Thursday, July 4, 2013

Thursday, July 4, 

Lumbar puncture at 11:30 last night. They were going to do it earlier but blood coagulation was too low. Waiting for news and explanations.

It is not a good morning. He is not moving. Talking little. A smile and a kiss but something is wrong.

Yes, we have meningitis again, but not as bad as before. Probably the same bacteria as the sinus. He was able to eat oatmeal and applesauce and drink juice and mild through a straw. He started a prayer of gratitude and said amen when I finished it. Mission President is coming today.

Good news. Very slight meningitis by comparison instead of 1000 count, it is 7. Instead of milky fluid, it still looks clear. He could move for the doctor this morning. Not much, but everything worked some.

First dose of a new antibiotic that should get to the meningitis better. They had to wait till they had done blood tests to start it and so the number of days for this one to work starts now.

Doctor Concha says there is not enough infection in the lumbar liquid to explain what is going on neurologically with Ken. She is concerned pushing to find the elusive cause of the continued problem. Pray for her and Dr. Rivas and Dr. Suazo and the neurosurgeon who might be needed.

On July 4, I wrote:

It has been a difficult time with high fever and low sodium and no explanations. I have not dared leave to get things in Victoria. I haven't wanted to share my fears. There have been times of rejoicing for lucid moments. I have been feeding him everything he eats. We are struggling to fight off bedsores and deal with diapers. He doesn't complain, but he can't tell me his needs either. He can talk, but doesn't. No energy. Dr Rivas says he is doing an impressive job of staying connected considering how low the sodium is/was.

That same day the Mission president and his wife and Elder and Sister Benson the office couple and a new mission nurse and her husband visited us. Elder Babcock doesn't remember, but he got a blessing then too.

I stayed in close communication with Dr. Mikesell, the mission doctor in Santiago and reported regularly to President Martinez.  They were both communicating with the mission department in Salt Lake. They were in the process of concluding that we needed to return to Salt Lake City for continued medical treatment.  The doctors in Chile seemed unable to determine exactly what to do for Elder Babcock.

Elder Babcock had been in the hospital again for about five days when I read a Deseret News article about the miraculous healing of a mission President’s wife in Tennessee.  Four months after their mission began she had to have heart surgery and a year later suffered from a heart attack.  Many miracles occurred as they faithfully continued to serve for another six months until they received a letter from the First Presidency releasing them from their mission a year early.  I later felt that this article was one way the Lord was preparing us for an early release from our mission. 

I had been thinking today about priesthood blessings and my faith in them.  We don’t  always understand the words that are spoken. It is easy to be confused about timing and context. But I realized that I do have faith in Priesthood blessings. They promise the attention of the Lord. His will is going to prevail. Everything will work toward good. The experiences will be a blessing. We don't need to be afraid because we are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us and who has power over death and pain and hell. He wants us to come home.