Santiago & Mexican Healthcare (Part II)

Tuesday PM Update

Our family visited Santiago at the hospital in San Cristobal this afternoon. He is in intensive care but conscious and able to talk with visitors. Ultrasound results earlier today suggested that he has fluid in his abdominal cavity, and as of about 8PM, they had decided to do another surgery. They don't know if all the internal wounds from the ruptured appendix were sutured, if the internal incisions from the surgery were not completely sutured, or what. They elected to proceed with the 2nd surgery immediately. As of this writing, we do not know the outcome of the surgery or have a more current update.

The visit to the hospital gave us further insight into the Mexican medical system. He shares a semi-private room with 3 other intensive care patients, separated by a curtain. His area has about 2 feet on either side of the bed and at the end. Pablo & San's wife, Maria, were there along with the other brothers and brothers-in-law. They will take turns...1 stays awake and in his room from 6PM until morning and another stays in the hallway to be ready to respond to an order for more medicine, bandages, etc. and must go shopping and return ASAP. Then tomorrow, 2 more will relieve those 2 for another 12 hour shift. The one in the room is expected to perform all functions of a nurse's aide and cannot sleep, eat or leave, even to go to the bathroom during his/her shift! Pablo took a turn doing the "in-room duty" today, and trust me, it was NOT a pretty sight! He was pretty overwhelmed by the experience and must have used a full bottle of anti-bacterial gel (AKA 1 Dollar!). Questions about the bill for surgery and the hospital stay cannot be answered by the hospital staff, yet when it comes time for him to be discharged, payment in full will be expected.

I have shared with Santiago, Maria and the family about your love and prayers, and all your kind words. He laughed when I told him how many people I'd ask to pray for him, saying that he didn't know how I could even KNOW that many people! It was great to see him smile a bit and joke, but it was very clear that he continues to be in pain and in medical danger. Please continue to pray for Santiago, his family and his doctors, and we will continue to keep you informed.