A Change of Plans

Well this is not how I had planned to be spending this weekend but the Lord has been present even in these difficult times. I have really been enjoying the last week off from language school. I had team meetings, the chance to enjoy seeing some historical sites, and finally made a trip to the hospital where I will be serving shortly (more blog posts to come on all those adventures). Going to the hospital requires flying from the island of Java to the island of Kalimantan. The plan was for a short visit to reconnect with old friends and meet the current staff and talk with people about my arrival in February of next year. My new unit of language school was starting on Monday, so I was going to fly back on Saturday.

Friday night was my planned last night at the hospital. I was headed back to the room where I was staying, when I fell down some steps. I felt a pop and instant burn and was not able to stand on it, so I called my teammate, a doctor, Paul Geary. We quickly headed down to the hospital, which thankfully was only a football field away or so, for some x-rays. Unfortunately, it was pretty obvious on the x-rays that I had broken my fibula (the smaller bone of the lower leg) near the ankle. So we wrapped it up and I got a shot of pain reliever and headed back to my room for some sleep.

It is now quite swollen and since I cannot bear weight on it, it was decided I should delay flying back to the island of Java. It is about a 5-hour car trip over bumpy roads to the airport and unfortunately getting in an airplane here, requires walking across the tarmac and climbing a steep set of stairs. We are talking with an orthopedic doctor in Singapore who has reviewed my x-rays about options. His opinion as of this morning (our Sunday morning) is that it needs surgery for a plate to be placed. This will enable me to walk on it much sooner and increase the chances of having full mobility and better stability in the future. So we are working on the logistics of getting my paperwork together and transportation figured out for a trip across the border to Kuching, Malaysia. Unfortunately, I do not have a current exit permit in my passport, which is complicating things. 

Some big praises!

• This happened just a short distance from a place and people that I trust to provide medical care for me, which can’t always be said of medical care in Indonesia. 
• The community here is loving on me and taking care of my every need, from food to pain medications, to helping me take a shower. I have a steady stream of visitors :)
• Good crutches that fit appropriately and have all the rubber pads etc can be hard to find in this country, but one of our current missionaries has been working in our supply area cleaning up the crutches and getting the ones we have in good working order. He was able to find a good pair for me in just a few minutes last night.

Prayer requests:

• That the pain would decrease quickly and I would heal quickly.  
• That we can figure out the logistics of getting me to Kuching in the easiest manner possible. Things aren't exactly disabled person friendly in this country. 
• That God would give me patience with myself! It is never fun to be the patient, especially when you are use to being the nurse :) 

All wrapped up but still swollen. 

A gift from a a friend here. Sometimes chocolate does help make things better. 

Just got told my leg is broken and still able to smile (although I am not sure if this post or pre shot of pain medication!) 

Things are all set-up in my room. Everything is pretty much at arms reach or at least just a short hop on crutches away.