Thursday, October 25, 2007

Logan's Military Hospital Experience

I have to share this "missionary" story with you - it was quite the experience for us and thought you might enjoy it. This took place this past Monday when Marc's parents were still with us.

This is as was told to Beth, my sister in law.

Logan has had an eye issue for more than 2 weeks now. It started out with swelling, tearing, etc...I assumed we were dealing with pink eye. I emailed Mom about what to do. On her advice, we went to a pharmacy here and purchased eye drops and ointment to use. After 5-6 days of no improvement, we stopped using it. Collette (Burch)gave me some different medicine that she had. I began using that (some of this was while Marc was gone to the board meeting in the States). Seemed to help initially but after a couple days it was obvious, there was no improvement. Swelling, gunk, some itching, etc. was no better. I decided when Mom got here she'd be able to look at it, diagnose, prescribe treatment and all would be fine. She arrived, we went to the pharmacy and bought what she would prescribe in the States (pretty cheaply) and we were all sure this would clear it right up.

Convention begins, I have no time to do anything, much less monitor a kid with a fat eye. Anyway, after 3 days, again obvious there was no improvement. So we decide even though we'd planned to go to San Miguel on Monday that it would be better, since Marc was leaving on Tuesday, that we take him to a doctor on Monday.

Collette referred us to a great eye doctor in Irapuato - we called for an appointment - she was in Spain until the end of Noviembre. OK - so we found an opthamologist in the Salamanca phone book. Marc, Mom, Logan and I go downtown and ask to see the doctor. She only comes in on Thursdays. Can she recommend someone? Yes, there are good eye doctors/opthamologists in Irapuato. She gave us 2 names and phone numbers.

On the way to Irapuato, we put water in our engine which was overheating: another story. Anyway, Marc called the first name on the list and talked to the doctor himself: M.C. Agustin Perez Centeno. He said I'm at the Hospital M..??? Marc couldn't make out what hospital but we figured we'd just ask. The doc said he'd be waiting on us.

As we're coming into Irapuato, we pass the Military Hospital. Marc says, "That's what he said: Hospital Militar!". We go around the glorieta and pull up to the entrance of the hospital.
(oh, and on the way, Logan has a massive nose bleed...lol)

Marc says to the guard: I need to see Doctor Perez Centeno. The guard says he's here but you can't park inside the gates because your vehicle is from the States. He tells us where to park and we come back through the gates, walking this time. The guard is very kind, he says just go in the main entrance of the hospital, talk to the receptionist and they'll direct you from there. Here we go - quite the spectacle: 4 gringos, passing armed guards, etc. up to the entrance. We walk in, and are met with fully decorated military personnel - no little receptionist behind a desk. They say kindly "How can we help you?" Marc shows them the paper with the doctor's name and says we are here to see this doctor and he's waiting on us.

The sergeant turns to one of his loyal minions and says "escort these people to his office." We are very ceremoniously led past a waiting room full of people to the doctor's office, handed off a couple times to the next waiting officer. We stand in the office about 30 seconds when in walks the doctor. He greets us and makes sure we have places to sit. He proceeds to get Logan's name, we make a few comments and he begins to examine Logan.

Completely unbeknownst to me, the child cannot see. He can only read the Large E on the eye chart. The doctor says you have 2 problems. #1 - he needs glasses. He puts in a drop of some stuff, shines a light which turns the whole eyeball blue to check for corneal scratches. He washes out the affected eye with solution and gives us problem #2: he has cellulitis in the tissue around his eye. Mom told him that I thought it started with an insect bite near his eye and he agreed that that was the cause. Logan apparently scratched the bite and infection spread into his eye.

He prescribed a very agressive treatment plan: 4 different medicines at all hours of the day: an antibiotic, Tempra for inflammation, drops every 3 hours and ointment at night. I told Mom when we get home you're going to have to explain all this to me - she assured me she would.

He wants to see Logan on the 2nd of November: to reevaluate and to examine and prescribe for glasses. We are to visit him in his office in Irapuato, not in the military hospital since he has frames, lenses etc. there.

At the end of this, Marc says what do we owe? He shrugs and says "$300 pesos". Marc takes it out of his pocket, gives it to him, he puts it in his pocket, transaction done. No more ceremony than that.

We are thanked and escorted back to the entrance and out of the hospital. We buy the medicines in the pharmacy in Salamanca and I am now putting in drops or giving medicine every time I turn around. I do think I am seeing some improvement. The doctor said it would take time since the cellulitis had advanced. He also prescribed little exercise, no sharing pillows, sunglasses when outside, no touching or rubbing of the eye etc....

I am so thankful Mom was here to help us - she was proud of us, said we'd spread our wings that day and had done fine. I don't know about that but it certainly was quite the experience.

