We didn’t always call it Alcatraz. While we were there, we actually referred to it as our “luxury suite.” It was only after we escaped its somewhat sanitary clutches that Steve affectionately started describing our stay at the Shanghai Ruidong Hospital as our imprisonment on Alcatraz.
As fun as 3 nights at Alcatraz might sound, the adventure started off pretty mundane, and then pretty scary. It was only after I started feeling any better that it started to get any fun :)
It all started with a cold on the first week of school. No big deal, classes went well, and I was enjoying being a PE teacher too much to be too bummed out about the sniffles. The cold went away, but on the eve of week two a cough developed in the night. Life, teaching, and working out continued (including an intense session of INSANITY with my students (P90X)-which probably helped wipe out my immune system)), until Wednesday night, when the routine stopped….again, for the sniffles. Steve went to Ultimate Frisbee without me. The next morning he had to convince me to stay home from school, although I was determined to go since I had never missed a day of work and I didn’t want to start off the year with a sick day in September! Nevertheless, I slept at home and was fully confident in the fact that I would be back at school the next day. By the time Steve got home from school though, I was in pretty bad shape. We decided to go to the doctor.
It all started with a cold on the first week of school. No big deal, classes went well, and I was enjoying being a PE teacher too much to be too bummed out about the sniffles. The cold went away, but on the eve of week two a cough developed in the night. Life, teaching, and working out continued (including an intense session of INSANITY with my students (P90X)-which probably helped wipe out my immune system)), until Wednesday night, when the routine stopped….again, for the sniffles. Steve went to Ultimate Frisbee without me. The next morning he had to convince me to stay home from school, although I was determined to go since I had never missed a day of work and I didn’t want to start off the year with a sick day in September! Nevertheless, I slept at home and was fully confident in the fact that I would be back at school the next day. By the time Steve got home from school though, I was in pretty bad shape. We decided to go to the doctor.
It was dark and rainy when our cab pulled up to the ominous Alcatraz. It reminded me of the other time it was dark and rainy when we pulled up to Ruidong- (when Steve had pneumonia- on my BIRTHDAY)- still not too happy about that!
My temperature was taken immediately as I filled out my name on the form (I don’t know why I was the one to fill out my name, I was so out of it that my name ended up being Emily Limkemar on all the medicine bags and forms that whole first night). The nurse was obviously alarmed with my temperature, and showed us that it was 39.6. We of course didn’t know what that meant, so Steve immediately started doing the conversion and when we realized that 39.6 C was 103.3 F, we were alarmed too.
A blood test was taken. The results came back.
And that’s when they told me that, because of my blood test, I would need to “stay in hospital for a transfusion.” A TRANSFUSION. I immediately started to cry. We watch House, we know that a transfusion is a really really bad and scary thing. How could I be in need of one of those??? Especially when, in our minds, we just came to get some medicine and go home!!! Before anything could be said, they whisked me away to my cell room, while forcing Steve to stay behind to pay the 10 RMB co-pay.
My temperature was taken immediately as I filled out my name on the form (I don’t know why I was the one to fill out my name, I was so out of it that my name ended up being Emily Limkemar on all the medicine bags and forms that whole first night). The nurse was obviously alarmed with my temperature, and showed us that it was 39.6. We of course didn’t know what that meant, so Steve immediately started doing the conversion and when we realized that 39.6 C was 103.3 F, we were alarmed too.
A blood test was taken. The results came back.
And that’s when they told me that, because of my blood test, I would need to “stay in hospital for a transfusion.” A TRANSFUSION. I immediately started to cry. We watch House, we know that a transfusion is a really really bad and scary thing. How could I be in need of one of those??? Especially when, in our minds, we just came to get some medicine and go home!!! Before anything could be said, they whisked me away to my cell room, while forcing Steve to stay behind to pay the 10 RMB co-pay.
Luckily, Steve was back with me as quickly as possible, and soon we realized that when they had said “transfusion,” they had actually meant “infusion,” and soon I was attached to an IV that we later named Bosley. The second language communication scare happened a few hours later when my temperature hadn’t dropped yet. Dr. Jason told me that they would need to give me an “injection in my spine” to lower my fever, but when I hesitated to accept that form of treatment, he added, “Or, we could give you oral medicine.” That was a tough decision.
(We later figured out that he probably meant “back” instead of “spine”).
(We later figured out that he probably meant “back” instead of “spine”).
The first night at Alcatraz was not so fun because on top of feeling awful, we had just been sentenced to a night away from home! We usually like to know about the trips we take ahead of time, and the sudden surprise of this mandatory vacation was kind of taking all of the fun out of it! Steve did have some taste of adventure though when he ordered pizza and the deliveryman actually came right up to the hospital room door. :)
Day 2 on the Rock began with a lovely 6am IV wake-up call, along with the information that I should start getting comfortable, as I would be spending another night there. Well, even though I was starting to feel better, I was not comfortable. The light coming through the window, along with the fact that I was starting to be able to keep my eyes open for longer periods of time, illuminated the fact that my room was not as clean as I had imagined the night before. The floors were stained, the bathroom was grimy, and there were at least two smashed bugs on the walls.
Plus, Steve left to go teach, and I had a few hours alone before Karen came to take care of me. That meant that I had to be extra brave, and face the doctors on my own. They would come in, four at a time, take a look at me, and then proceed to discuss my situation in Chinese right in front of me for several minutes, and then walk out of the room without telling me anything. It was so absurd all I could do was laugh about it. That, and put all my trust in the One who I knew was taking care of me through all of it.
