Familia,
I spent 3 days in the hospital this last week. Here is what happened.
Thursday morning we got up and did everything normal. At about 8:40 Elder Francisco told me that his back was hurting really bad. I asked him if he was still feeling the pain. He said no. I really didn't think much of it because honestly there always seems to be something wrong happening to him and kept harvesting spiritual food from the Book of Mormon. Well, he called Hna. Camarillo and she told us that we should go check it out at the hospital. At about 9:00 a.m. we took a taxi to a hospital named Puerto de Hierro. We arrived at about 9:30 and went to the back of the hospital and I kind of instructed Elder Francisco what to do and had Hna Camarillo talk to the lady at the desk for the emergency room. She had us go in a room and wait for a doctor. The doctors came in and saw us and tried to start telling my companion what she needed him to do in English. I had to explain that he doesn't speak English and that he only speaks Spanish (it's kind of funny that everyone thinks he speaks English). They checked everything out and talked to him about his pain that he had and if he had felt this pain before. Turns out my companion had kidney stones in the first part of January and took medication to help them pass through. In January he passed 2 stones. He said that the pain was way stronger back then than when he he had pain this last time. My companion is always careful about not drinking Coca Cola because he knows that they cause kidney stones. Anyways we went and had a CAT (TAC in Spanish) to see if there was anything else in his kidneys. I don't know if I have mentioned but my companion is always super nervous and is super homesick. Well going into the doctors didn't help either of these two things. Well when he was having the CAT scan the doctor called me over to explain what they could see. He showed me where is kidney was and showed me something big glowing super bright. This was a kidney stone. After the CAT scan we went back into the room and had them explain a little bit more about what they could see. Turns out what they saw was that this kidney stone that was in his kidney was about as big as the tip of our pointer finger (starting at the nail). In other words, Huge! They told us that he could not be able to get rid of it just by medications and urination - that only by surgery could it be taken care of. Well I called Hna. Camarillo and told her what was happening and that the Doctors said that he needed a surgery... she kind of got a little worried and I just kind of said it's all okay, we aren't going to do anything. We will wait for the Doctor to come back to figure out what we can do before we do anything. They talked and Hermana Camarillo told us that we needed to go to a different hospital to have a second opinion of what needed to happen. We left that hospital at about 1:50 p.m.
I spent 3 days in the hospital this last week. Here is what happened.
Thursday morning we got up and did everything normal. At about 8:40 Elder Francisco told me that his back was hurting really bad. I asked him if he was still feeling the pain. He said no. I really didn't think much of it because honestly there always seems to be something wrong happening to him and kept harvesting spiritual food from the Book of Mormon. Well, he called Hna. Camarillo and she told us that we should go check it out at the hospital. At about 9:00 a.m. we took a taxi to a hospital named Puerto de Hierro. We arrived at about 9:30 and went to the back of the hospital and I kind of instructed Elder Francisco what to do and had Hna Camarillo talk to the lady at the desk for the emergency room. She had us go in a room and wait for a doctor. The doctors came in and saw us and tried to start telling my companion what she needed him to do in English. I had to explain that he doesn't speak English and that he only speaks Spanish (it's kind of funny that everyone thinks he speaks English). They checked everything out and talked to him about his pain that he had and if he had felt this pain before. Turns out my companion had kidney stones in the first part of January and took medication to help them pass through. In January he passed 2 stones. He said that the pain was way stronger back then than when he he had pain this last time. My companion is always careful about not drinking Coca Cola because he knows that they cause kidney stones. Anyways we went and had a CAT (TAC in Spanish) to see if there was anything else in his kidneys. I don't know if I have mentioned but my companion is always super nervous and is super homesick. Well going into the doctors didn't help either of these two things. Well when he was having the CAT scan the doctor called me over to explain what they could see. He showed me where is kidney was and showed me something big glowing super bright. This was a kidney stone. After the CAT scan we went back into the room and had them explain a little bit more about what they could see. Turns out what they saw was that this kidney stone that was in his kidney was about as big as the tip of our pointer finger (starting at the nail). In other words, Huge! They told us that he could not be able to get rid of it just by medications and urination - that only by surgery could it be taken care of. Well I called Hna. Camarillo and told her what was happening and that the Doctors said that he needed a surgery... she kind of got a little worried and I just kind of said it's all okay, we aren't going to do anything. We will wait for the Doctor to come back to figure out what we can do before we do anything. They talked and Hermana Camarillo told us that we needed to go to a different hospital to have a second opinion of what needed to happen. We left that hospital at about 1:50 p.m.
