After a quick trip up the "elevator", almost immediately upon arrival they put Dad on an IV and tell me to rest! I've got a real bed (hospital bed, but better than a fold-out bedside chair!) and I start settling in, putting clothes away, etc. Due to a little misunderstandng on both our parts, I was still stressing over a few caregiver details for the first little while...feeling like (where's the rest I was promised?!) At some point they finally pop in to check on me and see that I'm on the brink. They thought we were in the room sleeping and I didn't realize they were right across the hall for me to call on at any time! They were SO apologetic when they realized I've still been bearing the heavy caregiver role this last hour or so...when they realize I haven't rested at all, they spring into action making sure I know all I need to know and practically hogtie me to the bed while they take care of things now. Aaaahhhh..... English-speaking staff leaves around dinner time, so now I have to really dig deep into the reserves of all those (2-3) Spanish classes I've taken, kept FreeTranslation.com up on the computer tab and watching the few English channels with their Spanish subtitles! I think I'm catching on....slowly! ha!
Dad goes through a daily regimen of vitamin IV drips, Hyperbaric (Oxygen) Chamber, and Infrared (I call it oven-time on his bed) treatments. He also gets 3-4 detox drinks and about six vitamins he needs to get down everyday. A couple times, they took his blood and ran it under a UV light, which kills all the bacteria and other bad stuff, then they pump it with a growth factor to help multiply the good white cells, incubate it for 24 hours and give it back to him! A transfusion with his own blood made stronger! Here are a sampling of pictures that show each of these processes:
And last but not least, here is our wonderful team of doctors and techs (the ones I see everyday. There's a whole lot more people behind the scenes who really know their stuff!
Dr. Edgar Payan (The Man in Charge)
Father/Daughter Tech Dynamos Luis & Yadi
With Ismael, everything is "Molto Bene!"
Eric is our very attentive Weekend Guy
Teresa is one of the ever-patient nurses that were so attentive to our many needs.
Hello. How is your Dad doing? I too spent 12 glorious days there and continue to brag about the AWESOME service received. In short, on the third day, I was walking the plaza / town on my own. Amazing experience and I owe it all to Dr. Payan, Dr. Branyon, Luis, Yadi, Iris, Ismael and the kitchen staff! They are part of my family and always will be.
ReplyDeletePaul, I'm praising the Lord with you for your success in their program! Unfortunately, as you may read later in my blog posts, on our last day we transported dad via ambulance back across the border to the Yuma Regional Hospital where Dad passed away the next morning. We just didn't know he had the cancer until it was too late. The San Luis team was wonderful and I smiled when I read your list of their names. Blessings on the rest of your Journey. Make the most of your fresh start! :-)
DeleteHi Paul, I'd love to talk to you about your experience at CMN as I'm strongly considering making the trip. Is there a way to get in touch with you? Thanks, Kris K
DeleteHi Paul, Im going through the same thing and would like to ask you a couple of questions about CMN? Is there a way to get in touch with you?
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