Reflections on a medivac

The events of this week have left me pondering lots of things...While we were still in the hospital I began journaling some of these thoughts... I thought it might be interesting to share them with you all...

Excerpt from my journal--
Journal/Reflections on Calvin’s medivac

Wow… It’s a lonely feeling being in a hospital in a foreign country where you know no one. My previous experience with being in the hospital or knowing someone in the hospital is that loved ones come to gather round, visit and pray with the sick patient. The main caretaker of the sick person gets occasional breaks to stretch their legs, or even go home for a short rest and loved ones often bring in food for the caretaker and even the patient sometimes.

What a different experience it is having a medivac from Papua New Guinea to Cairns, Australia! There’s no one around to call and say, “Hey forgot to pack clean underwear. Can you bring some by?” Instead of a short, but tense car or ambulance ride to the hospital, there were several tense hours on an airplane with a doctor and a nurse working the whole time to keep the patient stable and unsure, really, if the altitude of the airplane will cause additional stress on the patient’s condition.

Once we arrived at the airport, we had to clear international customs before they would let us get on the ambulance that was waiting nearby on the tarmac. (Not to mention that fact that since our PNG visas had not yet been renewed we had to make a stop in Port Moresby to pick up our passports with ”hot off the press” visas.)

We’re in a place where, as soon as we open our mouths, it’s obvious we’re “not from here.” That leaves some people unsure how to deal with us. When we first arrived, one of the first comments I got was from a hospital admin who said, “You’re from where? And you live where? You know you have to pay, right?” To which I responded (thanks to our wonderful director’s office) “Here is a letter of guaranteed payment. (Now please go take care of my son!—okay I didn’t say that last part.)

Everything here at the hospital works just a bit differently or you’re afraid it might. I’ve been unsure of things like, “Is it ok for me to go get a fresh pitcher of water for my son? Are they going to let us have any food? Do they just feed the patient or the caretaker as well?” How much am I going to need to advocate for my son?’ How come we haven’t heard from the doctor yet?” Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been well taken care of, things are just a bit unsure and I have to force myself to ask lots of questions.

Once we got to the hospital and our doctor and nurse handed him over to the hospital staff here, it was just the two of us (except for our wonderful doctor who came back briefly to give me some toothbrushes and toothpaste—That’s one of the things I forgot to pack in the mad dash to grab what we needed for the trip) Speaking of that… how do you pack for something like this? I had to think briefly, what will we need in the hospital, what will we need once we leave the hospital since we’ll likely have several days here once we are out of the hospital. What is the weather like in Australia this time of year, etc. Part of the reason we’ve been a bit bored and lonely here is that I didn’t really have time to think through what I should pack to keep us occupied. I did pack a couple of things, but we could have used more. (I did pack a The Last Battle by CS Lewis. I read the entire book out loud to Calvin over the course of our 3 days in the hospital.)
It’s a lonely feeling sitting in a hospital room with a sick child and no one to talk to, give you a break, give moral support, etc. I get the feeling, however, that, in Australia, maybe people don’t come visit at the hospital they way they do in the US. I just haven’t seen the influx of people around the children’s ward that I’d expect to. It’s a bit isolated in terms of communication as well. We arrived at the hospital and there was no way for me to contact Chad and say, “Hey, we made it. He’s ok, here’s what’s going on, Etc.” As we sat in the emergency room, I kept thinking, “I need to find a way to get in touch with Chad. How am I going to do that when I can’t leave Calvin? I can’t just pick up a nearby phone and call him. I don’t have an international mobile phone… all I had here is my PNG mobile which has no credit left on it, doesn’t work internationally, and to top it off, I forgot to pack the charger and there’s no battery left on it!


Things I didn’t pack, but wish I did…

Toothbrushes and toothpaste (thanks to Dr. Carl who helped me out with this one)
Clean underwear for Calvin…we’ll be shopping for some as soon as we get out of the hospital.
Chapstick… that plane ride and being on oxygen is hard on the lips. (Thankfully the nurse gave us something for it once I asked).
Nail clippers and nail file… this would have been a great time to trim Calvin’s toenails (I had plenty of time to realize how gross they were) and give my own nails some TLC.
Tweezers… It also would have been a great time to fix up my eyebrows. =)
A magazine.. It’s hard to focus on a book right now, but it would have been nice to at least have a magazine to look at.


As I've walked this journey, there have been a couple of Scripture passages that have encouraged me. Allow me to share them with you. I pray they will encourage you as well...
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 46:1-7
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.