military hospital- he was very helpful in setting us up to leave the hospital!
At about 11:45 PM, we left in an ambulance for the Cruz Azul. The nurse that accompanied us spent the time telling me that we were leaving one of the best hospitals for one that was quite a ways down the list. I felt some wavering-hoping that I was not making the wrong decision, but I knew that I had asked God to make the way clear, and that I had to trust Him.
Earlier in the evening a friend from Granada had been one of the people who had offered to help out, and I felt a real peace in asking her and a mutual friend to walk through this next step with us. Jennifer and Jesse came up from Granada and followed the ambulance to the Cruz Azul. It was good to see some familiar faces especially when I saw the hospital; it looked more like a clinic in a developing country, which I guess it is. The staff there was very efficient, help, and they confirmed the previous diagnosis. Then they said the right words, “We do not have the capacity to do this procedure, so we will send you to the Military Hospital.”
In less than 45 minutes we were in another ambulance heading 10 minutes away, and hoping for the best. We arrived a little after 1 AM. Jesse helped me with the paperwork, and Jenn went with Stephen. After reviewing the ultrasounds, EKGS, and X-rays from the two previous hospitals, they agreed with the need for surgery. There was another flurry of paperwork and then we were all whisked back to an operating room somewhere in the depths of this huge building that looks more like a bunker than a hospital (at least at night!)
It is strange thing to look down a dark hallway, to see four men and two women working on Stephen, and hearing Jesse’s voice as he translates the doctor over a loud speaker. It was painful to see the rawness of it all; blood, instruments, not strong enough pain meds, and then be asked to be the soothing voice over the microphone so that Stephen would stay still during the procedure. Stephen was a real trooper in this
He was taken to a recuperation room, and Jennifer, Jesse and I headed out. I got to the Butlers around 4 AM. I was so thankful for a comfortable bed and a friendly face; these are the same people who came to hang out at the hospital the night before and brought me dinner!
I was back to the hospital at 9AM, searching for the room in this monstrosity of a building. It took me about 20 minutes, and a very much needed pray for direction. I had asked people to pray that we would be able to stay at this hospital rather than be transferred back to Cruz Azul for recovery. I guess my prayers were answered but not quite like I had hoped. Stephen vitals remained very high; he were not going anywhere any time soon.
I was asked to leave, apparently they through I was causing him stress J, so I hung out in the cafeteria. Jennifer and her husband came, brought me lunch, hang out with me, and were able to help us with some translation. During that time, I knew that our Barnabas Team in Portland was praying, and when I returned to see Stephen, his vitals were really good!
At one point they were ready to transport us to the other hospital but they realized that the catheter had not been taken out. Around 7 PM we tried the whole thing again- make sure the catheter is out,
out the door, in the ambulance, and to the Crus Azul. (This is a public/private hospital system owner by the Ortega Family, but I am pretty sure he does not go there.)
After three hours of waiting Stephen was checked into an” intermedio” room which I could not enter because it was for men- the plus was air conditioning, the negative was very cramped quarters and old and dirty. As I walked away I remember saying out loud that if I was not so exhausted and could speak Spanish better, I would not let Stephen stay there. That night, I headed back to the Butlers.
This was the night that we had been warned about for the last year- Election Night- “As a foreigner, stay out of Managua on November 6, 2016- potential riots and violence.” The country is run as a Socialistic Dictatorship Democracy, with the last word coming as a distant third. I am happy to say, that aside from driving through part of a street party, there were no other issues that night for me. I was glad to get to the Butlers early (12 AM) that night, and get close to seven hours of sleep.
I knew I had to gear up for this day- I was feeling weary, teary, and that I had some big responsibilities. I prayed for clarity and direction, and was so thankful to be able to write out notes of what I needed to get in order to make this the best day possible: get someone to translate, get food for Stephen, research diet, meds, do’s and don’ts for people with Stents, get gas in the car, etc.
I arrived at the hospital late morning, and soon after Terry Butler came and used his status as a pastor to get in to see and pray with Stephen for a few minutes; he was also able to pass off some much needed food. Then soon after he left, Jordy (we work with him in Masatepe) arrived. Both of these guys reminded me that I was not alone in this- what a relieve!
The rest of the day was a lot of waiting- waiting for a doctor, waiting for Stephen to be moved to a room where we could sit with him, and waiting for information. Jordy was extremely helpful with connections, being diplomatic and having someone to talk do during the waiting.
At 7 that night, Stephen was able to see the doctor. He received some strong warnings about health, then after we signed the needed papers he was free!
We are SOOOOOOO thankful to all of the people who came around us. I feel like I can’t even express it completely- prayers, calls, having a place to stay, food, visitors, and how God worked through prayers to be there for us when we needed it most- clarity in decision making, the right people to talk to, etc.
So… the update as of six days past surgery is : weak, tired, making needed dietary changes and exercise, and thanking God for more days to work and live for Him. He does not have damage to his heart, but has received and is heeding the warning. I am blessed to have him!
