The "fruits" on Abishael´s "tree" |
A little over a week after we returned home from the United States, he had a new first - being a patient in a hospital. We returned from the States on Tuesday, and by Saturday he had a slight cough. On Monday his pediatrician diagnosed a throat infection and prescribed medicine. By Wednesday, however, Abishael´s fever was returning every time the tylenol wore off, and all he wanted to do was sleep. Thursday morning we took him back to his pediatrician, and he told us that Abishael would have to be hospitalized, because he had bronchial pneumonia.
On entering the hospital, his x-ray |
Because he had already been taking an antibiotic, Dr. Magdalena prescribed three different and stronger antibiotics, along with other treatments. The nurses inserted his i.v., a difficult and painful process for a baby who has no idea what is being done to him and why.
So began the hospital stay.
We checked in early evening, and by the time night had fallen, the various treatments had taken some effect. Abishael had entered the hospital droopy, pale, fussy, and glassy-eyed. He regained some color and energy almost immediately, and over the stay steadily transformed into the bouncy, curious child he normally is. His love of exploring and playing with everything made keeping the i.v. line in very difficult. In fact, it pulled out once, obliging the nurses to replace it in the other hand, wrapping the whole works in bandage to keep it more secure.
Day 2, playing with Daddy |
And so, like with the Biblical stone called Ebenezer, a stone of remembrance set up so that the Israelites would recall God´s provision, we remember God´s faithfulness to us in healing Abishael and using his people to bless us in many ways.
Abishael is still taking an antibiotic, probiotics, tylenol, and an expectorant, and he has one more day of out-patient nebulizer treatments. We have to be very careful to guard against a relapse, especially since the weather has turned cold. Please pray that his lungs will strengthen and he will return completely to normal. Pray also for our finances, because, although the cost of treatment was a fraction of what it could be, it was still significant.