Phil Health Update

Hello All!

It seems like just a short year ago that we sent out an email like this.

As some of you now know Phil is in the hospital here in Belize City. He has been under the care our our local nurse, Nurse Judy the Cardiac Specialist, since the day we landed in Belize. He sees her 3 times a week to watch the PB and monitored the medications and adjustments to the climate. About 3 weeks ago we added the care of a Internal Medical Dr. Cuellar, who is one of the best in Belize. But even with the great care and Phil being faithful with his medications, for the past 5 weeks, Phil has had t least one little "dizzy spell" a week. There have been 2-3 occasions that he had a little chest pain.

Monday July 7 he had a dizzy spell while we were shopping her in Belize. He had some tingling in his left arm and "saw stars" like he was going to pass out. I called our nurse ho said to go to the ER and see the Dr. Cuellar. He turned him over to the Cardiologist on staff Dr Gough. Phil received a stress test that afternoon. In 4 minutes and 18 seconds Phil had symptoms again and the readings showed that Phil has another blockage.

We went home with the instructions for Phil to go home and rest and let the medications work on bringing the stress off his heart so the next step could come into play...travel for an angiogram. Phil was put on nitrates and stayed in bed. But on Friday, he was not feeling well on top of already not feeling well. Nurse Judy came to our home and with her assistant (Jay- a first year nursing student for Hopkins) and monitored Phil. He had to have some nitro and it was very scary for a while there. We were able to get to the air port and get a flight to Belize City and to the hospital... They started the IV's and controlled the chest pain.

The good news is, again, Phil has not had any heart attack. There is no tissue damage. His heart is stressed form its lack of oxygen, and all the medications he is taking through IV keep his heart at rest and the blood moving.

Some early reports were that Phil would need a pace maker and that his heart was weakening... but for now there is no need and his heart is in good condition...except the fact that high cholesterol is truly a threat to his heart! I think we are numb to that fact...but its very real.

Belize does not have a cath lab for the angiogram process. It is in the works. Dr Gough is very knowledgeable and so is Dr Cuellar. We have chosen to go to Unicar in Guatemala City. Dr Cuellar has connections there and we have 2 friends here that have firsthand knowledge of the care, experience and technology they offer there.

Tomorrow morning, Tues July 15, we will leave the hospital around 9a.m. We will take a 4 hour drive into Guatemala to a city called Flores. We will take the 4 p.m. flight on Taca Air to Guatemala City. We will be met by a host family (Silvela and Ricardio, relatives of Ingrid who works at our main office) who will first take us to the hospital to get Phil into care. I will then be staying with them and traveling with them to and from the hospital. It is safer than staying at a hotel. I have to admit, it will be so nice to be in a home. I also think it will be fun as they do not speak English! But, I have the number of another relative that can interpret for us.

We will (at least the plan is) to see Dr Walter Mazariegos, Cardiologist.

If all goes well, it should be a routean angiogram and angioplasy. Not sure how long Phil will be in...

I will be getting a cell phone while I am there so I will be able to make some calls. I had my lap top brought up form our apartment so I hope to be able to get online with it or somewhere at the hospital as well.

So, I have to admit its been hard to want to blog or write people when one is worried about their hubby. We didn't want to say anything unless it came to this level, because it doesn't pay to worry everyone back home until we knew more. But I am glad you all know now and we thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

I'll have my camera tomorrow for the second (and Lord we pray) and final stop on our Central American Hospital Tour. I'll post and email when I can.

Much love!
~Vicki and Phil