We then arrived at the Hospital Ángeles del Carmen in downtown Guadalajara at about 2:30 p.m. We went through the same process but this time when I tried to have them talk to Hna. Camarillo they weren't very receptive and didn't understand why they had to talk to her... I explained to them that we are missionaries and everything and that she was in charge of our insurance and medical treatment. After a couple minutes we finally got her to talk to Hna. Camarillo. We then went and waited again to talk to an Assistant to the Doctor. He came in and we started explaining to him everything but honestly he was just really rude to us. My companion was super nervous and having a hard time explaining what happened so I started to explain what happened and he kind of just snapped at me. Just super rude. Anyways at like 3 he told us that before we could get assigned a real doctor (no ese payaso [not this clown]) we had to wait for our insurance to assign us a doctor but the insurance director at that hospital was at lunch so we had to wait until 4 to get assigned a doctor. Well at about 4:30 p.m. we talked to the insurance guy and he tried to assign us a doctor but the kidney specialist wasn't going to be there until about 8:00 p.m. So while I was talking to Hna. Camarillo they took my companion to run a few tests with his blood. He was super nervous and afraid and I was busy filling out paper work so I couldn't go with him. Well at about 6:30 they told me that my companion was fine and that I had to wait to go see him. I waited for about 30 minutes and than a nurse came out and told me that I could go talk to him for 5 minutes. I went and started talking to my companion and he was super super afraid. I told him not to worry and everything and tried to comfort him but he was super afraid and homesick. He told me that he felt the impression that he was going to go home to the Dominican Republic to have his surgery. I told him not to worry about it and that everything was going to be fine. He again started telling me that he was super afraid and that he just missed his family and knew that they were worrying a whole bunch for him. I tried to help comfort him and everything telling him that everything was going to be okay but we ended up crying together for a little bit. Well I was back there for about an hour, not for 5 minutes, and they were getting kind of mad at me. I guess they don't really understand the rule that missionaries have to stick together. Well they finally got me out of there but I returned three more times to try and comfort him. He has 5 weeks in the mission, super far away from his family, and not even in the same country. What he had heard about Mexicans wasn't very good and they were all just being payasos to us. Anyways. At about 8:50 p.m. the doctor finally showed up and talked to us and looked at the results of the CAT scan. He was actually really good, explained everything very clearly and lovingly. My companion felt a little bit better and talked to Hna. Camarillo about what needed to happen. We then had to wait to get aproval from Pres. Camarillo, the family of Elder Francisco, and Thomas S. Monson (okay not really but from the Church Headquarters) for the surgery. At about 12:00 a.m. we got the aproval and talked to the doctor who then scheduled the surgery for 7:30 a.m. We got to our hospital room at about 12:45 a.m. and they gave us a little snack at 1 a.m. (after not eating all day the 2 slices of sweet bread I ate tasted super good, and the Jello that my companion ate was good too). We finally fell asleep at about 1:15 a.m.
We got up Friday Morning at about 6:30 a.m. and President Camarillo and Hermana Camarillo came into our room at 7. They were super nice and really helped my companion feel better about the surgery. The doctor explained to them all that was going to happen in the surgery and was super nice. Before Elder Francisco left for the surgery President Camarillo and I gave Elder Francisco a blessing (I did the anointment and President did the sealing). He then left for the surgery.
While he was being operated upon... we went and had breakfast in the cafeteria. I talked to Pres. and Hna. Camarillo for a good while about their family and about my family as well. They are just really great people and really have a love for the people they are serving and the work they are doing. Hermana Camarillo also said that she was very impressed with my calmness through out everything that happened. She said that most missionaries have a really hard time with the hospitals and get really nervous... but that I was calm and helpful. I kind of just told her that I just kind of feel like God understands what happens in our lives and we just put our faith in him to help us through the hard things... things happen and we go on. I also told her that I was very happy that I had this experiance having 10 months in the mission and not 3 months. It was nice having 10 months because I have kind of adapted to problems in the mission and that I could actually understand what all of the doctors and people were telling me. I guess it is kind of cool (a huge blessing) that I could understand what was happening and what all of the doctors told me... and mostly that I could help my companion stay at a semi-calm level.
We got up Friday Morning at about 6:30 a.m. and President Camarillo and Hermana Camarillo came into our room at 7. They were super nice and really helped my companion feel better about the surgery. The doctor explained to them all that was going to happen in the surgery and was super nice. Before Elder Francisco left for the surgery President Camarillo and I gave Elder Francisco a blessing (I did the anointment and President did the sealing). He then left for the surgery.
While he was being operated upon... we went and had breakfast in the cafeteria. I talked to Pres. and Hna. Camarillo for a good while about their family and about my family as well. They are just really great people and really have a love for the people they are serving and the work they are doing. Hermana Camarillo also said that she was very impressed with my calmness through out everything that happened. She said that most missionaries have a really hard time with the hospitals and get really nervous... but that I was calm and helpful. I kind of just told her that I just kind of feel like God understands what happens in our lives and we just put our faith in him to help us through the hard things... things happen and we go on. I also told her that I was very happy that I had this experiance having 10 months in the mission and not 3 months. It was nice having 10 months because I have kind of adapted to problems in the mission and that I could actually understand what all of the doctors and people were telling me. I guess it is kind of cool (a huge blessing) that I could understand what was happening and what all of the doctors told me... and mostly that I could help my companion stay at a semi-calm level.
