Tuesday, November 15, 2016

November 15, 2016: Day -4






Today has been a full day of unexpected happenings.  Our driver, Angel planned to meet the carers at 7:00 a.m. to drive to the Volcano to see it up close.  The patients could not go because there were no bathrooms along the way and the trip was going to take 4 hours.  I hoped to go but was not sure if Doug would be well enough for me to leave.  Well, morning came early when Doug awoke a little after 5 feeling sick.  By 6:30, I did not think I could leave. Shortly after that I got a text from another carer saying his wife had a rough night, with lots of pain in her hips and feeling sick. They had been in contact with the doctor and he prescribed some pain medication.  Joint pain is common with the injections the patients are getting to increase their stem cells. So far Doug has not experienced this.  I took a heating pad I had brought with us over to them. Tony and I were both concerned about leaving but after talking to Angel we learned that he could wait and take us later if we wanted to see how everyone was doing in an hour.  We agreed to do this.

Meanwhile, we were having more toilet  problems.  The plumber was suppose to arrive at 7:00 am. our nurse before 9:00 and our housekeeper sometime in the morning.  Doug really wanted me to go and he said there would be people around.  By 8:30 he was feeling better and I decided to go, reluctantly.  Just before leaving the plumber showed up and then as I was walking out the housekeeper arrived.  Later the nurse came. I felt better knowing that there would be people in the apartment, but still a little nervous.  Several times through the day Doug and I communicated through text. I was glad I had cell coverage it helped to relieve some of my fears and made us both feel better.

Angel took us by way of the freeway to Mexico City and then up the backside of the volcano through the countryside. It was interesting to see people's way of life along the freeway and then as we drove through a small section of Mexico City and finally up the mountain.  Along the freeway, instead of rest stops, there were small business that sold food, vegetables and trinkets similar to flea markets.  In Mexico City there were a number of contrasts between the affluent and the poor such as a huge cinema anda modern Walmart and then small poor concrete block homes.  We saw many stray dogs and lots of people selling things in the streets and on the side of the road.

Traveling up the mountain we went through many smaller poor towns with lots of agriculture including corn, fruit orchards and Christmas tree farms.  In one very poor town Angel told us that many people here make there way to the US to try to earn money and send it back to their families.  The homes were small square and concrete block.

Soon we left the towns and began a steep climb up a well paved two lane highway with many switchbacks.  We were able to climb to about 12,500 feet.  The other carers teased me because I was the only one in the car that wanted to know the altitude by feet, everyone else understand altitude measured in meters.  I told them that of course Americans have to be different! :)  We don't want to be like the rest of the world!  Much to our dismay, the further we went up the mountain the cloudier it got.  No way could we see the volcano.  Before we could reach the summit the road was closed.  There was a police presence and we could not go any further.  We got out, walked around the recreational area and enjoyed the altitude and scenery before descending down.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3546419/Mexican-volcano-erupting-periodically-22-years-spews-ash-two-miles-air-forces-Puebla-International-Airport-close.html

We came back to Puebla along the backside of the volcano.  It was a ruddy dirt road with switchbacks.  We all held on to our seat handles and swayed to and fro.  The evergreens and lush undergrowth were beautiful.  Everyone in the car was in good humor and enjoyed our adventure as we bumped and swayed down the mountain.

An hour later we reached the bottom going through more small agricultural towns; seeing donkeys carrying corn stalks to be made into feed for the animals, shrines to saints and small concrete block houses and more orchards.  We stopped in a small town near Puebla where a very old man and a woman with very wrinkled skin,  were selling beautifully canned fruits.  Mereta (Norway) and I bought 2 bottles of fruit, one of peaches and another fruit that we have not seen before and I cannot remember the Mexican name for it.

And then we headed back into the city. Arriving home around 3:00 p.m. I was relieved to see Doug doing just fine.  Many people had been in and out of our apartment.  The plumber had come and gone several times, the nurse had given him his shot, checked his blood pressure and temperature, the housekeeper had stayed a couple hours, cleaning and finishing some laundry and our other driver Lorenzo had come up to see Doug and to practice collapsing his wheelchair.  Doug said it had been a busy day.  He had napped off and on throughout the day when he could, along with watching CNN and visiting as best he could with mostly Spanish speakers.  He was fine. Unfortunately our other friend and patient was still having lots of pain.

Everyone has some concerns about tomorrow.  Group 1, our group, gets the catheter also called a PIC line in their chest in the morning and in the afternoon their stem cells will be harvested.  I ask your prayers for all of them and all of us who care for them.

Holy One, your power is manifested in the size and explosiveness of huge volcanoes and the tenderness of care through the deeds of kindness like helping with wheelchairs, folding laundry and fixing toilets. Open our hearts to see the wonder of you in all things and all circumstances.  Give us courage and hope in the days to come as we deal with the unknown.  Help us to see your power and strength in our doctors and caregivers.  Strengthen our faith in your goodness and healing power.  In your name we ask it.  Amen

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