Getting ready to have the surgery
My Sailor Moon socks!
I count my blessings this is not a video.
I adored my wonderful nurse at the hospital.
My Letter Home:
So Saturday night I woke up repeatedly because of a huge pain in
my stomach. I was confused as to what it could be, so I just popped some Advil
and tried to go back to sleep. Well, the pain continued for the next few days.
I wasn’t able to go to church. It hurt to walk. It felt like someone was
grabbing my stomach and squeezing it. It hurt to bend down and tie my shoes.
Most of the time I just spent curled up on the floor. There even came a moment
that President Tavares, our mission president, came to our house and gave me a
blessing. Finally on Tuesday I went to go to see a doctor. The pain had
plateaued, but it wasn’t going away. So we went to the doctor and as soon as
she started poking around in my stomach I started crying because it hurt so
bad. She decided I needed to get an ultrasound to look at it. Before I could go
in they told me I needed to drink a whole liter of water in about 10 minutes.
It was TORTURE. I never wanted to drink water again. Then I finally went in.
She took a good look at my guts and said "Hey! You have
appendicitis!" (After telling me that my ovaries are beautiful). Once she
discovered this, it was all a huge blur. Everyone started freaking out, telling
me that I needed to get surgery TODAY. There was a lot of stress, running around
in a Portuguese hospital with only my comp to help me. I was in a lot of pain
and I was sick of waiting and I was super hungry. We were frantically looking
for a taxi then the Elders from the office finally came and picked us up to
take us to another hospital where I would be operated on. I changed into a
weird paper dress thingy and socks that went up to my thighs, Sailor Moon
style. I climbed into bed and the Elders gave me a blessing and I got to talk
to my parents on the phone! (Love you Mama and Daddy! See you guys on Mothers
Day!) It was so fun. Finally they came to get me for the surgery and I remember
rolling around on my bed everywhere, switching beds like 4 times in my awkward
paper dress, and having a lot of women in hair nets prepping my body. They gave
me an injection and BOOM I was out. I woke up in a very warm bed, very confused
and in a lot of pain. Eventually they rolled me back into the room with my
companion and Sister Tavares. She was so worried about me, it was so cute.
Apparently during the surgery the missionaries of the Algarve did a group
prayer for me. That is sweet. And a little embarrassing, but I thank
them.
Ãfter that I have been just hanging out in the mission home,
waiting for my wounds to heal. Slowly but surely I will! They should be taking
my stitches out on Wednesday.
That was my week!
Sister Barron
Ps. The church is true!
