Harold

Harold is 42 years old, the youngest of three brothers. Their parents are no longer living. Harold also has 4 children: six-year-old twins girls, a four year old and an 18 month old. His wife died just over a year ago of malaria, so he raises his children on his own, with the help of his two brothers and sister-in-laws.

Harold has had high blood pressure for years, with fluctuating creatinine´s. His creatinine (a test to see how the kidneys are functioning) had been slowly increasing. He was admitted to our hospital twice with his whole body swollen and his lungs and abdomen full of fluid. His kidneys were not able to get rid of the excess fluids. His last admission, he had a creatinine of 6 (usually once you reach 5 you need dialysis). Luckily the diuretics worked and he was able to urinate out some of the excess water and breath easier. We sent him to Iquitos where he was hospitalized at our referral hospital. He was sent back with a creatinine of 4, on the all the right meds to keep his water balance stable.

So yesterday and today, I spent a lot of time talking to Harold and his brothers about dialysis and renal transplant. Progression of kidney disease is often inevitable. Dialysis requires that he live in Iquitos, where he has no family members who could support him. He doesn't want to live hooked up to a machine two days a week, far from his community. His brothers just make enough to scrape by, selling the fish they catch and meat they hunt to support their own kids through school. They are not in a position to support him to live in Iquitos, nor in a position to donate a kidney, being that they must travel to Lima and spend many months away from their own families who are so dependent on them.

Despite the gravity of the whole situation, Harold has a constant smile on his face and the most positive attitude. The family has an immensely strong faith in God, and finds solace knowing that He is in control. We are all hoping and praying for a miracle- an improvement in his health and the return to normal of his kidney function. As you could imagine, he wants to be back in his community with his family. Once he gets there, he will continue the medicines that his kidney doctor has prescribed and also utilize plants and other natural remedies to attempt to cure his condition. Keep Harold and his children and family in your prayers!

After being here for two months, I decided to take a call. Brian and I were here without other doctors for three days, and instead of him working non-stop, I covered. The knock on my window came at 1am. Blanca, the midwife who covers all low risk deliveries came to discuss a patient. Doctor Juan, who’s house is connected to ours, heard the knock and came to see what the commotion was about. The three of us sat on benches outside our front door as Blanca recounted that the 25 year old woman, pregnant with her first baby and a week overdue, arrived with contractions and bleeding. There were blood clots on her exam, and the baby’s heart was beating faster than normal. We all agreed that a cesarean would be the safest thing, since the patient was not yet dilated. 

At 11pm, the town power goes out, so in the pitch black, the night watchman Lenorio went to inform the nurse Lily that she was needed. We communicated by phone to the nurse Yoly who would assist in the surgery and her husband Frank who works in the lab and would check the patients platelet count before I did her spinal. 

Lenorio returned with Lily, and then went to turn on the hospital’s diesel powered motor for the surgery. It takes usually an hour to prepare the patient and operating room and to mobilize everyone, which in this case was fine because the baby’s heart rate had normalized. 

Dr. Juan and I delivered a beautiful baby boy, waited a minute before clamping the cord, and the baby was nursing within a few minutes… after his vitamin K injection and eye antibiotics. By 3am, she was back in her hospital bed with the baby lying at her side.

Helping bring new lives into the world is just miraculous! With Charlie in our life now, I relate to patients and parents with a bit of a different perspective, having experienced the joy of watching a baby grow and develop. There are so many little significant moments! 

Just today actually, Charlie was jumping up and down like he’s been doing recently in his Pack’n’Play. I watched him for 15 minutes and he tried to move from one side to the other, barely able to reach the higher curved rail. After almost falling a few times, leaning forward and catching himself with his belly on the netting, it dawned on him to take a step toward the other side. Patiently, with the wheels turning in his head, he made it all the way around the Pack’n’Play. 

On this Mother’s Day, I am filled with love and connectedness and humility. My love and prayers go out to my own wonderful mother and father and family, who carried me and cared for me and continue to care for me with the same love and concern I have for Charlie. I also keep in mind mothers here in our own community of Santa Clotilde. Although they live in poverty, fighting to feed their children, some living in fear of drunken husbands, they are blessed with the strength and love and perseverance to care for their children the best they can with the few resources they have. I remember my grandmothers, who paved the way for me and my parents. They lived through joys and struggles and though them, in some miraculous way, are the reason I am here in the Amazon today. I thank Zulma, Charlie’s nanny who cares for Charlie like he is her own, who provides him constant play and stimulation and offers us cultural and baby advice that has been invaluable.

I celebrate this day with my wonderful husband, who never tires caring for Charlie and I, who’s heart is so big that it gracefully fulfills not only his family role, but the role of Padres Jack and Moe who were mentors and inspirations to so many here in Santa Clotilde! 

Wish list: Help with a grant to build and maintain a woman’s shelter to help temper the abuses that are so common in our community

This last year has been life changing in so many ways. Attending Mission Doctors (MDA) Formation Program in Las Angeles for four months, living in community, living through the nausea that pregnancy brings, and celebrating our 5^th wedding anniversary consumed the first half of 2013. MDA formation was inspiring, and stretched us and our marriage to grow in ways we never imagined. 

Then, shortly after returning to Chicago, I awoke with contractions and before we knew it, our beautiful son was born…. two months early. Charlie is the most amazing miracle and he puts a smile on our faces all day. God is good! We’d like in this blog to share our joys and pains as parents, rural doctors, and as part of the interconnected web of life and love that unites us all.

Nursing, diapering, cleaning, and beholding the miracle of our little baby Charlie consumed me. I thought about how fast he’d grow, how he’d fare in the jungle, and about what to carry with us to Peru.  Over months, we prepared our bags, setting aside items to take to in Santa Clotilde. I frequently though about the many babies we had delivered in Santa Clotilde and took a deep breath knowing that even if showed up with nothing, we would find all we need in town. Despite knowing this, we do find solace in our water filter, ice cream maker, booster seat, cloth diapers, sharp knives, iPad, toys, and many of the other gracious gifts we were given to accompany us on our journey. 

More important than the bags we carry with us are the love and support of so many, and the humble knowing that we are guided always by a spirit much greater than ourselves.

While home, we enjoyed time with family and friends, indulged Charlie in his first taste of ice cream with Papa and Bets, watched as Nani taught Charlie to snap and sing Barney songs, and as Papa’s Donald Duck impression lit up his face. Grandmama endearingly read Charlie’s favorite musical turtle book to him and Grandpapa successfully changed poopie diapers, prepared bottles, and reflected back to our Charlie a smiley, bald, blue eyed image of himself. 

Charlie loves to play, to be mesmerized by palm trees, to talk to the zebra hanging  over the bed, and above all, he loves a full belly. Fattening him up after being born less than 5 pounds was not a difficult task. Our little butterball will love the jungle.  He’s starting to roll over, giggles up a storm when we tickle him, and has become proficient at shoving anything within reach into his mouth. 

Brian and I are filled with gratitude for each other, for our son Charlie, for our family and friends and their willingness to walk this journey with us. 

Antoinette