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| 'If God is with us who can be against us'? (Romans 8:21) |
Today has involved the now familiar rollercoaster of emotions.
This morning Andrew and I arrived at the hospital only to be stopped by the security guard at the entrance and escorted down to the basement.
Anyone entering the hospital outside of visiting hours needs to have a sticker on authorising them to be there. Patients are only allowed one visitor at a time and Peter already had one with him.
Brad Miller, an American missionary who is in Manaus with his wife and five children, had stayed the night with Peter. He and Peter have really hit it off. Brad has only been in the country for 18 months and is still learning Portuguese, so he is really enjoying being able to have some intelligent conversation in English with someone else. He is a lovely guy and although his Portuguese is still in its early stages, he is being a real help to Peter.
Our trip to the basement was designed to inform us that we couldn't see Peter, but it turned put to be a blessing as it caused us to meet the only lady working at the hospital who can speak fluent English.
Andrew explained to her our situation, and she immediately took us up to meet the doctor in charge.
The doctor told us that because Peter is over 40 he needed to undergo a number of tests before he was given the all clear for his op, including a heart examination.
The problem was that the cardiologist only worked at the hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays and then Peter needed to fast for 12 hours. The op could not possibly be done before Friday, she told us.
It was at this point that Andrew used the magic phrase: 'Secretary of Health'.
After a quick phone call the story changed: a decree had come from above: the op must happen on Thursday.
Suddenly it was now possible and the tests were hurriedly arranged.
Andrew had a number of things he needed to do for his mission agency before catching his flight back to the UK, so he and I took the opportunity to pop over to Dom Pedro church, leaving Brad with Peter.
Another set of emails and a long call to Global Response (the medical insurance company) confirmed that the medical reports I had emailed to them yesterday were enough to get some balls rolling. Once Peter is given the all clear to travel after his op, they will arrange everything to get him back to the UK, including transport to the airport, wheelchair transfers for connections and special treatment on the airplanes.
We stopped off for a quick lunch with Pastor Alvaro (of San Pedro church). He had BBQed a whole tambaqui and I can honestly say that it was one of the most delicious meals I have ever had. That was until Alvaro decided to eat what he said was the tastiest part: the eye!
Pastor Franke from Dom Pedro church had joined us by this point and he then took over as we dropped Andrew off at the airport to catch his flight home.
I was sad to see Andrew go. It has been great to spend time with him and get to know him these last two weeks. I feel I have learned a lot from him and we have got on really well.
However it is really important that he get home to see his father who had a stroke while we were out here. Please continue to pray for his father as he recovers.
The 20 min drive back to the hospital with Pastor Franke was a lesson in how much it is possible to communicate via sign language. He cannot speak much English at all, but we had a great time 'talking' together.
I rejoined Peter and Brad at the hospital around 2pm. Peter had been moved to his own room by now, which was a real blessing. The ward he had been on had been guarded by armed military police because three gang members who had been shot were being treated in there. The guy in the bed next to Peter was handcuffed to his bed!
Peter had had all his pre-op tests except the heart test. A cardiologist was yet to turn up.
It was at around 5pm our time (9pm UK time) that we saw a remarkable answer to prayer.
Two doctors appeared to break the news that Peter's op would not be possible until Friday or possibly Monday. Because of his age it was too risky to go ahead without the cardiologist giving the all clear.
We couldn't believe it: another disappointment.
Brad was having difficulty translating so he went off to find someone who spoke Portuguese and English.
There 'just happened' to be a fluent English speaker visiting the Director of New Tribes Mission just down the corridor.
And with him was none other than Pastor Silvio, the man who personally knew the Secretary of Health and had been advocating on Peter's behalf.
You couldn't have written the scene that occured next better.
He asked the two doctors what the problem was, and when they told him he asked them to wait one moment and then he got out his mobile phone.
The next thing we all heard was 'Hello Secretary...'
Within minutes the op was back on for tomorrow morning sometime. Within the hour a cardiologist appeared and gave Peter the all clear. By 6.30pm he had been instructed that he should not eat anything from 10pm in preparation for the op tomorrow.
What we're the odds that at the exact moment we needed him Pastor Silvio would have been just down the corridor?
What were the odds that a man capable of translating for us would be alongside him?
What were the odds that the Secretary of Health would have been contactable when Pastor Silvio rang him? (He had tried all day on Monday to call him without success.)
Through tears of gratitude we gathered around Peter's bedside and gave thanks to God that for his perfect timing.
The fat lady has not sung yet, but she is at least gowned up and ready to go.
Please pray that all goes well tomorrow.
