The Haitian Donkey And Friends Prepare For Another Trip

Hi All:
In 6 days, we hope to be back on the road to the hospital.  It sounds like things are starting to calm down some, thankfully, though we are glad that our friend, Ken De Young, will take us to and from Port.  We are hoping that things will remain calm and that we can plan further ahead and bring some construction/repair teams during the year again.  The Donkey himself has been struggling a lot with his revised GI system.  Since my last surgery, Jan 17, 2020, my 4 intestinal holes were revised so that they all go out a common crater, about 4 inches wide by 3 inches long and about an inch deep (so I cannot see much except with a mirror), so that the largest ostomy pouch will barely fit over the hole with a bit of a rim to seal the insides in.  Since I have not gone to the bathroom since that time, I tried to drink a little bit of tea and a cup of soup on the weekend but the leaks I have sprung makes me wonder if it is worth it. 

I had a major equipment malfunction (I think that is the proper name for it?) while at work yesterday.  I try to empty the bag every 2-3 hours to minimize buildup inside and weight on the adhesive holding the pouch to my body, but an elderly gentlemen came with a couple significant lacerations of his head from a fall.  Since he is our regular patient, seemed with it without residual from the fall (though he blacked out for a bit) and is on 2 blood thinners, I undertook to repair the lacerations before they got out of hand.  Midway through, an unpleasant odor arose and I could only blame myself for the smell.  I finished and had him headed for a CT scan and visited the bathroom as soon as possible.  I always carry a complete set of clothing with me everywhere these days, but it is hard to wash yourself in a small lavatory and feel clean.  Jenn volunteered to come and change the ostomy, which had come loose below and thus the flood) but I finished the day without drinking anything more (just had a “spot of tea” only) and made it home without a second deluge.  However the skin was rather inflamed from 6 hrs of being bathed in intestinal juices.  So, I guess I will wait til I come back from Haiti to try anything oral again. 

Part of the problem is that, without at least a few drinks of water and few calories by the mouth, I can never get hydrated and continue to lose weight, neither a good long term course desirous of being followed by an already scrawny donkey.  I have my IV feedings at maximum calories, but still drift down.  I also am struggling with leg neuropathy pain that is there all the time, tolerable during the day, but keeps me awake at night.  My legs have been like lead from my groins to my feet for 7 years now, since the oxaliplatin chemotherapy regimen, but for the most part they were numb.  Now, it seems like the left one is waking up some but then it is painful and throbbing.  Before the last surgery, I would take a Tylenol regularly and several Tramadol throughout the day.  The Tramadol is constipating, a positive problem before the surgery, but I have stopped it since as would like some downstream flow.  Will see if can up at least my IV water (Lactated) to work on the hydration part, even though no calories in it.  Tabitha (our nurse friend from Africa and Wisconsin) and my sister Margie will go with Dan and I this trip and they can handle all the flood control, hopefully.

I spoke to Dr. William several times (via email) and he seems to be doing well, thankfully.  Can hardly wait for October, 2020, when he will finally be done with the residency and can come back to us full time.  Will have to work on getting him reintegrated and working on how the two pillars of the hospital can work together best.  Pray for wisdom for us all and good attitudes that we may make God honoring decisions.  Dr. Jose and Dr. Kevin (Jose, who is more slightly built, states that the former Florida State lineman makes about 3 of the normal sized Haitians) did a bunch of surgery that went well, for which we are thankful. 

So, Lord willing, Dan, Margie, Tabitha and myself will leave on Friday afternoon, overnight in Miami and be joined by Dr. Jo Marturano (psychiatrist who comes for severe weeks twice yearly) and Beth Newton, who most of you know as the nurse practitioner who has been in Haiti x 30 yrs, home taking care of her elderly (95 range) parents, as we fly out in the early morning of Saturday, the 15th and then up to the hospital with Ken De Young.  Beth and Jo will stay for 2 weeks, so that will help, as she has been unable to get in for quite a while due to the unrest.  We are hoping that things stay calm enough for Jean Eddy to drive them back to Port.  Pray that all will go smoothly, especially with my ostomy. I will eat and drink nothing except a sip of water with my pills to reduce flooding risk, but also that with having to go through TSA in Miami, that things will go smoothly and allow my IV food to remain cold (they are slick and quick in Grand Rapids, but have done it for years and are friends, Miami may not be as accommodating and know what they are dealing with). 

As always, we appreciate your prayers, support and encouragement as we serve our Lord at Centre de Sante Lumiere in Les Cayes.

In His Service, Beth, Dan, Jo, Margie, Tabitha and Bill