Good News
I met with a cardiologist in Vozandes Hospital on Wednesday morning, and after reviewing the tests from my ER visit and giving me a additional stress test, he found my heart to be completely normal with no sign of a heart attack. He recommends some more testing for some blood pressure issues.
This is obviously really good news! I have my theories about how this episode caught up to me (hint: my hip arthritis has really limited my exercise for the past 9 months), but I’ve spoken with my doctor in Boston, and we’ll review what to do next in an appointment a week after I return to Boston.
In the meantime, I’m leaning away from doing any traveling in Ecuador, as I still feel like my body is discharging the stress from the event. I go to the health clinic each morning for a blood pressure check (today was 112/79), and I’m now aiming to get out for a long walk in nature each morning, with some dedicated exercise in the afternoon, too. I’m very hopeful for a full recovery soon, but I also recognize the effects my arthritis have had on my lifestyle, and how that needs to be addressed.
Thank you to so many people who supported me during this time, in so many ways. Friends across 3 continents really gave me a big lift. It’s hard to express the value of support after you spend a night avoiding falling asleep because you’re not quite sure you’d wake up! My friend Antonio arrived here in Mindo at the beginning of December. When I started having these troubles, he said to me, “I have plenty of time, I have resources, I can go with you wherever and whenever you need to go. Whatever you need.” It’s hard to express how much his presence and support traveling to Quito and the hospitals has meant. Antonio truly has been a real Good News in the dark times.
More Good News
As you may remember, I had been visiting a small school in Magdalena Alto, up in the mountain above Chontal. With only 18 students across 6 grades, and one teacher, they don’t have any Christmas supplies for their Christmas program. So, a week or so ago, I had provided the teacher Ximena with Christmas carol music, and, using some of the money donated in the End of Year Fundraiser, bought some Christmas supplies, including a small manger, Christmas lights, and santa hats for all the kids and Ximena (plus extras). With my health episode, I couldn’t be there this week with kids, and I was also stuck holding onto the supplies, thinking maybe I’d find another use for them.
In the meantime, Ximena invited the kids to send me a few greeting and get well videos. You can check them out here.
But, my cardiologist appointment was in the early morning on Wednesday in Quito, and making a trip from Mindo on the same day impossible. I had to get into Quito the afternoon beforehand and stay overnight in a hostel. My friend Antonio graciously accompanied me, and was such a great help. This opened up an opportunity to get the supplies to Ximena. The bus terminal is the same one that launches the bus to Chontal, and our bus was arriving just about the time that the last bus to Chontal leaves. You can send packages on a bus in Ecuador for a small fee, so it would be perfect timing if I were to pack up the Christmas supplies and send them on that bus. They’d arrive a day and half before the program.
So, I packed up the box, talked to someone who’d be available in Chontal to pick it up, and boarded the bus to Quito. When we arrived at the terminal in Quito, I got off quick, and asked the agent. The bus had just left, but was waiting outside. She said, go run out to it. I said, I can’t, I’m sick. So, she called another guy running over, I paid the $4, and he took off with the box. The Christmas supplies arrived later that night for Ximena, in good time for the program on Thursday morning.
After the Christmas program today, Ximena sent me the pictures with a lot of gratitude. The kids loved the hats, everyone enjoyed the day and had a meal together afterwards, and the manger and Christmas lights were just the thing to decorate the classroom.
And come and check out videos of the kids singing their Christmas carol and sending greetings here!
(You’ll need to rotate your screen part-way through!)
This all brought me such great joy, and I’m so happy for them to feel important and valued participators in the Christmas mystery. Seven years ago, five children from this village died by suicide, and that still affects the community. The children are aware that they’re not getting the best education in their situation, and the teacher is well beyond her own limits. A lift that says that they are all important, to someone and to God, is such a special message of Good News that I always feel privileged to bring.
And More Good News
After receiving the good news on Tuesday night that the Christmas supplies had arrived in time, and the good news on Wednesday morning that my heart was fine, I went to Civil Registry in Quito and got the good news that I’ve completed the first phase of getting my Ecuadorian cédula (the Ecuadorian national ID for residents and citizens). I’ll have one more appointment in Quito.
And, later on the bus ride back to Mindo I received more good news: the donated $150 I tried to send to a friend in Chontal to be given to the Child Care Center for gifts for their Christmas program is being successfully returned to my account! Although we missed the Christmas program, this is still great news! I’m working with Tania to find a different way to deliver the money, and the Center can use it for needed supplies in their childcare programs. She was very excited when I shared the news!
When I get the time and energy, I hope to post these updates also on the Fundraiser page.
May you hear Good News in the dark spaces of your life in these days.
Have a Merry Christmas!
“For behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy”
PS, thank you again to everyone who has donated to the End of Year Fundraiser, it’s greatly appreciated, especially with current events. The fundraiser is still open for anyone. Thank you for considering sharing in this way of bringing the Good News!
PPS, I just now noticed that we’ve reached the fundraising goal - Thank you everyone so much for your generosity!
I will continue to leave the fundraiser open through the end of the year, just in light of my new $450 medical costs 😞. But again I’m very grateful for everyone who has given so far, and very happy for the support. It’s Good News that really makes a big difference!