My last day in Nicaragua was Thursday June 2nd. It was a beautiful day and felt like my birthday. The day started with me packing gifts to take to Assistant Patricia, Nurse Martha, the ladies that work at the Quinta, Ginny and Cecil, and Dr. Karla. To my surprise they had gifts for me too! I shared special moments with each of them as I gave them their gifts and received hugs.
Then Dr. Karla, Nurse Martha, Patricia and Dr. Karla’s Husband and I went to visit 2 year old Dayana and her mother at the hospital. Dayana has been there for 15 days and is really poor condition. Dayana’s organs are failing. Her kidneys are not working at all and a machine called a Dialysis machine is functioning as her kidneys. Her liver is not working. Her heart is being sustained by medicines, and she is attached to a ventilator that is breathing for her since her lungs/muscles are not working. It was hard seeing all of this and trying to support her mother. I cannot imagine the suffering that she must feel as she sleeps outside the hospital walls on the cement just praying constantly for God to perform a miracle on her daughter. I offered all I had to support her and I will be continuing to pray for this family and little Dayana even when I am back in the States.
After that visit, we went to the school Rey Salomon were I helped set Dr. Karla and Nurse Martha up to do consults with the sick children that day and I left the two of them to go play and spend time with my dear friends there like the Director of the School, Cinthia, a some of the teachers, and several of the students. Cinthia was in the school kitchen cooking a special farewell lunch. All the teachers gathered in the school cafeteria and wished me a farewell with prayer, hugs, good wishes and thank-yous. Cecil, my US father figure during my time in Nica/mentor/friend/boss came too. Am I was so touched and the food was scrumptious. Then, for dessert, the special needs kids threw me a party with cake and music and everything. One of the special needs kids had been working on a prayer for the event and prayed out-loud giving thanks for the time we spent together, for my safe travel back to the US, for my family, for Dr. Karla, for all his friends there in class with him and his teachers. Patricia, Dr. Karla’s assistant, surprised me and performed a dance for me to my favorite song that we always listen too in Dr. Karla’s car. Then per the special needs kids request, Patricia and I danced together for them and they all clapped and it was so joyful! Ginny, my US mom figure during my time in Nica/mentor/friend/boss, came and watched and celebrated with us. I received many cards and each of the special needs kids came up and gave me a hug one by one. I nearly cried because I was so touched. We played games, danced, and I told them all thank you. One of the special needs girls was crying because she did not want me to leave and I she sat in a corner. She had been a friend that I always hugged and chatted with when I was there on Thursdays. I went to the corner and spent some time with her and encouraged her by letting her know that I would always be with her in heart and prayer. She finally gave me a big hug and after a long time let go.
It was difficult for me to want to leave the school or Nicaragua for that matter. However, it was time to go meet Heysi at her Oncologist (cancer doctor) appointment so we left...
Love,
Ayla Landry
“The most important act of peacemaking? Your next one. Few of us will ever be called on to do great things, but all of us can do small things in a great way.”
~Colman McCarthy
Heysi’s Doctor Appointment
Heysi is a beautiful 16 year old girl who has bone cancer. She and her mother arrived by taxi at the clinic. Heysi’s father is a mechanic and one of the taxi drivers who he has worked for over the years often volunteers to drive them to appointments. It is amazing how communities work together and depend on one another.
Heysi looked good but was saying how the pain at the tumor site was coming back. The Oncologist is very black and white and just laid the bad news right on us. Her tumor is uncontrolled, growing, and could metastasize (spread to another part of her body) at any moment. However, there was nothing else he could do. He had tried all of the chemotherapy medicines they have and none worked. She could try radiation but it is not as strong as the chemotherapy. He recommended talking to her orthopedic doctor and taking her leg off. Then, trying radiation after that if metastasis exists. The doctor spoke to Dr. Karla and Heysi’s mom the whole time and hardly even looked at Heysi.
Heysi cried, her mother cried, and Dr. Karla and I were trying to hold it together. There is one radiation center in all of the country with 3 machines. To try to get radiation would mean putting her on the list and probably waiting no less than two weeks before the first treatment. We can’t wait two weeks. As the doctor said, her tumor is uncontrolled and could be throwing bad cells anywhere…her hip, lungs, spinal cord, etc. Additionally, both radiation and the amputation surgery mean that she will not be able to have the prosthesis surgery as previously discussed and her chances of walking again are greatly decreased. This discussion was extremely difficult but we spoke and moved forward. Heysi is scheduled for her amputation surgery on the 22nd. Please pray for her strength and peace and for in this time of waiting she feel no pain and remain as healthy as possible.
Before Heysi and her mom left we exchanged gifts. I gave Heysi her birthday present of the digital camera that Debbie, Ryan and I bought her as well as a card I had written. She turns 17 on the 26th…which means she will be in the hospital for her birthday. I also gave her mother a card for their family. Heysi and her mother gave me a card, and a souvenir I will cherish. We all hugged and cried some more and then said good-bye/see you later. There is no way I can stay away from here to long…the people the culture are so dear to me.
Love,
Ayla Landry
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