August Trauma

AUGUST TRAUMA
During the first 2 weeks of Aug.  we both suffered from sinus headaches.  Mine settled in my ear & I temporarily lost hearing my left ear.  I'm very protective of my ears since I only have hearing in  my left ear.  I went to "The Country Doc."  He diagnosed it as swimmers ear ......NOT!! Called our reliable Doc. Jeff @ home & he prescribed medicine for me.  We traveled to Mililani - Costco to pick it up. It was a good cure.

Elder R has suffered from sinus infection since we arrived on the Island. He went to a Kahuku physicians assistant & they prescribed Amoxicillin 500 mg. for him.  It seemed to take the edge off but he had to discontinue use after a week because of diarrhea. Headache returned more intense. Each day he got weaker & was suffering from Heat Stroke (we thought).

Aug. 8 - Thurs. he stayed late & worked on car brakes.  Came home so sick. I kept treating him for heat stroke. Sat night our Missionary friends administered to him. Thought he would improve but by Sunday he was worse so took him to Kahuku Emergency Room.  They thought he had meningitis & sent us to Kailua Castle Emergency Center for further testing.  They did a cat scan & MRI. Diagnosed his headache as a possible Tumor (likely cancerous). Whatever!!!   Scared me to death. By 1 am Monday we had been transferred once again. This time to Queen's Medical Centre in Honolulu. The neurosurgeon, Dr. Graham talked with us & said it could be a tumor or cyst on the brain. Put him on IV's of antibiotics & steroids to help with infection & swelling. Sunday night was the absolute longest night of my life!

We will be forever grateful to very dear missionary friends: Maples-Coopers-Mikets. They transported us & were with us during these difficult 2 days.

Elder & Sister  Maples were sure a little Mt. Dew in the I V would help.

We called on family & friends for fasting & prayers. We had all our family prayers; Missionary prayers, Ward member prayers, Temple prayers & so many many more. Faith was exercised & stretched.

Wed. a.m. a procedure was performed by Dr. Graham.  He bored a hole in Gary's skull. Thankfully there was no tumor. The abscess  was drained & a biopsy was sent for lab tests. The biopsy revealed it was a Strep Virus & possible fungus. Prescribed medication was ceftriaxone & vancomycin & many more for pain etc.

Gary tried to keep his sense of humor through most of this trauma.  Even joked about his new "Blue Shirt Uniform" & his fav. Nurse the other Kathy.

We were honored  to have Pres. Grace from the PCC.  Our new Mission President, President Warner also come to visit us.

Many Prayers were sent & answered from me. Never thought I would be able to drive the 1 Hr. trip from our little apt to Honolulu through the big long tunnel. It's a gorgeous drive if you're not nervous of either falling in the ocean or off the steep road!!!   But I made it safe & sound every time. Someone said "If U get lost, just keep circling the Island!"