| Rainbow Families Foundation Newsletter - September 2003 |
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September 2003
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I am doing fine but today feeling a little tired. I guess the heavy rains we have been having this week can put a damper (ha ha) on my energy. Yes, my pink eye has cleared. At times I have a little pain in my chest from the accident but nothing major. I have been working with the little girl who has the problem with her heart.
Antonia Sanchez Martinez is 9 years old and lives in Severé (near Jacobo) with her mother, father and five brothers and sisters. When Antonia was five years old she had severe strep throat, which resulted in rheumatic fever. Antonia has been hospitalized three times in the past 2 months at Hospital Arturo Grullon in Santiago (this is a public hospital). Her mother, Satorina, came to Jacobo's house to seek my help. He did not know her from before. Satorina knew that I was instrumental in helping Jose Antonio and his family. (Isn't it ironic that before I worked with Jose Antonio and now this little girl is Antonia?) Jacobo never made any promises to her but said he would talk to me. Jacobo and I went to their home and interviewed the family. They live way in the countryside where you can only drive so far and then walk about 1/2 mile. I did not make any promises to the mother and father but said I would think about their case. I asked Jacobo to call to the doctor in Puerto Plata who helps me with the ladies in the surgery for no more babies. This doctor's wife is a pediatric doctor. In the meantime Satorina and I went to Hospital Grullon in Santiago to get the medical records for Antonia. They would not release the records without the consent of the pediatric cardiologist. So . . . I tracked him down at the private Clinica Cormillion (not sure of spelling) in Santiago and we went there. We waited 5 hours for him to arrive. He said to come back to the public hospital the next day and he would authorize the release. We returned the next morning, he was not there but left authorization to release the records. The secretary said to wait. We went for lunch and came back. Then said she could not get the records finished this day since the file was so thick. She said a copy would be ready the next week on Thursday, like 9 days later. I called that Thursday morning (last week) and they said the record was ready. We drove to Santiago once again and waited. Later the social worker said the electricity was out and they could not prepare a document on the computer so she could not give me the records. I didn't understand what happened but sat with my head pounding and sick to my stomach in such disappointment. I could not make an appointment with anybody until I got this file. She recognized my disappointment and offered to send the record by bus the following morning. Following morning I went to the bus station and received a #10 envelope. She only sent a summary that a different doctor had dictated. I couldn't believe it and was beside myself. This same morning Jacobo gave me the name of the pediatric cardiologist Dra. Janet Toribio in Santo Domingo who was recommended to us. After several mishaps with being given the wrong hospital where she was supposed to work and no one knowing this doctor I asked to speak to someone in English since I wasn't getting anywhere in my bad spanish. A man came on the line and I was upset telling him that the people in this country make it difficult to help, asking so many questions and not providing information and not cooperating. He said he knew this doctora because he was working with her in Puerto Rico the weekend before. He said she didn't work at this hospital (Hospital Padre Bellini is for adults) but works at the Hospital Robert Reid Cabral (for children) and Clinica Corazones Unidos. He gave me three phone numbers, one for Hospital Robert Reid, one for Clinica Corazones Unidos and also the doctor's cell number. He apologized profusely for the incompetence of the staff and asked for forgiveness. I asked his name and he told me Dr. such n such. I was so embarrassed because I didn't know he was a doctor, speaking to him so strongly. He was very nice and accepted my apology though he said I didn't have to. He gave me his cell number and said if I needed anything to call him. He's an internist at the adult public hospital. Anyway, I called the cell number for Dra. Toribio and learned it was disconnected. I then called Clinica Corazones Unidos and asked to speak to someone in English. Once again I talked to another doctor, but calmly, and explained the situation. He gave me a different cell number and I called. First I asked Dra. Toribio if she spoke English. She said "if you talk to me lovely