If you are looking for the inside scoop on hospitals in Thailand and Cambodia you have come to the right place.
This adventure on the World Race has been anything but dull. I wrote you all on the 27 project and how we were running in Bangkok, Thailand to raise awareness for human trafficking. Well, two weeks ago we are headed to our race…
January 31st- (Journal entries) I am wearing my running shoes, 27 Project shirt and I am so excited to try to kick some of the boys butts. Our entire squad of 50 left the YWAM building that we were staying at and headed to the red light district. I was talking to a few of the girls when we came up on a group stopped, all looking down. I see one of my teammates, Erica getting up. She looked hurt but I couldn't tell what had happened. I see her grabbing the back of her thigh and blood pouring out of her leg. I immediately hail a cab and try to get her in as painlessly as possible. Only as we start to drive away I realize our cab driver speaks no english. Erica is in a lot of pain and we are both holding the back of her thigh with as much pressure as possible. I wave to the nearby bus stop for the cab driver to stop and I jump out of the cab and see Ben(Praise the Lord for Ben always being a few minutes late), one of my old teammates and ask if he can come with us. I asked a woman on the street if she could translate hospital for me, and she kindly explains to the cab driver what happened. As I get back into the cab I see that Erica is turning ghostly white, and we start praying. A reality kicked in, we are in a foreign country, we don't speak the language, I have no idea what hospital we are heading to, and one of my girls is hurt badly.
I later found out is that our team was on their knees on that Bangkok sidewalk praying for Erica's leg to stop bleeding until we got to the hospital.
God, you showed up!
Her leg stopped bleeding, completely. She was wearing black leggings that had a few tears in it from the fall. She explained to me what happened on that Bangkok sidewalk… she stubbed her toe and started falling so she grabbed a sign to break her fall. The sign started falling, and one of the metal rods came up and punctured the back of her thigh.
So were in the cab and I look at the tank top we have pressed against her leg and there is no blood. I was dumbfounded. I saw blood pouring out of her leg and now there was none. I wondered if it wasn't as bad as we initially thought. So I looked through one of the holes in her leggings, I could see into her leg… much worse than I thought!
When we made it to the hospital they carted her into the ER and handed me the scissors to cut her leggings off. I slowly cut up the back of her leggings and held my breath to be sure and not let out any noise as I saw what her leggings were holding together. The back of her thigh cut open about 10 inches long by 5 inches wide. I couldn't believe how big the gash was. I didn't tell her it was bad, instead I started telling her stories of Madison, how he explained to me his hospital experience in San Diego a few years earlier. I wanted to keep her attention while they gave her a pain shot. She asked how many pain shots they were going to give her, as I stood up to look, they were already stitching her up. So I just told her a few more. I could tell the pain was getting worse. As soon as they were done I got to tell her that the stitches were done. She laughed and probably wanted to punch me, but she was happy the worst part was over.
We stayed in a Bangkok Hospital that night.
Erica, her note from the nurses and her heart shaped eggs from her first morning in the hospital.
February 1st- Of course we have visas that only let us stay in one country for 30 days. So we have to go with the squad to Cambodia.
When we get the Cambodia border you have to walk about a mile to cross the border, buses cannot drive across. Erica has to walk…
She is so much tougher than I am!
February 2nd- Made it to Siem Reap, Cambodia. We get to the International Hospital and had her leg cleaned and dressed. The doctor looked at it and said if the swelling continues we are going to need to admit her.
February 3rd- She's admitted.
February 6th- I'm reading back through my journal entries from this week and You spoke to me through 2 Kings when the feeling of helplessness happened in the cab. Elisha and his servant are surrounded by the Syrian army, and You sent Your army to protect them. I cannot even imagine the helplessness that they felt.
"Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:17
So many times our problems cause us to think that God has forgotten us. It is hard to understand that the Source of our strength and our Provider in all things is already with us. When a situation seems hopeless, it is difficult to not grow weary and lose strength. Everything that God allows in the life of a believer has been divinely designed. There are no mistakes in the plan that was made for you long before the foundation of the earth. Whatever is happening in your life that doesn’t seem right or fair has been allowed for a distinct purpose. It is never easy to suffer through our painful trials, but it is the working of our faith that gives us endurance to stay in the race and not give up.
And of course, my critiques:
Paypei Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand- Great service, heart shaped eggs for breakfast, fast stitches, and very affordable.
International Siem Reap Hospital in Cambodia- Very clean, wonderful doctors who speak english, comfy couches for overnight guests, great showers (I may have taken a few 30 minute showers, I haven't had a hot shower with good water pressure in at least 3 months), much more expensive than a local hospital but worth the cost.
Love you all!!
P.S. Caitlyn, Leanna and I made it to our ministry contact outside Phenom Pehn, Cambodia(Blog coming soon).
Erica and Heather are in Siem Reap finishing Erica's daily dressing appointments.
Please pray that our team will be back together and Erica will be completely healed.
