We ( My World Race team) had just arrived in Bulgaria. It had been a week since I snow boarded and it was obvious that just trying to rest a few days wasn't working. My arm hurt every time I tried to use it. My ankle was swollen, bruised, and walking was becoming more difficult each time. I checked my insurance information (sports rider? …check!) and agreed to let our new contacts (Tonia & Svetlana) take me to the doctor. Kristen went with us.
During the car ride to the hospital we all prayed. Tonia and Svetlana were obviously concerned and apologetic for the conditions I was about to face. I was optimistic as usual. I chose to believe that God was in control and things would be fine. Maybe I would minister to someone in the hospital. I was oddly excited at the challenges that lay before me. What would become of this day? Tonia & Svetlana went into mommy mode translating and guiding me through the bureaucracy. Kristen stuck like glue to me, caring for me… As I hobbled around.
We found door 108. There were several others waiting for room 108. There were no seats available. I needed to sit down but the wait to get in 108, and see the doctor, was unorganized. Everyone was arguing who was next in Bulgarian. Svetlana knew that I was right after an older lady with short blonde hair. She vowed to fight for me and sent Kristen and I to sit on benches at the end of the hall. I watched her as she started directing the crowd of people with a firm voice. I just met her briefly the day before and she was already so protective. I was so touched! Kristen and I sat quietly for a while taking in everything around us.
We were definitely not in America. The hospital was dirty and it smelt of decaying bodies. There was blood stains, weird creaky make-shift wheel chairs, a doctor smoking cigarettes and wearing a green bathrobe. (There was obviously no dress code.) Every doctor that walked by had something worn, dirty, and stained on. The first doctor that caught my attention was an older guy with his white coat only buttoned partly up … So that all his lovely silver chest hair could be seen. Oh Lord … Is this really real? Then a big guy (doc? Nurse?) with deep dark eyes was creeping me out with his sinister looks. It was obvious the standards were low compared to what I'm used too. However, I still felt God was with me. I would meet with the doctor I needed and I would be well cared for. I won't let this worldly appearance get the best of me.
(I posed in one of the wheel chairs … they were dificult to steer … I felt safer hobbling)
Then across the hall from Kristen and I a door opened half way. When it closed we both looked at each other wide eyed. Kristen asked "Did you see that?" She was hoping i didn't and I'd say no. I looked at her as my confidence became a chill and I said "That was scary!" Words just can not explain! Just take any hospital operating room you've seen in a horror movie and that was what we saw.
We sat there for some time watching wounded people walk through and be wheeled through. Blood stains and splatters were of no concern. Neither were IVs being dragged on the floor. We had no choice but to focus on how thankful we are for American Hospitals. Then some seats opened up close to door 108 so we moved. As we sat there an elderly woman and her husband came in. She was obviously in a lot of pain. She moaned, almost in tears, and her husband look on with concern and helplessness. I told Svetlana to please translate to her that she could have my place in line. They were very appreciative.
When I finally got inside door 108 things were normal and nice. The doctor was a nicely dressed older man. I smiled at him a lot trying to make things comfortable for him and I. Showed him my insurance card, passport, and assured him that I could pay for my care up front. He then relaxed from his stern state … I think he was glad I was an American (money.) He seemed very concerned with my ability to pay. I was not his typical patient. Tonia was able to translate some and he spoke some english. He asked me a few questions. Then he bent my leg and arm around asking questions about my pain. Then as expected he said he couldn't do anything with out x-rays. Before I left, room 108, I told him I wanted a picture with him. He blushed, grinned and then walked away saying "later… when I plaster you." So he sent me with a piece of paper to another unorganized and hostile line outside a door.
This wait would be long. So Tonia went to find a sandwich and coffee for Kristen and I. Svetlana shared a special testimony with us. Then I watched Bulgarian tempers flair as a young man who was behind me in line got called in ahead of everyone. One older woman was wearing a shirt that said something about … Peace and joyfulness being the most important as life was too short. She paced back and forth on one crutch with a mean scowl on her face. Occasionally she would yell at someone in the line. I pointed out the oxymoron and Kristen and I giggled. Maybe she did not understand the English on her shirt?
After my x-rays … There was more waiting to see the doctor again. Once in his office (108) I handed him my DVD and he put it into his computer. I thought my bones looked beautiful! Kristen said "Wow, girl your toes are so straight! He was sure I need to be "plastered" (as he called it) my arm and leg. He used the word "plaster" several times. No matter what I asked him in regards to the best way for me to heel or be comfortable … He answered "plaster!" Then he consulted another doctor and they talked for a while in Bulgarian. They continued examining the close up details of my x-rays. Then he explained to me that I needed a CTscan and might even need surgery on my ankle. This was a frightening thought. I agreed to go (pay) for the CTscan. Kristen & Tonia both were very concerned about this possibility. My thoughts were on it being not that serious. I was thinking maybe this doctor is going to stick it to me ($$$) because I'm American. I thanked him for his care and opinion.
Tonia was so good at explaining what we had to do next (translating) and guiding us around the hospital. As we walked to the CTscan room the sound of a skill saw almost drowned out our voices. Probably the sound you least want to hear, in a hospita, and with surgery in your mind. It just added to the horror movie atmosphere. I started laughing … I knew it was construction going on but it was an erie scene. I could hear the audience yelling "Don't go in there" but this wasn't a movie …it's my God planned life. 🙂 THANKFULLY!
