Erick Update

Erick, a young man from our village, was in an accident last Monday night here in the Philippines.  He was taken to the local hospital where a CT scan was done.  The doctors noticed a bleed in his brain and wanted him moved to a bigger hospital with more experienced doctors.  Thankfully our Ethnos 360 Aviation helicopter was available and able to fly him the short distance to the bigger hospital.  We have since learned that as much as the doctor knew he needed to go to another hospital he also knew that Erick wasn’t stable enough to be driven on the very twisty, very bumpy, 50 km road to the bigger hospital.  We are so thankful that he was able to be flown there.

Tuesday night once at the other hospital they did extensive surgery to remove a piece of his skull and put a drainage tube in.  After that he began having seizures.  The family was very concerned and looked into transferring him to a private hospital in hopes of receiving better, more attentive care.  But the doctor said it was not safe to transfer him.

On Sunday morning our co-workers, Dennis & Valerie Easton, went to visit Erick and his family at the hospital.  He was in a ward with 15 other patients and they each had at least 2 other family members with them.  Needless to say it was very crowded.  Erick was very weak, saying hi quietly and then just responding to things by raising his eyebrows.  The seizures continued but the doctors finally started giving him medicine to help but it didn’t stop them.  Erick was also having trouble eating, even swallowing a broth was difficult.

By Monday night when Dennis stopped by again Erick was much more alert and looking less pained.  The doctors have removed the drain from his head and the seizures have lessened.  It sounds like they will just be monitoring him now to see how he improves but there is talk of discharge soon!  We are praising the Lord for that.  He will have to have the piece of skull replaced at some point but we don’t know how that goes.

Thank you so much for your prayers for Erick and his family.  Today Lanie (Erick’s sister-in-law) came to work on lessons so that was great for Chuck.  Hopefully tomorrow Eddie will come too.  It has been difficult for them to concentrate with all this on their minds.  Chuck is hoping to go out over the next few days to visit Erick and Maureen.

Please keep praying for Erick and the family.  Pray that we can use this to show them more about our Lord and Saviour.

If you would like to help with the ongoing medical expenses for Erick or any of our Ga’dang friends, please follow the links below.

Canadian Donors:  Ga’dang Medical Assistance

US Donors: Ga’dang Community Service