After having a good breakfast we headed back up to the room to wait for my companion. I started reading the Book of Mormon (no, not just to score points with the president ;) ) and the President told me that I should rest a little bit after having such a long day the day before. I told him that I couldn't sleep due to the fact that the Lamanites and the Nefites were in the middle of a fight and I couldnt sleep until they settled it... we had a good laugh. At about 12:00 p.m. Elder Francisco returned super drugged and tired. The doctors told us that everything went well... here's what happened in the surgery: The goal was to get a camera (laser) into his kidney to shrink the stone to a size that they could pull it out without causing damage... to avoid opening up his skin and having to stitch it back up they decided to go through a different way. They sent the very slim camera up his urethra, up into his ureter, and into his right kidney to take out the stone (if you got lost try listening to all of this in spanish ;) ). Well, when the camera got up into the ureter they saw that a little stone (not the one they were searching for) fell close to the ureter, this is what caused the pain in his back in the morning before, so they pulled the little stone out and continued to the bigger stone. They lasered the stone to a good size and then pulled it out. During this whole time my companion was asleep and coulding feel a thing. The doctor said that without this kind of technology there was no way to do the surgery without causing more damage to Elder Francisco. The surgery went well and we stayed in the hospital until Sunday morning.
Sunday morning at about 11:00a.m. we finished paper work and finally left the hospital. We took a taxi home and at about 12:00 p.m. we made it to our house. Elder Byrd and Elder Garcia (leaders of the zone) came at about 1:30 and gave us sacrament. We said goodbye to Elder Byrd who left today (Monday) in the morning. Elder Byrd is one of the best missionaries I have ever met and said some nice things... telling me that I will become a great leader and that I have been a good example for him. I told him thanks for everything and now he is enjoying the luxury of being in his house in Riverton Utah. I love him. He is such a great guy and I hope to become as great as a missionary as him.
Well Elder Francisco has to wait 10 more days until he can go back to mission work. So I have been put in charge to be his nurse for the next 10 days. I don't know how I am going to do it... I am all ready going crazy with out working for 4 days. But I know we can do it and sooner than we think we will be out there helping people again.
This week has been super crazy and have realized how blessed I have been in my life. First off I have good health, but I really have been filled with the love of the Lord. I really feel that God has a plan for each and everyone of us and that he will help us get through what ever we need to. Sometimes we don't understand the trials we go through, or why things happen to us, but God knows... and he loves us and will help us with everything. I am also very greatful to be able to have been prepared to help my companion through this hard part in his life. I have never had to go through this either... being the person in charge of the patient and being in charge of all of the paperwork that follows... it's been a little different. But I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that everything went well and that I have had the Gift of Tounges, and the patience, to be able to help my companion through this time of hardship. I have a strong testimony that God lives, he loves us, he will help us through anything if we just put our faith in him. The Church is true and I will talk to you all next week... although this was a good experience for us, I think we'll try and avoid trips to the hospital in the future.
Con Amor,
Elder Summers
P.S. Dad, while talking to the president turns out he also served in Torreón, México but in the year 1980-1982. His brother served in the same mission as well in the years 1985-1987. Did you know an Elder Camarillo?
Sunday morning at about 11:00a.m. we finished paper work and finally left the hospital. We took a taxi home and at about 12:00 p.m. we made it to our house. Elder Byrd and Elder Garcia (leaders of the zone) came at about 1:30 and gave us sacrament. We said goodbye to Elder Byrd who left today (Monday) in the morning. Elder Byrd is one of the best missionaries I have ever met and said some nice things... telling me that I will become a great leader and that I have been a good example for him. I told him thanks for everything and now he is enjoying the luxury of being in his house in Riverton Utah. I love him. He is such a great guy and I hope to become as great as a missionary as him.
Well Elder Francisco has to wait 10 more days until he can go back to mission work. So I have been put in charge to be his nurse for the next 10 days. I don't know how I am going to do it... I am all ready going crazy with out working for 4 days. But I know we can do it and sooner than we think we will be out there helping people again.
This week has been super crazy and have realized how blessed I have been in my life. First off I have good health, but I really have been filled with the love of the Lord. I really feel that God has a plan for each and everyone of us and that he will help us get through what ever we need to. Sometimes we don't understand the trials we go through, or why things happen to us, but God knows... and he loves us and will help us with everything. I am also very greatful to be able to have been prepared to help my companion through this hard part in his life. I have never had to go through this either... being the person in charge of the patient and being in charge of all of the paperwork that follows... it's been a little different. But I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that everything went well and that I have had the Gift of Tounges, and the patience, to be able to help my companion through this time of hardship. I have a strong testimony that God lives, he loves us, he will help us through anything if we just put our faith in him. The Church is true and I will talk to you all next week... although this was a good experience for us, I think we'll try and avoid trips to the hospital in the future.
Con Amor,
Elder Summers
P.S. Dad, while talking to the president turns out he also served in Torreón, México but in the year 1980-1982. His brother served in the same mission as well in the years 1985-1987. Did you know an Elder Camarillo?