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!