Waiting All Day with Abby

It is the surgeon’s opinion that Abigail has the operation.

Did we hear this right? We were stunned by the swift turn of events. Only a couple of hours earlier we had brought Abby to the St. Yarid Hospital continue to figure out what was going on in her little body.

From Friday night, when she complained of pain in her lower side until now, we had spent most of the weekend at the hospital. Abby complained of pain on Good Friday night at the twins birthday party (a very nice outdoor affair with hot dogs and marshmallows roasted over an open fire).

On Holy Saturday we spent much of the day as a family at St. Yarid’s, all being tested for gastro-intestinal problems (except Wanda). We were asked to give blood, stool and urine samples based on our symptoms. Abby and Sophia were asked for all of these, but Sophia couldn’t give blood in the end. Amani and I were given a clean bill of health but Sophia and Abby were found to have amoebas. Both were immediately put on antibiotics to wipe them out, but the doctors wondered why Abby was complaining of pain in her side so they decided to do an ultrasound test on her. It was from those tests that they thought they spotted an ‘intussusception’, which is something like the intestinal wall folding into itself (visit this website to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intussusception_(medical_disorder) ). But the diagnosis wasn’t fitting because Abby didn’t have severe cramping or high fever or vomiting. So they ordered another ultrasound in the evening. But a huge rainstorm hit Addis on Saturday evening and even though I tried I could not get to the other side of town. Traffic was the worst I have ever seen it (and that is saying a lot). It took about a half hour to decide to turn around and 3 hours just to get back home!

The ultrasound was rescheduled for Easter Sunday (Palm Sunday for Ethiopians). I went to the sunrise service, went home, picked up Abby and headed across town. The circumstances were much improved. This time there was no traffic, this time the pediatrician was there to monitor the test with the technician. Again, the doctor and technician saw an intussuseption and asked that Abby come back for another test on Monday. That night Wanda called our Menno doctor friend in town for advice. He suggested that whatever the result on Monday at St. Yared, that we get a second opinion. That sounded wise to us.

So on Monday Wanda and I took Abby and arrived at 9 a.m. to see the doctor for another ultrasound. Over the course of the weekend as we talked with the doctors I continued to ask what would happen if the diagnosis is intussusception and although we talked about various treatments, the only option in Ethiopia is surgery. Still, Abby’s symptoms didn’t point to intussusception so no one was going that far on the weekend. After the 3rd ultrasound however, the doctors saw the same thing again. They conferred and said that, in their opinion, Abby should have an operation. We said that we wanted a second opinion and mentioned Dr. Lim, who was suggested by Dr. Trego, our friend and was known to Dr. Teame, the head doctor at St. Yared. They agreed and Dr. Teame called him. Dr. Lim was just going into surgery at his hospital (Cure Hospital is a NA Christian venture which treats physical deformities such as cleft palate for free to those who can’t afford treatment). Dr. Lim said he would see us but needed a CaT scan in order to diagnose. So off we went to the WWJ clinic to have Abby scanned. From 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. we waited in the clinic until the electricity came back on in order for them to power the CaT scanner.

Abby remained in good spirits most of the time. She was laughing and joking at the start but as the morning wore on she became somber when she understood that she might have surgery. Still I don’t think she understood the full import even when we explained to her. Her biggest worry was not going back home to play with Sophia (who was home still recovering from her amoeba) whom she had promised to play with on Monday. Yet as the day wore on she became restless and weary and after we ate lunch, her side hurt again. But she never broke down. Even when we finally arrived home at dusk exhausted, Abby still had a sense of humor about her.

The final stop was going to the Cure Hospital to see Dr. Lim. He is an American board certified plastic surgeon as well as a general surgeon. He and his wife (a pediatrician) are here as Christians to serve the Ethiopians. Cure Hospital provides a service to those who are physically disfigured, such as cleft palate, and need surgery to repair. There are Cure Hospitals all over the world, so I am told, and obviously doing a much needed service. Since we didn’t fit into the category of Ethiopian or physically deformed, we were asked to pay western prices for the consultation. The money would go directly to help defray hospital expenses in helping the needy. In this case it was worth a top notch diagnosis and opinion.

She doesn’t need surgery. What a relief when Dr. Lim looked at the CaT scan and examined Abigail and came to the conclusion that she did not have an intussusception. That could be ruled out. Still, what about the mystery pain in her right side? It could be the amoeba causing the pain so at this point (of mild symptoms) it was worth waiting to see if it went away as the meds took effect. If the pain persisted over time then Abby would need to be re-examined and the possibility of an inflamed appendix would need to be taken into consideration. But for now, it seemed we were out of the woods.

We arrived home at 6:30 p.m., having left the house 10 hours ago. What a day! But those who knew were praying and we were comforted by the thoughts and prayers of our friends. Even today, as we were attending a book launch for the Meserete Kristos Church Peace Office, we were surprised when Mr. Kenna and Mr. Amde asked Mr. Jim Ralph to lead in prayer for Abby and for our family. And now, friends and family, you know as well and we ask for your prayers for our family. It has been a difficult year with illnesses, particularly of the gastro-intestinal kind, time after time. We pray that Sophia will recover to full health from the amoeba. Unfortunately she contracted rheumatic fever last December and will need penicillin shots for the next 12 years or so to ward off the possibility of getting it again. Now we pray that Abby’s pain in her right side subsides completely and that there won’t be any future complications. Amani has had her share of GI illnesses but fortunately nothing major at this time. Life in Ethiopia is challenging enough without constantly battling illness and disease.

Only 68 days until the Amstutz home leave . . .