One Year in Shell

Today marks our one year anniversary from the day we moved to Shell. We've been in Ecuador for 15 months. It also marks my birthday, and we were hoping it would be our new baby Anna's birthday as well. At least at this point, it looks like she doesn't want to share her birthday with Daddy. Perhaps she'll decide to be born tomorrow so she can share her b-day with Auntie Sydney. I wanted to share about some memorable patients from the hospital that I met this year.

1. Older lady, M. A., who has a disease called antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. It's a relatively rare disease, and I've never been the main doc for a patient with this problem. I had to read up to know what to do to take care of her. This year she's done very well, and because she has to come visit me at least once a month, we've developed a good relationship. I also delivered her granddaughter. This generous woman has made us three really nice sets of sweaters, hats, and booties for our new baby Anna. Pictures will be coming.

2. Ten-year-old girl (her daddy's only princess), who arrived by ambulance on the saddest and most difficult day I've ever had as a doctor. While getting off a bus, she was hit by a speeding pick-up. The driver did not even stop. When the child arrived at our ER it was immediately evident that she had suffered a severe head injury. Although we kept her body alive for about eight hours, we knew that her soul had already left to be with Jesus. As the child's life slipped away we had many prayers with the family. They are a Christian family, and they loved their daughter very much. Thanks be to the Lord, they have been coping better during the past month, but of course there are many things that we won't understand until we all get to Heaven. We trust in a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and more loving than we can imagine.

3. Twin babies, born at an outside hospital prematurely. Both came to our hospital at 3 days of age with fevers, jaundice, and dehydration. They were also suffering from a condition called twin-twin transfusion, which occurs when one baby "selfishly" takes more than his share of the blood circulation from the other while they're in the womb (sibling rivalries can begin very early). Thankfully, both twins responded really well to treatments that included prayers, fluids and light therapy. Lights help the body get rid of bilirubin, which is the chemical that causes yellow skin. If the bilirubin level gets too high, it can cause brain damage. Our maintenance crew made a couple of wooden boxes lined with flourescent light bulbs to provide the light therapy.

4. Young gentleman who came to clinic with worries about his health. Many non-specific symptoms riddled his chart, and it was evident that he was suffering from a case of not knowing his eternal destiny. Upon further questioning, I discovered that the Holy Spirit had already been working on his heart. A simple presentation of God's plan for salvation cured this gentleman of his spiritual need. He has accepted Christ and can now look forward, without fear, to eternity in Heaven.

5. Tiny old lady, half my height and one third my weight, who came to clinic with severe pain from arthritis, as well as advanced depression. We've given her steroid injections in her knees and effective anti-depressant medications. Her pain is greatly decreased, and her once stoic face now greets me with smiles and laughter each time I see her.

6. Teenage girl, in the midst of a miscarriage, came to our hospital with severe bleeding, pain, and a big infection of her uterus. At the time we had no surgical backup, which made me very nervous, so we relied even more on the One who's always there to help, the Lord Jesus. The girl bled A LOT, but responded very well to the prayers, dilation and currettage, antibiotics, and blood transfusions. She went home three days later in great condition.

7. A young lady from the US, here to help in a local ministry, who also decided to have her baby in our hospital. Ladies from Ecuador tend to give birth very rapidly and efficiently, and this young lady decided to follow their example, even though it was just her first baby. Here's about how it happened:
3 AM: She walks to our hospital, in pain, but with hardly any opening of her cervix. We decide to let her walk around a bit and see if her labor will pick up.
7 AM: Pains are very strong. She has dilated her cervix to 6 cm. I wake up and brush my teeth.
7:15 AM: I'm shaving. I get a call, "Doc, please come, she's completely dilated." I start washing the cream off my half-shaved face and throw on a shirt.
7:15:30 AM: I get another call, "Doc, we really mean come now!" I think to myself, "Did they want me to come without my shirt on?" I sprint to the hospital.
7:16 AM: Baby born without complications. This is the fastest first-baby labor and birth I've ever seen.

Well, there are hundreds more stories, but if you're still reading, you're beginning to think, "How long is this blog going to be?" I think I'll stop for now. We just want to let you know that we appreciate all your love, prayers, and support. In the past year, many have been healed physically and spiritually in Shell, Ecuador. It's been a tough year at times, but we've grown spiritually, too. We love you all and want to tell you that we couldn't be here without you. Stay tuned for the next blog that will give a run-down of the arrival of Baby Anna!