Fortunately, Karen came soon, bringing everything a mother should bring, including a cell phone to talk to my mommy! It was awesome, and she definitely gets big credit for my recovery. In Chinese hospitals, family and friends are the caretakers, and the nurses just stick to the medical stuff, like pricking you with needles. I don’t know if that’s how it works in the US, since I’ve never been to the hospital there. Anyway, Karen nursed me back to health with Gatorade, apple juice, tea, applesauce, and crackers (she would always give me two crackers at a time since she represented two mothers, one cracker from her, and one from my mom). I slept for most of the day, but whenever I stirred, she would force the nutrients into my system. Element also helped take care of me, bringing me chicken foot soup (which Karen wisely took the feet out of and just had me drink the broth), and a cute get-well mug with a turtle on it telling me to be persevere. I liked the mug more than the soup J
Fortunately, Karen came soon, bringing everything a mother should bring, including a cell phone to talk to my mommy! It was awesome, and she definitely gets big credit for my recovery. In Chinese hospitals, family and friends are the caretakers, and the nurses just stick to the medical stuff, like pricking you with needles. I don’t know if that’s how it works in the US, since I’ve never been to the hospital there. Anyway, Karen nursed me back to health with Gatorade, apple juice, tea, applesauce, and crackers (she would always give me two crackers at a time since she represented two mothers, one cracker from her, and one from my mom). I slept for most of the day, but whenever I stirred, she would force the nutrients into my system. Element also helped take care of me, bringing me chicken foot soup (which Karen wisely took the feet out of and just had me drink the broth), and a cute get-well mug with a turtle on it telling me to be persevere. I liked the mug more than the soup J
Steve FINALLY came back from work, and this time, he came prepared. He was very excited to show me all the goodies he brought from home: clean clothes, a computer and surge protector, a full season of House, portable speakers, a hair tie, chocolate, and he even thought to bring my favorite slippers (which I didn’t use, since I didn’t want them to be tainted by the hospital…still, it was the thought that counted). His next gift was a 54-song playlist that had about 40 of my favorite songs and only 14 of his! All that love and thoughtfulness made me want to cry. I was actually reminded of our wedding day- when Steve and his brothers played worship before my dad gave me away- I was so overcome with the feeling of being so incredibly loved that I was doing all I could to hold back the tears. In a weird way, the feelings I had on my wedding day felt similar to being in a Chinese hospital and having my husband take care of me…. guess I'm starting to understand what it really meant when we agreed to love each other “in sickness and in health.”
After Karen handed the baton off to Steve, we had the opportunity to host some guests. Our friends came with dinner, bringing Steve’s favorite: calzones! As Steve ate, they entertained us with stories from outside prison walls; tales of a bus full of kindergarten teachers breaking down and then being fixed again, and hopes of being entertained by the interesting décor at a party that night. The next evening we were visited by even more friends, with more food and even more stories from the outside world (turns out the décor at the party was entertaining). By then I was feeling even better, and was able to gobble up the tasty salad and smoothie they had brought us.
In between all of this socializing in our suite, Steve and I enjoyed a marathon of House episodes, interspersed with IVs and breathing treatments, as well as a few short walks down the hall for some fresh air. As my health progressed, the nurses even let us start to take walks outside! It was beyond wonderful to leave those hospital walls behind and to soak in the blue cloud sky and feel the cool breeze on my face. I was always shocked to discover how soon I would feel the need to turn back though…never having been that sick before I had no reference for how much I could handle!
In between all of this socializing in our suite, Steve and I enjoyed a marathon of House episodes, interspersed with IVs and breathing treatments, as well as a few short walks down the hall for some fresh air. As my health progressed, the nurses even let us start to take walks outside! It was beyond wonderful to leave those hospital walls behind and to soak in the blue cloud sky and feel the cool breeze on my face. I was always shocked to discover how soon I would feel the need to turn back though…never having been that sick before I had no reference for how much I could handle!
A bright blue sunny sky greeted us as we pulled away from The Rock. Perfect imagery to encapsulate our weekend: dark and rainy when we arrive, and bright and sunny when we leave :) And now that our time in Alcatraz has passed, I have to say that this experience has shown me how cared for I am by my family (both by the family here and by all of you who are so far away) and by my friends. I have also definitely been reminded of God’s daily provision in my life. Last year I was reminded to rely on Him when we needed to figure out how to work our washing machine in Chinese….I guess this year I needed a little bit bigger of a reminder ;) Overall I feel very blessed and very loved. Thanks to everyone who was thinking and praying for me! I definitely felt all the love and was blessed by it!
Our first night back we experienced the most breathtaking sunset we've seen yet in Shanghai. It was an amazing symbol of hope to us after the weekend we had just experienced.
*Let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, for He who promised is faithful. -Hebrews 10:!2.*
*Let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, for He who promised is faithful. -Hebrews 10:!2.*
My next challenge is trying to figure out how quickly I am recovering. I’ve made a pact with myself to not do any physical activity for a week (which is pretty difficult, considering it’s my job to be active), and I’m sleeping and drinking as much as possible. Other than that, I’m just seeing how it goes and taking it easy!
Speaking of pacts, Steve and I have decided that the next time we stay in the hospital we’re not coming away without something really good in return…but that’ll be a blog we’ll write at least a few years from now….;)
Speaking of pacts, Steve and I have decided that the next time we stay in the hospital we’re not coming away without something really good in return…but that’ll be a blog we’ll write at least a few years from now….;)