The Break-In :: Emergency Surgery

Hello Everyone-

What an exciting week this has turned out to be! Let me first just say that after this weeks happenings we will feel lucky to be alive by the time we get home.

The week started out like a normal week...Joel worked all day Monday while I cleaned the house, we had Tuesday off and went to the beach, etc. On Tues. when we came home from the beach we noticed something wasn't quit right. As we came in, we saw that Joel's desk had been turned over with the drawers open, and there was a mess on the floor all around it. Our first thought was, "was there an earthquake?"...naive us...we had the earthquake theory because there were no windows or doors broken...we actually had to unlock the door to get inside...our windows are always open, but we have bars on them. After that, we started to realize what had really happened. As we looked around, we noticed that the video camera was missing, but nothing else. That was strange...why didn't they take the computer, and the printer, and the guitar, etc? As our investigation went on, we started to think creatively about how the robber might have gotten in. We have two balconies, one on the roof which is the full balcony, and one downstairs at the level of our apartment that wraps around. We went out to the wrap-around balcony to see what we could see...sure enough, all the evidence was there. The suspect left a long piece of re bar with a hook on the end to "fish" things out of the window. That's why he didn't get the computer, or the guitar, or the printer, etc...because they had nothing for the "hook" to grab onto....Yes, they tried to get the computer (it was laying on the ground damaged, as was the printer).


Our neighbors were SO helpful to us! They came over and saw what had happened and had mentioned a strange character running up and down the hill several times that day. One of our neighbors called the police right away for us. Four police officers showed up within 5 American minutes of calling and said they would beef up the hill patrols. Our neighbors also told the officers what they had seen.

So, fortunate for us, we have insurance on the camera and computer, so hopefully we can get them replaced. To file the police report, we were told to go to the police station that's clear out by the dump where we go to school. We thought we could just "stop by" and take care of it "really quick" on the way to school...again, naive us. In our defense, we did show up an hour before school...seemingly enough time to allow the difference between Mexican and American time. Anyway, we were there for 2 1/2 hours waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more. It wasn't that there was a lot of people or anything...it was more like there were five employees at their desks and only helping 2 people at a time while their counterparts talked on their cell phones, surfed the net, gossiped with their co-workers, etc. Needless to say, we missed school on Wednesday and are due to go pick up the report this afternoon...we couldn't take it home on Wednesday as they had to verify the story with the local police dept. (long lengthy Mexican story)...please pray for a speedy trip.

In other news...our health seems to be further declining. The cold that I developed last Saturday turned into a sinus infection on the right side of my face. I don't ever remember a sinus infection hurting that bad and I have never blown such bright yellow snot out of my nose either! That was a quick fix...I went to the pharmacy for some antibiotics and decongestant, and finally, today, Friday, I have woken up without the right side of my face and jaw throbbing...Praise the Lord!

Joel actually gets the credit for the most interesting health story for the week. On Wednesday night headed into Thursday morning I had reached over to touch him and noticed he was burning up. I took his temp when we woke up the next morning and it was 103...adults aren't supposed to run fevers that high. Anyway, the only other symptom he had was that "My butt hurts"...sorry, there was just no other way to put it. Needless to say, you shouldn't have 103 fever and only your butt be hurting. We thought we would wait for other "normal" symptoms to develop before treatment. I just gave him some Tylenol and he slept the fever off and woke up fine. He insisted on going to school and as we were driving there, another fever developed with the full on chills and shakes. He was a mess by the time we got to Pan de Vida and was escorted to the doctor's office by Dennis and Pastor Luis Miguel. I stayed behind to work with the kids, not feeling too well myself and really worrying about Joel. Dennis came back without Joel and I was told that he was now in the proctologist's office for the "pain in his butt." It turns out that he had a badly infected, grade 4, thrombosed hemorrhoid. I followed Dennis back to the Dr's. office (yes, I actually drove) where I met Joel. The Dr. shut down the rest of his day's schedule to admit Joel to the hospital and do emergency surgery. At first, we were told that it would cost 2,000 pesos for the dr's. fee, and 600 pesos for the hospital stay.....It turns out that this whole thing is costing more like $2,500 US Dollars, $750 for the overnight stay and $1500 for the surgery...boy did we feel deceived. It was an error in communication, and we were actually aware of the actual cost before going in for surgery...it was an emergency though and needed to be done. The proctologist so strongly suggested the procedure that he even gave up his $500 portion because he thought it was so necessary and could see that we were going to go home because it was too much money...so instead of $3000, it's going to be $2500.

So, here we are, Friday morning, at Cornerstone Hospital in Puerto Vallarta. Joel is feeling fine, he's eating breakfast right now. The Dr. said that everything went well and the Joel should be fine. He had to stay at the hospital because the infection was so bad and he needed to be monitored. Luckily the kids don't have school today in celebration of Dia de Mamas (Mother's Day). We are hoping to take it easy and rest.

Now for some good news...I have submitted three resumes/applications for three different positions at Mary Bridge/Tacoma General for residencies. One in the PICU (Pediatric ICU), one in the NICU (Neonatal ICU), and one in the Mary Bridge ER. So far, I have an interview set up in the NICU that I'm really excited about! That will be on the Monday before we return back here to PV. I would also love to interview in the PICU as well. All the positions start in the beginning of September.

Please be praying for us as we prepare to come home for our visit. We really feel like the enemy is attacking us and trying to distract from God's purposes. We don't feel like doors are necessarily closing yet as the kids are doing great and the clinic in Quimixto has been going much better. We appreciate you checking in and praying for us!

Joel and Leslie