What's Been Going On

Okay, so we finally get to go ahead to move. We started on a Monday morning and only one brother showed up to help (Mark J. you're a saint). Actually, 6 brothers committed to come, but I guess things came up. After a while, another husband and wife showed up and some sisters from the hall who helped me unpack the kitchen stuff.

It was Carnival week and everything shuts down for the holiday. Carnival is Ecuador's biggest holiday, even more revered than Christmas. So we were anxious to get everything done before the weekend and Mark's elder school. Just when you think you have everything planned, all goes haywired. Mark started running a high fever. By the next day the fever was spiking to 103 and we went to the Doctor. We thought he just had a bit of flu. Well, He was admitted to the hospital immediately. He had uerosepsis which attacked his bloodstream. The doctor told us had we waited one day more he would have died. This was very scary and they kept him overnight giving him strong, intravenious antibiotics. Then he was released and we had to go back every 12 hours to the emergency room for him to recieve 4 more introvenious antibiotics. We had to search the entire city for the medicine, it took us 6 hours to locate what he needed. Finally, we called the pharmecuetical rep and he located the 4 bottles that we needed. Each ampule costs $120 so you can imagine the added stress. He continues to be on strong antibiotics and will have to have a scan soon. Something unusual showed up on his kidney xray and it needs to be investigated as a possible cause for his infection. Mark is recovering slowly; he still is very weak and hasn't been able to work. He is depressed because not only does he feel horrible, this slowed down our move and to top things off he missed the Elder's school again...last time he missed because he broke his leg. So this is what has been happening...

We thank all our family and friends that have been supportive during this difficult time. Your calls and messages have been welcomed. I won't be able to write for a while because we still do not have internet or phone at the house. But, I will try to write once in while when at work when I have access to a computer.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.