KRB Update #2150 February 20, 2010
My Time in Hospital
Imagine the worst pain you have experienced in your life… For me I have been pretty healthy and had only been the hospital at my birth and a short overnight when my tonsils were removed as a 3 year old. On Sunday evening (Jan 24th), I started to feel horrible pain in my lower left side of my back. After much consideration, I paged the crew nurse. She came and was soon followed by our crew physician and they started to give me shots to help my pain. Since the Africa Mercy Hospital was closed down it was not possible to do any diagnostic tests. They made arrangements to rush me to go the emergency room at the local hospital in La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. In the waiting room, as I was crying and shaking, a woman went to get the ER nurse and brought her to the waiting room and pointed at me and it was only a couple minutes and they were calling my name. A nurse was able to get a line in my left hand and the only words he spoke to me in English were ‘Pain Killer’ – then it was back and forth with X-ray and a scan which showed them the rupture (small hole) in my left kidney made by a kidney stone. The next day, our crew physician, Dr. Craig, came in as the nurse was explaining that they were taking me for surgery to insert the tube to relieve the pressure for the hole to heal. They also shared that I would be in the hospital for 1-2 weeks and it hit me hard as the ship was leaving on Sunday. Soon I was wheeled off to floor -2 for the surgerical procedure as I stared up at the lights in the hall. I was shaking and scared – 90 minutes later I was out with the tube and a bag to collect urine from that kidney. I couldn’t sleep but I really couldn’t do much of anything. The nursing and other staff told me in Español what to do and when. Friends from the ship visited me in the afternoon and early evening – this was so encouraging. Our OR Supervisor shared that “it was good that it happened in Spain where they have experts to take care of you as if we were sailing, our options would have been so limited and probably would have to air evacuate you out”. The situation in Togo and Ghana would not have been any better either. At the University Hospital, they had the doctors and nursing staff and all the equipment to care for people with this problem. God was taking care of me and providing for me. Then there was the hope that I could be discharged Saturday afternoon and the ship was sailing on Sunday morning. But with the advice of various ones of my leaders it was decided it would not be good for me to sail and mentioned a housing option. In the end on Saturday, severe pain returned for three episodes, but it was probably just blood from the hole for the tube or some tissue. I was able to watch the ship sail from my hospital window (see photo) and it was emotional, but I had a peace that God was providing for me. Monday came and the doctors gave me the go ahead to be discharged – they knew the ship had left and were glad to hear I was staying on the island and advised me to take the rest needed before returning to Africa. On Sunday and Monday, my mind was clearer and able to talk more with the hospital staff and able to share about Mercy Ships and what we are doing in Africa. Later on Monday afternoon, I was able to leave the hospital and started the time of rest and recuperation. I received many greetings and messages that I am praying for you via email and also via Facebook – I was overwhelmed with all the love expressed.

Some Lessons Learned: In addition to drinking liters of water every day, I feel that now I can relate better with the patients I visit in the hospital on deck 3 of the ship: *being in the hospital with staff who speak a language other than one’s first language *wearing the hospital gown and just trying to get to the toilet with your urine bag and IV tubes and pole *the challenge of taking a shower *the horrible feelings of pain *the fear of surgery – being scared and uncertain *the joy of having a visitor *the great desire and longing to be discharged and the disappointment when that is delayed.

Our hospital will open tomorrow as we welcome our initial patients for this Togo 2010Field Service.

Thank you for your prayers (though I realize not everyone knew about this), encouragement and love expressed.