What an interesting and eventful week this has been!
As you can imagine, moving to a different country can bring with it many questions- especially about health and safety. What is the healthcare like? Is it comparable to the United States? Will my loved ones be safe living in our new home?
We had some of these questions answered this week.
Over the last four years, we have had some interaction with the Taiwanese healthcare: the village doctor, specialists at different hospitals, routine out patient procedures, but never a surgery requiring an overnight stay.
We can't say that any more.
Last October, while playing volleyball, Carl received what seemed a minor injury. He took an elbow to the ear from an over achieving teammate. Despite the mind jarring blow, he kept playing. It wasn't till later in the evening, he realized something just wasn't right.
After a trip to a specialist, the injury was diagnosed: a perforated eardrum.
After a hearing test, it was determined that the injury had in fact diminished hearing in that ear. But, not to worry, the doctor was confident that the body would repair the hole and no further action would be needed.
So we waited.
Unfortunately, the eardrum did not heal.
Surgery was discussed.
To ensure proper healing, no flying or travel into high altitudes is permitted for the three months following the surgery. So despite the inconvenience, Carl had to wait until after our travel back to the US this summer.
Last Sunday afternoon, Carl and I checked into China Medical here in Taichung.
This was our pile of stuff to take to the hospital. Why so much stuff, you ask?
A stay in the hospital here is much, much different than a stay in an American hospital.
While your every need and comfort is provided for there, it is not here. A loved one must be present to take care of you and your needs during an illness or surgery. Nothing is provided except the bed, and necessary medication.
Carl's doctor warned us to plan on staying two nights. I was to bring my own pillow and blanket, as well as food for us during the 48 hour stay. I felt like I was packing for a weekend get away, but this was no vacation.
As I was packing, it briefly passed through my mind to throw in a package of tissues. Public bathrooms in Taiwan don't necessarily provide toilet paper, so it is good to always be prepared. But, come on, we were going to a hospital. Surely, there would be toilet paper.
I quickly found out how wrong I was. Fortunately for me, Carl also had the same thought and instead of dismissing it as I did, he packed a couple small packages of tissues. Thankfully, he was in a sharing mood!
After arriving at a deserted hospital Sunday afternoon, we finally, with the aid of a good samaritan, found the correct building and floor. An IV was inserted, as well as Carl's height and weight measured. Over the next couple hours, he received the typical pre-op tests.
And then we waited.
They came for him at 7:30 the next morning. I didn't see him again for four hours. It was slightly stressful for me. Not one person spoke to me while I was waiting. No information given, no updates.
The procedure was to only take an hour, so I fully expected to be given some sort of update by 9:30. By 10:30, I was concerned. Other people waiting were called back to consult with a doctor or to see their loved one. I begin to wonder if they had called his Chinese name and I missed it. But without the language, I was unable to ask questions.
By 11:30, my imagination was kicking into overdrive. This was Carl's first time to be under the influence of anesthesia. What if something had gone wrong? What if they took him out a back door and he was already back in the room? My imagination wasn't helped by the prisoners coming for surgery, shackled by chains, not only at the wrists, but at the ankles also. No apparent weapons carried by the guards accompanying these prisoners. Visions of a violent breakout fueled my already over active thoughts. Obviously, I have watched too many crime related television shows!
Just about the time I was ready to take action, Carl was rolled out into the waiting room. I don't think I have ever been so relieved to see those brown eyes gazing at me. He even attempted a little smile. Sick from the anesthesia and heavily bandaged, Carl was returned to our room.
Originally, I was hoping once Carl was over the initial pain and discomfort of the surgery, we could ask to be released and continue recovery in the comfort of our own home. That thought was dashed when the nurse, in limited English, shared that the doctor would not be in to discuss the surgery until Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, outside our isolated curtained hospital cubicle, a typhoon barreled toward Taiwan; the third in just a two week period. The first grazed the southern half of the island. The second passed just north of the northern tip. This one was coming straight for the middle of the island.
This is a normal part of life in Taiwan. While we have very little crime, we do have earthquakes and typhoons. Fortunately for us, God planted us in Taichung, which is protected by high mountains. Typhoons come, but we are spared the worst of these storms. And while we feel the rumbles of many earthquakes, we have never been near an epicenter.
While inconvenient, this typhoon was only a three. Not like the five that slammed the east coast earlier this summer. The typhoon was projected to weaken to a one by the time it traveled through the mountains to Taichung. I wasn't too concerned. I just wanted to be home during the wind and rain, not stuck in a windowless room.
Tuesday morning rolled around after a frustrating night of IVs and nurses. Finally, we were told the doctor was coming soon. Elated, we arranged for friends to brave the already falling rain and gusty breezes to pick us up. We were packed and ready to go when the doctor arrived.
While the surgery went as planned, the doctor was surprised by the extent of the injury. Not only was the eardrum affected, but the tiny bone directly behind showed evidence of trauma. Fortunately, the bone continues to do its function of transmitting vibrations to the brain. A follow up appointment was made and after several answered questions, we were ready to head out.
We arrived safely home, several hours before the typhoon's damaging wind arrived.
Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the winds howled. The rain fell. In our four years, this by far was the worst typhoon. Our kitchen bay window visibly bowed inward. The entire window quivered. The rain, propelled by the gusts of wind, found its way into cracks, soon little rivers of water began pooling under the windows.
About three in the afternoon, exhausted from two nights of hospital sleeping, I decided to lay down. To my dismay, the bed was also shaking and quivering. Despite the constant motion and noisy banging of doors and blowing debris, I actually slept. When I awoke, the eye of Typhoon Megi was upon os. It was then that the extent of the damage was revealed.
This level 1 typhoon had reeked more damage to Taichung than, according to long term Morrison staff, the previous sixteen years. Before life could go back to normal, another day would be needed to clean up the damage. Uncharacteristically, the government called for a second typhoon day, even before the second half of the storm added to the damage.
On our campus alone, several houses on campus lost electricity. One older home had two windows blown in. I think four trees were completely blown down. On the island, millions of residences lost power. In Taichung, scaffolding from a high rise under construction was decimated.
Here are some more videos taken during Typhoon Megi:
While the effects of the typhoon Megi are gone. The effects of the surgery remains. Carl is extremely uncomfortable. The ear is packed with cotton and covered with a bandage. This greatly diminishes his hearing, as well as being uncomfortable. As the eardrum heals, it is popping and cracking. Carl describes it as having a bug in your ear and not being able to do anything about it. Please pray that on Tuesday, the doctor will remove the cotton and bandages allowing Carl to have better hearing. We are also praying that the surgery will be able to restore Carl's hearing to what it was before the accident.
And while the hospital stay was quite adventurous, I will add that the cost compared to what it would have been in America, makes it worth the strangeness and discomfort. We paid our portion on our way out Tuesday morning.
So simple and uncomplicated.
