A humbling day...

Saturday was:

A-Rusty's first full day with us

B-One of the most humbling days since I've been in Kenya

C-A very scary day as well...

Saturday we got a text from Thomas saying he was taking Zippy to Ngong Hospital b/c she had been throwing up all night. We told him to let us know what they diagnose her with. At 9:45 we were leaving to go to a meeting and to see the boys when Thomas called back saying they wanted to take her by AMBULANCE to Kenyatta hospital (40 minutes or so away). Chris and I just felt like we should go and check on them and give them $$ for the ambulance ride. When we got there, Thomas informed us that Zipporah had a positive pregnancy test except she had SEVER pain in her right lower quadrant. She was vomiting and had been since she got home from work the day before. She had all the classic signs of an ectopic pregnancy. They had given her an IM injection that had given her no relief as of yet. There was 1 MD and 1 Nurse at this hospital that we could tell and a BOAT LOAD of patients. Zippy was wrenching in pain. I rubbed her back and prayed in her ear, not knowing what else to do. I felt so horrible and helpless for her. We waited and waited only to find out that the Ambulance driver wouldn't answer his phone. No one could find him and who knew when they would. Fed up, we told them to put her in our car and we would take her. I asked if they would call ahead to Kenyatta hospital and tell them we were coming via our own ambulance. They said- "we don't do that". Well... of course you don't. However, the nurse ASSURED me Zippy would practically be taken straight into the theatre (aka- O.R.). We got zippy into the car and I told CT to put his hazards on (which means nothing here) and drive fast. He was driving like a Matatu driver, but he got us there with only a minor fender bender! (just a tiny tap)

We got to the hospital and it felt like ages before we ever found the ER or "casualty". I walked in with Thomas and they told us to put her on a stretcher and wait in line. So much for taking her straight to the O.R. Good thing I knew better. While Zippy was waiting in the stretcher line to be seen in triage I looked around. People were everywhere! There was a man vomiting off the side of his stretcher onto the floor. I saw AT LEASE 4-5 children come in with very SERIOUS burns- none of which were even crying. Another man came in handcuffed to the bed but bleeding all over the floor. Rusty, Chris and I went and sat outside until Zippy was to been seen. I wasn't handling to bile smelling vomit very well nor did I know what any of these people had. My doctor has already told me to limit time with the st. boys and in the slums. Finally, Zippy was seen and had to wait in another line to see the MD. We gave Thomas some money and went on with Rus to our meeting. Later we find out that she had her ultrasound and thankfully her tube had not burst! Praise the Lord!!

Zippy had been asking for water in the ER and Rusty was going to give her some of his, but I told her she couldn't have anything b/c they would likely take her straight into surgery and if she eats/drinks they would have to delay the surgery. What did they do later that afternoon? Someone fed her b/c she was "weak". HELLO!! GIVE HER SOME IV FLUIDS!! Did NO ONE think to give her IV fluids???? It really really frustrated me (on top of everything else that I felt they did extremely inadequately. [Says the girl that came from 1st world medicine] ) Rus and I were talking about how in the world they can have such pristine, beautiful malls here and such a disgusting hospital. What an oxymoron! CT pointed out that it's not the Kenyans building those malls. It was a real wake up call that I really DO live in a 3rd world. Sometimes I think I forget that until I see things like this. I've been going to my doctors appointments at a nice Indian hospital where there aren't giant holes in the ceiling with cob webs hanging down- maybe I just forget some times. You wouldn't think I would going in to the slums a few times every week. But medical care is just one of those things, I suppose, I take for granted. At any rate, Zippy had her surgery at midnight Saturday night and is doing well now. CT, Rus and I picked her up Tuesday and brought her home.

Communication isn't the best between doctors and patients here so I felt like I should explain to Thomas that there was no way to save the baby. That the surgery would be to remove the baby from the tube. I only told Thomas since Zippy's head was buried in the seat. Thomas looked so disappointed. I hated being the bearer of bad news but I don't believe in sugar coating or lying- as is very common in this culture. They tell you what they think you want to hear rather than the truth.

Both Zipporah and Thomas are home now and doing well. She is out of work for 3-4 weeks probably. But she is very upbeat and positive about the whole thing (per Thomas). I asked how her heart was and he told me (in so many words) that she's just thankful to be alive and out of pain. She's hopeful that she can now get pregnant. Chris and I have been praying every single night for them to get pregnant; now we just need to pray that the baby will move on to the uterus rather than stay in that tube!

I'm sure they would covet your prayers! This infertility issue has been made even harder since they recently sent their 13 year old off to boarding school (this is customary here). So now they are empty nesters and must come to work seeing us happy and pregnant. I just ache for them.

This is my favorite picture of my Zippy...