I can understand". I got the feeling that she was prewarned of my call. This was last Friday. I explained the situation and she told me to come to Corazones Unidos in Santo Domingo on Monday at 9AM. Since I told her I have a foundation in the United States, I kept thinking the entire weekend that this doctor thought I had a load of money and was able to pay. We left at 5AM on Monday in the pouring rain all the way to Santo Domingo and arrived a little before 9AM.. Dra. Janet Toribio Acosta, Pediatric Cardiologist, promptly greeted us and I felt she rolled out the red carpet with such kindness. She examined Antonia and performed a sonogram test of the heart. Another woman doctor entered the room while we were talking. The other doctora asked if I was a doctora and Dra. Toribio said no, that I have a foundation in the U.S. I learned that Clinica Corazones Unidos is a clinic that relies heavily on other foundations and private sponsors to pay for surgerys here and in the United States. They have pictures and dialog on the walls of different medical cases of the children. The clinic was very clean and the staff was incredibly nice and much more competent than what I encounter in the other public hospitals and clinics. Dra. Toribio determined that Antonia has active rheumatic fever, enlarged heart, double lesions to the mitral valve, heart fibulations and possible blood clotting in the cavity outside her heart. She also has arthritis in her legs which is a symptom caused by the rheumatic fever. Dra. Toribio was not happy that the public hospital did not give me the file or results of other tests. She called Hospital Robert Reid Cabral and ordered that they admit Antonia immediately for 4 to 6 weeks for treatment and that we quickly get to the hospital. She said she was in very bad condition and requested the cooperation of the mother to stay with her during this extended period. Dra. Toribio asked the mother some questions in spanish and learned that the mother had not given an injection to Antonia which she needs every 21 days. Dra. Toribio was very angry and decided to only communicate with me. We arrived at Hospital Robert Reid Cabral (public hospital for children only) and Dra. Lopez, Pediatric Cardiologist, ordered all patients to wait until she finished with us. She examined Antonia with the assistance of two female resident doctoras. Later she ordered an EKG, chest x-ray, blood analysis and oxygen. Antonia is also very weak with possible anemia and low blood level. She could not walk 10 feet without exhaustion but so incredibly brave for 11 years old and a slight 50 pounds for such a tall girl. The resident doctora asked Antonia to look out the window when she was drawing the blood but Antonia insisted to watch. She told me she wants to be a professora when she grows up. Believe this, Antonia's mother took her to Santiago one week early because Antonia had a fever and could not keep anything in her stomach. The hospital sent her home with antacids. Absolutely incredible! She actually had active rheumatic fever and infection in her heart. I anticipated that Antonia would be admitted to the hospital and asked the mother to bring clothes for a couple days but did not expect such an extended period of time. The family has no financial resources and has no one in Santo Domingo to assist with daily essentials. The hospital does not provide food for the mother, basic essentials for the patient or mother such as a plate, glass, fork and spoon to eat, oversheet, blanket or pillow for the bed, water, etc. The mother must purchase food either in the hospital cafeteria or from the street vendors. The room where Antonia is has about 15 beds with other little girls and their mothers in the cardic care floor. In summary she needs:
Last night Jacobo and I met with Antonia's aunt (Paulina) who was to go to Santo Domingo today by bus. She wanted me to take her but I am just too tired. However, I was able to get a few donations like 2 bed sheets, 2 plastic plates, 2 plastic cups, 4 plastic spoons, bar of soap, medicine that someone else bought and donated, toilet paper. After our meeting I went to a friend's house that I had not seen in a while, Grimaldy's sister in law. Raisa helped me raise money for Jose Antonio. Today Raisa called me from the hospital in Santo Domingo and told me that she learned she is family to Antonia and wants to help. She wants to sell bonos (like a raffle ticket except you don't win anything, it's really just a receipt that you donated money.) She said another friend of mine, a german guy, came to the hospital to give Antonia's mother some money to buy food. He had to go to Santo Domingo for business and also attend a wedding and he said he would visit Antonia. Things are starting to come together and I