I did not get any pictures of this experience - my camera was at home and I'm not sure how they would have liked me taking pictures inside their military establishment anyway.

Please help us pray that this treatment clears up the problem - Logan is more than a little tired of it!

17 comments:

Missy said...

Oh my goodness...you had told me about this on the phone, but I didn't expect it to look like that. I am so sorry for him. He still has that cute smile going on though. lol! I hope that the boat load of meds you are having to give him works quickly. Hopefully, by 11/2 it will be much better. Tell him that I said hi and sorry that he is struggling. Maybe...he shouldn't do any more school until this is better. lol! Cameron would jump on that one. 8-) Give him a big hug for me. I love you, nursie. =) Lv...MM

Steve Hight said...

Doctor visits are lots of fun when you're not totally comfy with the language and they start tossing those big medical words at you, right? I feel for you.

I got to see Mark today (Thursday) and had a nice conversation with him. I'm sure he'll be happy to head for home.

Beth Stetler said...

I had no idea his eye looked sooo bad! Poor thing!

Janet Sankey said...

By the way...the medicine I prescribed was the right thing and represcribed by the doctor but he added oral antibiotic, eye drops and ointment antibiotic(the same stuff I prescribed, but just in stronger doses) plus the Tempra for the inflammation. So, I was a little too conservative in the treatment. Sure hope it clears up soon. He is a trooper, hardly complained one bit about the swelling, but was frustrated with the gunk, etc. coming out of his eye. Bless his heart. He said, "When I put on Jordans glasses I can see 'perfectly well' but when I take them off I can see 'absolutely nothing'...I got a big kick out of that. He'll be quite dignified with new glasses. Get better soon Logan. Love you, Grandma Sankey

The Going Blog said...

Melodie, I'm so glad you had your in-laws with you. What an ordeal. Can't wait to see what style of glasses Logan picks out. I think Jordan looks so handsome in his :)

Lori said...

Wow! What an ordeal! I'm so glad that everything worked out ok, hoping for a very speedy recovery!

Vonnie said...

Well, of course Mom prescribed the right thing. We must let everyone know that. HA!!! Love ya' mom! The whole story would be hilarious if poor Logan wasn't miserable. It is so funny.... that money transaction!! Hope Logan gets to feeling better soon!!

The Dickinsons said...

Bless Logan's heart, and y'all's too! Quite the ordeal. Like has been mentioned, he'll look cute with glasses. I have never had to wear glasses so I cannot understand, but Phillip tells me that when he finally glasses (when he was a boy too) that he could finally see that the trees had leaves, and were not just one big green blob. UNREAL!

God bless y'all, glad Marc should get home soon.

Love, Heather =)

Springer Family said...

I'll be praying for you all. I know what its like to have 'everything' (well, at least it seems that way) go wrong all at the same time. :-)
Logan, hope you feel better soon! Enjoy your down time. :-)

Beth Hotchkiss-Yoder said...

That is what my husband had this summer. . .but on his leg. . .we didn't know what it was at 1st and waited too long. . .he spent 4 days in the hospital. . .Glad everything is ok with Logan!!!

Janella said...

I really enjoyed reading your story, I'm so sorry that Logan had to be the star of the show! That eye just looks soooo uncomfortable! I hope the meds work fast, we will sure be praying for him. I was feeling a little out of touch and was so glad I could just click on my computer and get updated! What would we do without this awesome way of communication? You all stayed encouraged, we love and miss you! The IHC looked wonderful!Love, Janella

Rebekah said...

What an experience!!! I'm glad you were finally able to get to the right person to help you!!! We'll pray that Logan heals quickly!!

Nancy said...

Interesting story! Glad I stopped by your blog and got caught up on the news! Hope his eye heals up quickly...it looks miserable.

Sarah Cook said...

Poor little guy... I am sure that he will feel like a miracle took place when he gets his glasses... I did when I was little! Can harldly survive without them now... I would probably fall over my own feet... I don't think I can even see the top letter anymore! His eye looks so miserable! I thought at first you were going to say he had a blocked tear duct... one of my babies had that and her eye was aweful (and, gross with all the junk in it). Wow... sure sounds like alot of meds! How funny the appointment sounded... did you feel like a celebrity?!

Katie and the boys said...

poor guy!! We are praying that they find out what is wrong and help him. It looks like it hurts!!

krisanddrew said...

So sorry about Logan's eye. I hope that it heals soon. It looks like it is very uncomfortable, but his smile is still adorable.

The Millard Family said...

O brother, I don't look on your blog for just one day and look what a mess you're in. Boy thats what I get for not keeping up! I will continue to read on for further updates! Give Logan kisses!