Monday, April 29, 2013

Monday, April 29

A difficult day, again.

My Email report to President Martinez:

Mi correo electrónico a Presidente Martinez:

Ayer Elder Babcock no tuvo desea de comer después de almuerzo y tuvo mucho dolor en su sinos. No le gusta decir nada a las enfermeras porque tuvo mucho desea de salir la clínica. Yo explique la importancia de hablar de todo y también explique la situación a las enfermeras.  En la mañana hoy día estaba muy débil y con un poco de fiebre.  No puede hablar bien otra vez y cuando Dr. Rivas vino, él dijo que piensa que Elder Babcock tiene vasculitis otra vez.  Ante de salir, él dijo en inglés: I don't know why the Lord wants Kenneth to stay in the clinic for more weeks.  

Hay tratamientos por los problemas, pero es verdad que Elder Babcock necesita quedar en la clínica. Dr. Rivas pidió una resonancia, y empezó un otra antibiótica que le ayuda antes con vasculitis.  Después de los resultados el doctor va a hacer un otro escanear doppler. Elder Babcock no tuvo comida hoy día hasta 18:00 en la tarde por causa de la resonancia, y tuvo mucha hambre en la tarde cuando estaba sintiendo mejor.  

Las enfermeras le han dado mucha atención a Elder Babcock a causa de un caído en el baño en la mañana, pero la caída fue muy lento y yo estaba con él. Tuvimos esperanza de salir la clínica esta semana, pero yo también he tenido el pensamiento que el Señor desea que Elder Babcock tuviera más tiempo en la clínica. Él ha tenido más oportunidades de hablar del Evangelio aquí en los días pasados.

The Email in English:

Yesterday Elder Babcock did not want to eat after lunch and had a lot of pain in his sinuses. He does not want to say anything to the nurses because he really wants to leave the clinic. I explained the importance of talking about everything and also explaining the situation to nurses. In the morning he was very weak and had a little fever. He cannot speak well again and when Dr. Rivas came, he said he thinks Elder Babcock has vasculitis again. Before leaving, he said in English, “I do not know why the Lord Kenneth wants to stay in the clinic for more weeks.”

There are treatments for the problems, but it is true that Elder Babcock need to stay in the clinic. Dr. Rivas ordered an MRI, and began another antibiotic that helped earlier with vasculitis. After the results the doctor will do another scan doppler. Elder Babcock had no food today until 6:00 in the afternoon because of the MRI, and was very hungry in the afternoon when he was feeling better.

Nurses have given Elder Babcock a lot of attention to Elder Babcock because of a fall in the bathroom this morning, but the fall was very slow and I was with him. We have hoped to leave the clinic this week, but I have also had the thought that the Lord wants Elder Babcock to have more time in the clinic. He has had more opportunities to share the gospel here in recent days.

I also wrote a letter to the family with the same information: 

Dear family and friends,

We have been so excited to see Elder Babcock hearing better, walking and climbing steps and slowly getting stronger.  He really hoped that the MRI today would allow him to leave the hospital this week, but we got the results tonight.  Dr. Riva checked immediately instead of waiting until tomorrow, and found that the infection is almost exactly the same as it was 8 days ago.  Not big, but not gone. He will consult with the other doctors to try to figure out what to do, whether to change antibiotics or do a surgical procedure or add something to the current antibiotics. 

Blood tests show that the sodium level in Elder Babcock’s blood was down to 127 today, almost as low as before.  This would account for his weakness.  Dr. Riva was surprised he was still able to get up to go to the bathroom.  Also none of the confusion has returned. He is very tired and should sleep tonight.  But before I left, we talked about the importance of patience.  He said he needs to be more humble.  I agreed.  This is his mission now, to be an exemplary patient. He was worried about me, and I told him that being patient was much better burden than the one I had anticipated.  And I am willing to accept it. 

It is important to be willing to accept the Lord's timetable. Patience is a heavy burden to be born with cheerfulness, because the Lord knows best and loves us much. We can't demand blessings now. We can ask for peace and comfort to feel that our faith is accepted and acknowledged even as the miracles are delayed. The Lord doesn't take away mortality from most of us. Those who have been translated got their fair share of tribulation before they were changed. I have been reading in the History of the Church and have been surprised to see how often Joseph Smith was afflicted with a cold or other physical problems.  This world is not easy for anyone.

I haven't shared with some of you the comment Dr. Riva made this morning when he told us that the vasculitis had come back.  He said, in English, "I don't know why the Lord wants Elder Babcock to stay in the clinic more weeks."  He said it in a very matter of fact way. It was testimony to me that the doctors are continuing to acknowledge the hand of God in Elder Babcock's recovery. Dr. Riva has also said that Elder Babcock is a case study in complications -- as he has been having all possible complications.  But he has also said that they are treatable.  

Thank you all again for your love and support. Four Elders came today on their preparation day, but Elder Babcock was so far under that he didn't remember.  We appreciate their love and concern as well.  

Hermana Babcock 

In Facebook posts I explained more to my family: 

The problem with moving to someplace besides Victoria is that there isn't any place else set up. Moving would be hard work for me and for the mission. Moving immediately would be almost impossible. I agree that Elder Babcock will not be able to return immediately to former responsibilities and I won't let him try. Maybe after 3 more weeks here things will seem more clear to me. I guess it would depend on what we are moving into.

It is not a day for independence and therapy. No walking even with help. I need to trust that I will be able to take care of him. Elder Babcock just had problems in the bathroom. He fell, a slow step by step slide to the floor with his feet under his knees and me trying to help him. We needed help from two nurses to lift him.  

He finally had his MRI at 5:00 and food at 6:00 and supper at 7:00.  I am keeping it for him for later tonight. Since he has been sleeping all day, it might be a long night for him. He will probably wake up hungry and eat and read.  The antibiotics really helped. He didn't read or do anything today except sleep and go to the bathroom. His back gets sore when he stays in bed a long time. You would think he could find a comfortable hospital bed position with all the buttons and controls.

I explained to my family that the doppler scanner will come later. I think Dr. Riva was surprised to find the infection still there, given how good Elder Babcock has been doing. I have been too tired to write it in Spanish. I have a lot of translating to do if I'm going to fulfil President Martinez’s assignment to document all of this is one place in Spanish.

April 29 Elder Rodríguez wrote:

It’s great to know that Heavenly Father is watching over you.  And how you are a living testimony that He lives and that his Priesthood authority is here on earth once more.