Although we have a nice room here at the New Tribes Mission guest house in town, a nice reasonable cost hotel room when in the city, and even a nice big, bright room when in the hospital in the city, we are really looking forward to FINALLY getting back to our home in our tribal village next week. We have been away from our house for two months now because of Gene’s medical issues so we’re looking at a big cleaning job when we get there mainly because of droppings from the house lizards. We hire Manubu’ ladies to clean the office areas which is about 85% of our house so that is a big help in getting the house livable again.
Gene saw his cardiologist and cardiac surgeon this week. They are both pleased with his progress. He no longer has to wear a sling to restrict movement of his left shoulder which is the side of his chest where the pacemaker was installed. Both of us have had to wear a face mask when out in public to help prevent Gene from picking up anything infectious. No longer need to wear the masks. With no sling and no mask he feels FREE, FREE, FREE!
There is still the issue of low blood pressure and fast heart rate. Dr Algadan, Gene’s cardiologist said to him, “You are my only patient I can say this to as most are overweight – bulk up! Gaining weight will help to raise your blood pressure. And eat a LOT of salt” Because of a no carb diet for many weeks because of a yeast overgrowth in his digestive system, Gene had gotten down to 114 pounds – almost an invisible man. He has been slowly adding back carbs to his diet over the past month and has gained back 8 pounds but needs to gain some more – but not too much, please!
Dr Alagadan and Dr Rocha, his cardiac surgeon, have been discussing what to do about Gene’s fast heart rate. The three medicines that have been tried so far haven’t worked. He is now on a fourth which is the last option of medicine they can think of. A problem is that most medicines that lower the heart rate also lower blood pressure and his blood pressure is already low. It will take several weeks before we know whether or not this fourth medicine will work. Gene had been on that medicine for ten years for his heart fibrillation, but went off from it a couple of years ago because of side effects. Please PRAY that the lower dose he is now taking of this medicine will lower his heart rate, and he won’t have serious side effects.
Before installation of the pacemaker Gene’s heart was in fibrillation much of the time. Since the pacemaker was installed it is rarely in fibrillation. PTL! And, a few times his heart rate has gone down to 60 which also means that the pacemaker is working as it is set so that the rate can’t go below that number.
For a couple of weeks after his stokes Gene couldn’t situp or standup for more than an hour or two without becoming very dizzy, weak, and faint, and feeling like all systems were closing down, and like he was just falling through space and about to die. He was only able to walk very short distances before his head would start swimming and legs rebelling and he would have to lie down. He is still always slightly dizzy and has an occasional dizzy, weak spells where he needs to lie down, but they are much less frequent now and much less severe. He is now able to be up pretty much all day with just one or two brief rest spells and doesn’t start to really fade until evening. He is able to walk at least a half a mile now although going pretty slowly the last bit.
Because our mission airplane can only fly during the day time, can be delayed for days by bad weather, and it takes about 2 1/2 hours to get from our airstrip to the city hospital, we have purchased an electric unit that continually takes oxygen from the air to provide oxygen in case of another heart attack. And a tank of oxygen to use in the plane.
Carol is happy to see Gene’s progress – takes a lot of stress away from her.
Please PRAY that Gene will continue to get stronger and get back to normal- no more strokes please – as the Lord wills. His stroke where his limbs and head were flailing around totally out of his control and he was unable to form words was the most scary thing he’s ever experienced in his life!
To go to be with the Lord would be great, but it is so interesting watching the Manubu’ churches move forward towards maturity and being a part of that process is something we don’t want to miss.
Many thanks for all the prayers sent up to our Lord who is our Rock and Fortress and also for the special gifts of funds we’ve received during this time.