Divine Intervention

Last Monday night (6/22) all the Lima YAVs and Debbie were supposed to be on an overnight bus to Huancayo for our second-to-last retreat. The bus left at 11 pm, but we didn’t go because inside sources told us the roads were blocked by protesters in La Oroya (about 1/2 way). That bus left, arrived at the blockade and turned around...at least 8 hours of pointless travel! No one got where they wanted to go, and we were snug in a real bed snickering at those suckers! (ok, at least I was).

Alex was in bed with severe stomach pain. His stomach was hurting so badly he didn´t return to his home that night an stayed with Debbie and Harry. He had severe cramping that night at dinner, and sometime in the night it moved to the lower right side. Yikes! Using WebMD, he checked his symptoms and thought he had appendicitis. Around 4 am, he awoke Debbie and her husband Harry and they took him to the Stella Maris, a private hospital close by. Appendicitis was confirmed and around 10 am they rolled him off to surgery! Of course...I was there by then to document the entire thing!

Alex getting moved onto the gurney.

Michael, Harry and Alexandra sending him off to the OR.

It was divine intervention that we weren’t on an overnight bus stuck outside La Oroya. Can´t you just picture Katie, Michael and I carrying a super sick Alex across the road blocks in search of a very questionable province hospital!!?? BUT we would´ve done it had it been necessary! Again...the hand of someone up there trapped us in Lima!

So, Alex became the first YAV to have surgery in Peru. They did a laparoscopic removal with three little holes, one in the belly-button and all went well. He actually got the head of surgery, who was also the transplant surgeon to slice and dice him. I asked him where the new appendix came from, since he was a transplant surgeon and all (as a joke!), but no one else thought it was funny at all. Glad I can at least amuse myself!

Alex models his bandages.

So, I spent the last week in Lima waiting to see if the retreat would take place and/or when I could return to Huancavelica and chilling with Alex in the hospital. Did I mention that his entire appendectomy was less than $3,000 before insurance??? Holy cow! So, to Alex´s family and friends, he is a the trooper of all troopers, and we did our best to take care of him for you!

Debbie taking care of Alex post-op.

Alex w. his IVs and Balloons.