Visiting

6-28-10
We got to experience a great thunder and lightning show today with a huge downpour. I loved it! It's nothing like the wimpy storms we have in Washington.

I had the opportunity to visit a few people with Pastor Bruce. One woman in particular really touched my heart. She was diagnosed on 2004 with cancer in her neck and then underwent radiation and chemotherapy. The radiation created inflammation in her neck which made breathing difficult. Then she had a tracheostomy placed. With the tracheostomy in place she was unable to eat anything, so a feeding tube was placed. Then came August 2005 and Katrina. She now had to travel to Baton Rouge to access the medical available to her, as healthcare professionals in New Orleans were difficult to find. The radiation had caused her esophagus to close due to scar tissue. She made many attempts to be seen in Baton Rouge to have the esophagus surgically opened and appointments were cancelled because no one was available to see her. She was finally seen after 9 months and was then told nothing could be done to open the scar tissue. She is now stuck with a tracheostomy and feeding tube for the rest of her life and is unable to eat or drink anything. I feel like the healthcare community really failed her. She, amazingly, holds on to the hope that she will be able to eat red beans and rice with Pastor Bruce again.
Vicki