feel better about her situation. With Raisa's help I will feel comfortable to come home and leave things to her and/or Jacobo to manage. Oh yea, I asked Dra. Toribio how much the hospitalization and surgery would cost. She said the stay in Hospital Robert Reid is gratis, except I have to pay for tests. She said the surgery in Corazones Unidas may be gratis as well since only the adults have to pay and they look for sponsors to pay for the children. A woman who came here earlier in the year has been communicating with me. She is coming once again with 4 other women in late December to January. I gave her the names, ages and sizes of Antonia's family. She said she sent a check for $50. She also said a coworker sent a check for $100. Can you please deposit these in the RFF account? Today I learned another friend, Yoheves, whose mother has been sick is now sick with pneumonia and dengue fever, the fever transmitted by mosquitos. This is the first case I have heard of here. When we were in Costa Rica this was an epidemic there. Yoheves is educated with an electronic engineering degree and works at the electric energy plant for the Playa Dorado hotel complex. He's only 24 but very caring and reminds me so much of Christopher. He has a troup of Boy Scouts. His mother is a teacher in the schools and also teaches theater in the church. They both speak english. He is the one who sought me out to help a little girl who was born without an anus. I am helping him but not getting so much involved because I want him to learn how to help them. He is having a lot of difficult getting her medical records from the public hospital in Puerto Plata. Now his mother is sick and he doesn't have much time. His Boy Scout troup is supposed to have a camp out this week but I think they will get rained out. I visited another one of my friends I had not seen in a while and asked how was she. She broke down and started crying. I learned her Mom is very sick with the same thyroid problem (as I understand) that I have except now her mom cannot eat, drink, talk or anything. Today she is taking her mom for biopsy and fears her mom has cancer. They are very poor and cannot afford the private clinic and must resort to the public hospital. Now this has put the fear in me to return home soon for treatment. Dr. Bonet, the doctor for the little boy, said I may need surgery. As you know I had a biopsy done and it came back negative. Dr. Bonet said another nodule has developed. Now I am sure I cannot wait too much longer. Judy said her mother started having problems one year ago. I am awaiting to hear the results of the biopsy for her mother. She is a sweet dominican and I feel her pain. She was so nice to help me collect money for Jose Antonio. I gave her the name and phone number of Dr. Bonet and suggested that her mother see him. He is a profossor at the University in Santo Domingo and is on staff at the Hospital Padre Bellini, public hospital in Santo Domingo for adults. I would not hesitate to have him perform the surgery on me. Deanna had her thyroid removed and has to take a pill every day for the rest of her life. Perhaps this is what I will need too. I will have to find a good throat doctor and make an appointment when I return home. When I was collecting money you may remember that the City Hall promised to donated 30,000 pesos. They kept deferring the item to the next month's agenda. Finally they said they are unable to donate since they don't have enough money to pay city employees and let some people go. Expecting they would pay I borrowed $1,000 from a guy here to pay the clinic where Jose Antonio was admitted. Now this guy is requesting the money because he needs to put electricity lines in one of his businesses and pay for some renovation work. I told him I would let him know in a few days. Is it possible for you to send me $1,000 by Western Union? I told him it is possible I could pay for the electric cable and things he needs with a credit card but he also must pay for some haitian men to dig the ditch for the cabling. What is the best way to handle this? I would like to pay him before I return home. Let me know. We have had extremely rainly weather and very cool days. Tomorrow I want to go to the pharmacy and get a dose of liquid vitamins to drink to ward off any germs or bacteria I may encounter in the hospital and with the rainy damp weather. Many people are sick with flu and I don't want to get sick. Jacobo reinjured his back and leg and has been off work this week. I keep telling him that he needs a chiropractor but he is afraid of the manipulation. Penelope has a birthday on 31 August. I think she will be 8. Jacobo wants to have a pizza party for her but I don't think he is well enough to endure a bunch of kids playing and screaming. |