Monday, January 5, 2009

Can't Catch A Break

This morning on the way to visit our children at the transitional home, we learned from our driver Ayele that we needed to go to the hospital to have Maritu's sputum culture and to have Mamush tested too. That hospital reminded me of military hospitals! Hospitals in Ethiopia are quite different than in the US First, you stand in the reception line. Then you pay! You aren't seen if you don't pay! So, after the kids had received medical exams and x-rays, we went into the cafeteria to get Maritu and Mamush some breakfast because they hadn't had time to eat, not that Maritu will starve or anything! She is the Michelin baby! The doctor told us it would be about 45 minutes for the x-rays. Technology must be very different too, because my husband has his x-rays in 5 minutes! The great thing about the wait, though, was that we got to feed the kids for the first time! Mamush must have been hungry because he normally eats like Sheridan. After our wait, we had to get back in line to see the doctor. Then Kenneth talks to the doctor, and looks at Maritu's medical history. We learn a lot, and are very relieved to find out that it was not necessary to do sputum cultures because her chest x-ray was negative! We can have our Embassy date and bring both kids home!



So, we go back to Hope's place and complete our paperwork with Rahel. Mia and Donna were so exited to learn our news. We also learned that they had gotten a lamb for Hope's place for tomorrow's Ethiopian Christmas feast! I hate that we missed all the fun! After that, it was time to have some fun, so we all went to the Hilton to change money, shop, and eat. We then asked Ayele to take us to Merkato. All I can say is,"Oh my!" I just thought I was amazed by all the people on the streets, but this topped it all! So much so, that it was scary! There was no shopping for us!!! We came. We saw. We got the heck out of dodge!



Then comes the call from Shimeless in the US... We just can't catch a break! He says the Embassy will not see us for Maritu until she has 3 negative sputum cultures! The Embassy is closed Wednesday for Christmas and Thursday for who knows! So, if we could have gotten her cultures started today, we still couldn't have an Embassy apointment until Friday with our documents not being ready until next Monday. We are scheduled to return Saturday... Here we are, after spending the morning at the hospital, on cloud 9 because we found out that Maritu never had a positive TB test. She had pneumonia that didn't get better on only one antibiotic, so they treated her with TB meds. Today at the hospital, the doctor said she didn't know why the attending doctor changed that diagnosis. That's why Maritu didn't have sputum cultures. Technically, a sputum test is not as definitive as the x-ray, and she had a clear x-ray this morning; therefore, she doesn't have active TB and cannot transmit TB. Sputum cultures are performed in the US to clear a patient from the hospital sooner. UGGGGH!!!! We will bring both children to our Embassy appointment and plead Maritu's case? Double ugh!

If she cannot be cleared, then we will have to return home without her. :( Neither Kenneth nor I can stay away from home any longer... So, what do you do when you are at your wit's end? Eat chocolate!!! Lots of it!!! Kenneth and I took off in search of the cure all medicine, and we made it in the process of our hunt because Mia had brought some with her from home! Yes, us two farengi's stuck out like we had neon signs around our neck, and what happens when that happens? The beggars follow you! My goodness! We had one little boy follow us for several blocks when surprisingly a nice Ethiopian man fussed at this kid until he left! Wow!



Hope will make this all good, so no worries... This is just not what we had planned... Bummer!

10 comments:

Paula said...

Wow. Just... wow. I hope it all works out to bring Maritu home. Bureaucracy sucks.

Sandee said...

Oh my Holly.....what is next? Will Maritu be excorted?

Hugs and prayers.....

Bennett said...

wow!!! I will keep you in my prayers that the case pass the embassy apt. I guess this is a lesson to us all....plan for the best, and prepare for the worse.

I will keep you and your family in my prayers

Celeset

Anonymous said...

Oh Holly I am so sorry to hear this. I pray that the Embassy folks will let them both come home this trip!!!

prayers your way.
Kathleen

Anonymous said...

Well a big fat sorry from me! That's stinkier than an explosive-poopy diaper ;) I hope you get some good news.
Lee

Chris said...

OH MAN!!!!
I am very happy to hear that Maritu doesn't have TB but sad to hear about the embassy appointment though .
You are in my thoughts .

Rebecca said...

Oh my gosh! What a mess! I hope and pray that you will be able to plead your case at the embassy and go home as planned with both kids. I can't imagine how it will feel if you have to leave Maritu. You have such a good attitude though. You went looking for chocolate. I think I'd have been looking for vodka!

Ali said...

I'm so sorry to hear that. Hopefully they will be sympathetic at the Embassy appointment.

Kristine said...

Oh Holly! Praying you catch the Embassy guys in a good mood :)

Unknown said...

All I can say is ..I love you Holly. I am with you in spirity, heart and soul and sorry u have to deal w/ it. the trials and tribulations of our long journeys prepared us for these kinds of things..I know it has taught me patience and to find strenght I never knew i had...obvioulsy you too! Luv your fellow torch bearer...kim