Rosa- April 2009

Do you remember Rosa? I blogged about her on March 15th if you want to go back and check it out.

I had talked extensively to Rosa about the possible complications she may have in her pregnancy due to her diabetes and very high glucose readings. On Monday April 13, while I was in El Salvador, Rosa had a miscarriage. She said she experienced severe abdominal pain and went to the public hospital where she was told the baby was dead. Late in the night, or perhaps in the wee hours of the next morning, she had surgery re: her pregnancy. She saw her son and said that he fit entirely in the palm of her hand. She was about 4 months into her pregnancy.

On Thursday morning, she was awoken at 4am for her turn to take a shower. She was in a ward with multiple other ladies, and they all shared a bathroom. She felt very ill and could hardly make it back to her bed after her shower. She was having a hard time breathing. The lady in the next bed asked if she was OK. Rosa said the last thing she remembers is hearing somebody yell for the nurse on her behalf. When Rosa regained consciousness, the doctor was at her side. He told her she had died and that it was a miracle that she was alive. He didn’t expect her to make it. But Rosa has quite a story to tell of what happened in this time where she was “dead.” She said she saw God, particularly His bright white robe. Her baby was in the palm of His hand. The baby told her that she didn’t need to be sad because he will forever be in her heart and they will see each other again one day in heaven. However, for now she needed to return to her children because they needed her. And then God also told her that she needed to return. Then she woke up. Later that same day, Thursday, the doctor asked if she wanted to go home and she said yes. So, she went home the same day she died. She doesn’t know specifically what type of surgery she had on Monday, nor did anyone explain to her why she died on Thursday, nor does she have any follow-up medical appointments, nor does she have prescriptions for any medicines. She was put on insulin during her hospital stay, but wasn’t told what type or how much, or the need for it once she returned home. She remembers overhearing that her blood sugar level was 40 at some point, but she doesn’t remember when. Of course, this is all beyond appalling to me. But as one Guatemalan friend told me, Welcome to Guatemala.

I myself, knowing Rosa, don’t doubt one speck of her account. I believe it is completely true. She told me this story during my visit with her 4 days after she came home. I’ll never forget how she met me at the door and burst into get level tears as we hugged for a very long time. She told me that she’s sad, but not overwhelming sad because of her after life experience. She feels God has granted her the gift of life to again be able to care for her 2 children.

I continue to follow Rosa on a weekly basis. She continues to come visit me almost every Sunday so that I can check on her and give her more diabetic medicine. It’s a hard life for her; her employer has only been paying the employees on every other payday. And she doesn’t know if she’ll get paid for the time she’s missed work (2 wk). I wish I could truthful say Rosa’s story is rare, but it’s not. It’s more common than any of us would like to believe. But the Rosas of this world keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep their eyes focused on Him. What a privilege it is to be here with the Rosas of this world.