( This was the most modern and nicest room in the hopsital)
After the scan we waited an incredibly long time, again, to see the doctor. Kristen and I watched different people coming out with plastered limbs. Every one of them looked terrible. Not the people… the plaster jobs. It was a mess of gauze not even neatly laid and then I guess the plaster was sprayed on? Because white splatters covered the rest of their uninjured areas. Kristen looked at me and said "plaster is the cure for everything here" we laughed for a moment making jokes Pregnant? .. You need Plaster! Dying? … Plaster! It's the miracle cure for EVERYTHING! Then my laughter quickly disappeared as I realized I was going to be immobile and look like that soon. I looked at Kristen and Tonia and said "I think I'm going to declare a miracle healing and run out of here … I don't want to look like that … I want mine to be pretty!" I started thinking how I was going to tell the doctor to make mine neat and nice. Then I'd have to have Tiffany (team mate) draw on it or all the world racers sign it.
Then we were called back in to the doctors office. I sat down at his desk and handed him my CTscan DVD. There was a card game up on his computer screen so I said with a grin .."I see you have been working really hard … Is this why I waited so long?" he cracked up laughing (thankfully) and struggled to X out of the game screen. When he pulled up my CT pics … I said out loud "Awe, my bones… they are so beautiful!" They were amazing to see in full detail almost 3-D … I felt so close to God … Like his little masterpiece! It was a weirdly sentimental moment. So many bones in the foot, it's unbelievable, each with an important purpose. A special design only He could do for me!( My team mate Megan would later explain to me that feet and neck bones are the hardest for doctors to fix …because their number and design are different for everyone. There is no standard.) WOW GOD …no wonder… just looking at my images was so powerfully moving. I didn't know why then but I felt so proud, special, and emotional.
The doctor asked my birthdate/ age for clarification that he had the right DVD for me. I told him 7-14-75 … Im 36. He questioned what he heard a few times and then took a moment to let it sink in. Then he laughed and said I thought you were much younger. Then he collected himself and explained the fracture. It was in between two bones in my ankle. He didn't think I needed surgery but I did need a cast on my leg. That was the first time I heard him say "cast" instead of plaster. I thought.. "His English is improving." He seemed less concerned with my arm. I was surprised because it hurt worse. I didn't get a CT scan on it though. Nothing seemed fractured … So he said it was probably an injury to the muscle, joints, or tendons (sprain) Then he handed papers to Tonia. They were my supplies to get me wrapped up.
Kristen and I sat in the hall. While Tonia went to the hospital pharmacy. It was the same in the Philippines hospital when I was caring for the girls of LOL. Anything the doctors needed to treat you (IVs, meds) they give you a prescription and send you to the pharmacy. The doctor here sent Tonia to get the wrapping materials for my leg. So weird … First it seems strange that they send you to get your own treatment supplies. Secondly, I didn't see any other patients go get their dressings? When Tonia came back she had the bag of stuff. She pointed at the pharmacy bag happily saying "flowers!" I didn't really understand what I was looking at but I thanked her for all she had been doing for me. She had been back and forth doing all kinds of tasks (paperwork, results, prescriptions) for me so I wouldn't have to walk.
A young guy, sitting across the hall, from Kristen & I… tried to pretend he wasn't taking pics of us with his phone camera. We pretended not to notice. We asked each other… Why do people take pics of us? What is the point? What do they do with them? He was cute and we were flattered. I struck up a short conversation with a girl next to me and told her I was a missionary. Then a lady called me in to get wrapped.
I hopped on to the table thinking this is crazy … Do I really need ridiculous plaster on my leg? Is it going to be more ugly and compromising than necessary? I was sitting on a metal table next to a window that was cracked open. The air coming in smelt like cigarettes. There was white plaster and iodine splatter everywhere. It was messy and unorganized. I could see a tray full of all the cheap scary gauze i had seen everyone before me wearing. Then my doctor came in squatted on the floor with the bag of stuff Tonia had got me. He began wrapping my leg. I was familiar with this. My daughter had a cast once. It is a cast…. And it's so pretty … Flowers!!!!
The doctor wrapped my leg in flowers and the other doctors gathered around making comments. Teasing I suspect. He had a huge smile on his face. Kristen captured pics.
Then she left the room to meet the girl that would drive us home. Tonia & Svetlana had to leave. The doctor looked over my arm again and handed me some wrappings for it and said keep it wrapped tight. He told me to sit for a half hour and let the cast dry. He handed me an appointment card to come back and have it checked just before I leave Bulgaria. Maybe it can come off and will be better? He seemed doubtful. I asked him " will you be here? Will I see you? He smiled and said "Yes!' I hoped to heal and exceed his expectations and make him smile again!
Kristen wheeled me out … the eyes of everyone in the hallway were staring at me. Well we had all been looking at each other for hours before now. It was the cast they were looking at. It wasn't what they were used to seeing. I was proud and thought … if you knew Jesus you would have a pretty cast too. I knew this would be totally wrong and inappropriate to actually say … but it's how I felt. It wasn't just my joyful smile and money that got me the excellent care! Someone had to bless me with both first!
Another amazing day in His hands! He never ceases to protect & guide me … Always exceeding my expectations.
I am also thankful for my angels … Kristen, Tonia, & Svetlana
(The plaster splatters are NOT from me!)
