Rainy Day Special... An Update on Alpha's Health

Going out on a Rainy Day

The monsoon or rainy season is in full swing here in Bangladesh. A few weeks ago Alpha and I were out to lunch at our 'go to' restaurant on one such rainy day. The menu was limited to a few dishes, thankfully one was my usual Beef Kichuri (beef and rice mixed with yellow lentils). I asked Alpha why and he told me it was the Rainy Day Special. Then I tasted the food and was amazed. It was by far some of the nicest Kichuri I had ever had. Bangladeshis are very particular about their food, and on a rainy day they crave something warm and hearty. Kichuri that is made correctly takes hours and so on this rainy day the restaurants put all their time and effort into a few delicious, time consuming dishes to please their soaked and weary customers.

I have often thought back to this meal with my husband over the last weeks and days. A day or so after that lunch I came home after school to find Alpha doubled over with pain in his side. I asked how long had  he been in pain the which he replied "oh, all day."

At United Hospital

At this point, having some medical background I knew he was having an appendicitis. We went to the local doctor just to confirm and he sent us immediately to the emergency room. He recommended Apollo (the foreigner hospital in the area that costs an arm and a leg, not just an appendix) but also said we could go to United Hospital (an expensive, but not the most expensive, slightly trusted by foreigners, but not the best hospital). We choose United because it is within walking distance of our house. But once there things slowed down. The emergency room was reluctant to do anything and decided to have him admitted for observation instead, even though we asked for surgery. They said that they wanted to give him antibiotics, do some (expensive) tests and after 2 days in the hospital they discharged him and said to have him come back in three weeks for surgery. WHAT?!? At this point we were so confused. Knowing appendicitis can burst I was not comfortable with this but we went home praying.

On a side note the 2 days we were in the hospital all on the nurses in Bangladesh were on strike, so we had little 15 year old student nurses trying the best they could to help us out.

At Upasham with Jethro Alpha's cousin

Back the the story: About 2 hours after we got home Alpha spiked a fever the the pain in his side increased dramatically. I called his family and asked what to do. In Bangladesh you need to be quite animated it you want something to happen. So after my first few conversations about what hospital to take him to and no one understanding the seriousness on the situation, I may have yelled at one of my uncle to get his butt into gear because I was taking Alpha back to the emergency room RIGHT NOW. At the United emergency room the doctors again wanted to admit him, with my uncles on the way with a back up hospital in mind, I had some very strong words with the doctors about the ridiculousness of all the testing and charges and room stays when we already had a doctor recommending surgery. But God is good. At this point United hospital quoted us surgery at 200,000taka or $2,500, on top on the admitting charges. Alpha is not under my insurance and this figure gave me a heart attack. If we could have gotten to Khulna where his parents live the same surgery only cost 5,000taka or $64.00. But we could not risk the flight and bus ride to get there.

When his uncles arrived they had found a local hospital near by that offered a package deal, surgery plus 3 days hospital care for 28,000 taka or $363.00. We could not get a hold of a driver, so we all hoped in the back of a CNG (motorized rickshaw with 3 wheels) and head to Upasham Health Point. Once there he was scheduled for emergency surgery that night.

The way hospitals work in Bangladesh is you need to keep an attendant with the patient at all times. So we sent up a family rota to stay with Alpha, run to the pharmacy to get his meds or IV fluid and provide him with food. I am so thankful for family because I did not understand most of what was going on, but they stepped up and took amazing care of Alpha and I during this time. That is what makes Bangladeshis so special, their commitment to family.

Alpha's mom (who is also a nurse) came up while hes was in the hospital and stayed with us for a few days as it was my last week of teaching and as soon as school was out we hopped on a plane and flew to Khulna to stay at his parents house.

I am so happy and thankful to say that 2.5 weeks after surgery Alpha is doing wonderful. I praise the Lord every day that he has not had any infection. His incision is healing cleanly with only his hand still bruised and in a little pain (remember those student nurses? They did a number to the his hand with the IV. Not knowing how to detach the line for new saline they tried to yank it off. Ouch!).

After a Rainy Day in Khulna

Alpha and I are enjoying our time with family. It is especially sweet as we wait for Alpha's visa to the States. We could not have planned a more perfect time to be with his family. As the rain comes and goes, it is nice to be filled with peace knowing that God is in control and that His Rainy Day Special was created just for us.