6/14/2018 - Personal Journal

June 14, 2018

Personal Journal, Missionary Stories,

It’s been an intense few weeks. Sister Taele, in Palawan, came down with what I thought was the same flu that so many others in the mission had had. But on the second day, I felt I should call her and go over her symptoms. The ‘stomach cramps she had mentioned, were—when I asked for a more detailed description--were not stomach cramps. She was having intense abdominal pain. I called the senior couple on her island, and asked them to get her to the hospital clinic. They got to her immediately, and took her to the ER instead. Final diagnosis: Dengue Fever AND Typhoid Fever at the same time—a rarity, but possible. Hospitalized for 12 days in an island hospital with 3 doctors working very hard, and she’s okay now—just working on regaining strength.   

Five days after Sister Taele went into the island hospital, we were rushing Sister Lafitani to St Luke’s Hospital here on the mainland. Her legs and arms were without strength and the pain inside of them surpassed 10. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone in that much pain. Within a couple of days of being in the hospital she could once again use her arms and hands, but her legs could not hold up her body. She had little control over them. She couldn’t raise lift them up from her bed. She couldn’t move her ankles or her toes. And her pain continued –often at a levels of 8-10. Her diagnosis came back as Chikungunya Virus –another mosquito born disease. On day 12 of her hospitalization, I received this text from Sister Fermanis: “Sister Waits…this may seem like an odd question, not really mine either…In fact it was the last thing I would consider. My Companion has asked that I speak to you and for you to do what is needed to get Sister Lafatani to attend Zone Conferene. After our morning prayers he said he felt impressed that she should attend Zone Conference – for herself & for the other missionaries. Is that EVEN POSSIBLE? Is it safe? Would they clear an outing like that? What are the risks? Those were my questions. My Companio said if his impressions were correct – it would work. What are your thoughts on this?” My thoughts?! I was shocked. She couldn’t walk! She was not doing well with her physical therapy! There was no way she would be able to take care of herself. She had to have someone with her 24 hours a day. Our main health goal had been to get her pain level down, and then she would probably have an early release to return home to Tonga. The hardest part is that we had no idea when she would walk again. Her Chikungunya virus was one of the most dramatic cases the doctors had seen. The virus is known to cause problems like this, and its effects can last for days, for weeks, or for years! We kept re-thinking our goal, because we knew the medical help that would be available to her in Tonga would most likely not be enough to help her recover. We had to keep her in the hosptial as along as we could. There was no doubt in my mind that this was not the time to have her released from the hospital. My response to that text from Sister Fermanis was that she could not walk safely, and that a fall would be devasating. I told her that discharges did not happen quickly in the Philippines—even when they were planned well in advance. I told her I didn’t know if the doctors would even sign discharge papers—and with the holiday, if they would even be available at all. And President Fermanis’ answer to all of my logic was: “If my impressions are correct – it will work.”

I have always treasured the fact that our mission president is a man who follows his impressions. And so, after sitting in shock and numbness for at least 5 long minutes—reminding myself that nurses are to do no harm—I also reminded myself that Presdient Fermanis is a man of faith, a man I trust and admire and want to imulate. And so, I’m afraid I must admit that it was with much dread, I headed out to the nurses station and I started working to get her discharged that day or the next day –which is when the zone conference was scheduled. I repeat: the discharge process from this hospital is a long and winding road, and rarely happens quickly. The physical therapy department was apalled that she was going. All her doctors would have to sign off on her discharge before she could even think about leaving. She had rheumatologiests, neurologiests, infectious disease doctors, and rehab doctors all needing to sign off—and this was a holiday! There was no way this was going to happen, and yet, it did. She was discharged the day of the zone conference at 11:55 in the morning. I got her into a taxi, along with her walker—she couldn’t move without that walker, and when she did move- she was not stable at all. She needed a gait belt, along with two people holding onto the belt as she tried to walk. We left with no gait belt—and just me to help if she had difficulties. We got to the church just as the zone conference was breaking for lunch. We got her seated at the edge of the cultural hall. And then after lunch, when everyone else was in their district meeting segments—President Fermanis talked with Sister Lafitani quietly. It was right after that, in that quiet church building, that I came out into the hallway and saw Sister Lafitani with her companion, Sister Tui’pulotu, who was close by her side, but not touching her at all. They were walking! She was walking!! She was not lurching. She was not stumbling. Her knees were not collapsing. She was walking freely and a normal pace! I rushed up to them and asked “How did this happen???!!!” Sister Lafitani looked at me and simply said: “President Fermanis told me “You need to walk.” It was that simple. I told them we had to go see President Fermanis immediately. He and Sister Fermanis were sitting alone at the back of the chapel. When Sister Lafitani walked in—and kept walking back and forth in front of them—no one spoke. The Fermanis’ looked from Sister Lafitani back to me and back to her. Their mouths were hanging open—as was mine. And finally he looked at me and asked “How did this happen?” I looked back and said, “ She told me you said she had to walk.” Everyone was overcome. President Fermanis bent forward with his head down, and that’s when I heard –very softly—the words “Holy Hell!” (He’s a lifetime, rough and tumble rugby player) There were lots of tears and lots of thanks.

 Now, whether there was a miracle that restored strength to those legs, or whether this Tangan Sister just needed to have the proper motivation from the proper person, I don’t know. But I do know, President Fermanis was prompted, with a prompting that not only made absolutely no sense—but that seemed to take us in a direction that would cause far more harm than good. But he acted on his prompting—nothing wavering. Sister Lafitani can walk now. The process is still very painful, but she smiles and says “I can take the pain.” And there is a sweet feeling in my soul that she WILL handle the pain, and a prayer in my heart that at some time that pain will fade.