Saturday, April 13, 2013

Saturday, April 13

The letter continued with a summary of Saturday, April 13.

This morning Elder Babcock was clear and happier but worried about catching a bus. He was trying to plan a lesson from 2 Nefi and concerned about a baptism. He wrote on the white board. He saw some invisible people and tried to find out who they were, talking to some of them.  Exercise went well and he told the therapist that he wasn’t being very rational today.  At 10:45 he went in for the ear surgery in both ears, a lot of  fluid was extracted and sent for tests.  When he came back two hours later he was happy and could hear better.  We could almost carry on conversations: 

Me: you have been seeing invisible people.
Elder B: who
Me : I don't know. Bad dreams. Hallucinations last night.

Elder B: yes.
Me: did you have any good dreams,
Elder B: yes profoundly. When I was connected
M: remember the good dreams

Elder B. yes. (pause) Don't you think that Satan will attack the priesthood

At one point in the hallucinations he said, “It feels like we are in a war.”  And I responded, “Yes”

He was mostly quiet this morning but said, “I am feeling very spiritual.”  I know that he has been blessed, but he has been fighting a spiritual battle as well as a physical one.

Soon after the surgery, Dr. Riva came in and did another brain scan.  It was almost normal except for one “stretched” blood vessel.  He said he would add another medication, nimodipine.  I told him about the invisible people and he said that might be related to the blood vessel.  Elder B. tried to speak in Spanish but it is hard for him.  His English is much clearer, almost normal.  Dr. Riva told him it was important to speak in his mother tongue so they could know how he was progressing.  He understands English better than Spanish and he tries to speak English when I remind him.  But the Spanish comes out anyway.

He seemed very aware of noise.  The beeping of the machines bothered him. And he was concerned about the noise of running water and shot guns in his head.  I will have to remember to tell the doctor.

He was cooperative with the nurses.  He asked one of the elders to pray tonight before they left and says he needs a chart to remember his grandchildren.  He had a time being worried about a son not making it to the birth of a baby, but understood when I told him that it wasn’t a current problem.

He had some worries about keys and schedules and classes and money but seemed to accept my explanation that his only obligation is to recover and that he is a missionary by being alive.  I have many opportunities to explain the gospel to people when he tries to talk about things they don’t understand.  After being at the hospital until after 11:00 last night I came home at 8:30 tonight.

I have been having the missionaries write the experiences they have had with us in a journal, the days they were with us and what happened.  The day before yesterday during when we were dealing with the seizures and coma again, the elders gave him a blessing that nothing would happen that the Lord didn't know about and that nothing would happen that wasn't according to his will.  That has been a great comfort to me.  Even the mistakes that happened like giving him breakfast yesterday, which delayed the surgery and gave him a day of eating good to get stronger.  

Sorry this is in English, but I am tired tonight and wanted to say more than I can in Spanish.

Con amor and gratitude,

Hermana Babcock

Elder White came two days, the 12 and the 13 of April.  On the 13^th he wrote:

Today I was once again blown away by the power of God when I saw Elder Babcock for the first time after the sickness.  He had battled the forces of the adversary last night with the power of the priesthood and he had come out victorious.  He is talking, hearing (often he is singing this morning), and de buen animo.  This family has proven to me that no matter what Satan throws at us, if we have a foundation built on Cristo, we will prevail.  Prayer and fasting and blessings are tools that God has given us to increase our faith.

More from April 13

Elder Babcock told me yesterday: Last night I received a phone call from Becca. She told me all about Chris.

Becca is our daughter and Chris is her boyfriend. Elder Babcock couldn’t remember him. The phone call was an inspiration to his memory to help remember an important person.

This morning he said: Last night I received a phone call .... Then he wanted the board to write the name. It looked like it was Emma Lan ...  An interesting way to receive information without an actual phone.

He wanted me to turn off something. I turned off the light a couple of times. Elder Babcock spoke about holes in the road. He hoped that someone could fix them soon. He showed me the location of the problem with his finger. He wanted the nurse to make some repairs in the room.

Dr. Rivas asked me last night if the hallucinations were only in one eye or in both.  I think in both eyes.

While Elder Babcock was in surgery, I spoke with the missionaries. I had always been grateful for the company. When he returned from surgery, everything was better.

The “visitors” continued for a while after surgery. He asked some invisible person if he had brought oil for a blessing. Dr. Rivas was worried about invisible visitors, but I was not. Elder Babcock had many concerns about our son David and his family, thinking that his wife was pregnant and it was time to give birth to a baby. He also had concerns about obligations and appointments, phones and keys. He was happy that our son Steven was married. Elder Babcock was hearing the sound of shooting guns inside his head.

I was still trying to help him understand that he was being a missionary by being alive and that he had to be a good patient

Oh, and great news today for the first time responded to “How old are you?” with the words: 72 years. Dr. Rivas began to sing the Hallelujah chorus.