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

Tidbits

Nothing to new to report, so here are a few photosI have in my computer. I will get out my camera and take some more shots of things around the area. We will be going back to Belize City in another week or so, so I will get some photos there too. This is a Cashew Apple. The Cashew nut is at the top. If you would try to break open the nut you would get an "toxic shell oil" on your hands. To roast the nuts you have to do it outside as to not breath in the "acid" as well. Its a bit of a process, that is one reason they are a bit more expensive. In the field, the fruits are picked up and chewed for refreshment, the juice swallowed, and the fibrous residue discarded. In the home and, in a limited way for commercial purposes, the cashew apples are preserved in syrup in glass jars. the juice is astringent and somewhat acrid due to 35% tannin content (in the red: less in the yellow) and 3% of an oily substance, the fruit is pressure-steamed for 5 to 15 minutes before candying or making into jam or chutney or extracting the juice for carbonated beverages, syrup or wine. Efforts are made to retain as much as possible of the ascorbic acid. Food technologists in Costa Rica recently worked out an improved process for producing the locally popular candied, sun-dried cashew apples. Failure to remove the tannin from the juice may account for the nutritional deficiency in heavy imbibers of cashew apple wine in Mozambique, for tannin prevents the body's full assimilation of protein. Medicinal Uses: Cashew apple juice, without removal of tannin, is prescribed as a remedy for sore throat and chronic dysentery in Cuba and Brazil. Fresh or distilled, it is a potent diuretic and is said to possess sudorific properties. The brandy is applied as a liniment to relieve the pain of rheumatism and neuralgia. (OK... I got all that off the web... I didn't write it.but its neat.)
This little guy lives in the trees and roof tops around our parking lots. I have not named this one, but I have given names to a few of the lizards that live around here. I guess I REALLY miss my dogs. The lizards don't bother me anymore... I like the little guys.
This is the second piece of Mayan wall art.

This is a job I would never want to have... fixing leaks in the roof of about 3 to 4 stories in the air in the heat of the day... I like my air conditioning in the spa. Our construction guys are So amazing! They are our neighbors as they work right out our front door and live in a house behind the resort. Every time we walk in or out of our place we are greeted with about 10-20 smiles. They work for 14 strait days then go back to their homes and families Cayo district (Near the border of Guatemala) for 4 days. They work so hard form 6:30 in the morning to 5-6 at night with a one hour lunch break. And I mean they don't stop or slow down! I tease the Crew Leader/Owner of the construction company, Magdalena, that he would fire me in about 2 hours if I worked for him because all I would do is complain that "Its too hot..." Magdalena and his wife, Wilma, lived in near Chicago for a few years and he said that he felt the same about the cold. Wilma is going to teach me to croshay on of these days and has taught me a little more Spanish. Very nice people!

That is it for now

Two of Butterflies Spa's Rooms

For anyone who knows me, they know I get a high out of cleaning, organizing and decorating. So today was a very slow day at the Spa...so I got the 3 girls scheduled to help me organize or facial products and switch 2 of our rooms around. It was a fun day filled with lots of laughing...I have the best staff on earth! But we also go a lot of work done! We had a smaller room filled with our facial equipment and a bigger room with one lonely table... and in the matter of a few hours, POOF we have 2 "new rooms".

If you could hear the music and smell the spa air and have the soft candle lighting it would be a bit more impressive than just the videos.

So here is the new Zen Room:

And here is the new facial Room. It normally has a bright yellow or teal blanket on the table that ties in with all the tropical flowers and palms, but it is in the wash. The table can turn all the way around in a circle. So a guests head can near the sink and counter for facials and be turned the other direction for waxing. We are all very excited about our big changes! We are also very excited to hear what Ms. Pat has to say!

I hope this will temp someone into saying they are coming for a visit! Or did I loose you all at the chicken feet? ;-)

More soon!

~V

Belize City

Hi All!

Its like all of a sudden we have stopped seeing the area through tourist eyes and are just getting into the swing of living in our resort and village. I am working at the spa and for the "slow season" we sure are busy! I love what I do! I have to say I love having the variety of services we offer and no two days are ever the same. Phil is keeping busy with little project after little project that I have for him to help out the spa. Building shelves and dong minor fixes of things.

Last week, Phil and I went for our 3 days off to Belize City. We drove and it was a maybe 3 hours. Not bad at all. It was so interesting that some of the drive felt like driving through Michigan. Trees and marshes. Well, apart of the trip was for Phil to see the Doctor to get a good base line of care here in Belize. Hew saw Dr Cuellar who happens to be the brother of our Nurse (Nurse Judy of Hopkins Village) who stays on top of Phil's care 3 visits a week. Phil had some blood and urine tests done and an EKG. They ran ALL the test they could to get the base line... everything is fine. Cholesterol could go down some more...but anyhow... the big part of this story is the cost!! Phil's Dr visit was $55 blz. ($27.50 us) and it was the initial visit of about 40 minutes and a 20 minute fallow up the next day with test results!! So with the EKG and the full run of blood tests and the Dr.'s visit the bill was $537.80 Blz. (268.90 US) !!! SO we can afford this care! Even the meds are cheep! The service was so personal and fast! WOW!! And if anything were to happen (to either of us) that they can not do in Belize they have connections to the hospitals in Guatemala that have more to offer and is cheaper still!!

So, we stayed at the Princess Hotel and Casino on the waterfront. It was OK. Nothing fancy and a bit old style rooms, but it had its perks! It has the ONLY MOVIE THEATER in the country of Belize! So we saw a movie and had popcorn! It was like heaven! We also played at the casino for a little while. Same games as Hinkley! a lot smaller though. Free drinks and all in US dollars....in which we left with $250US more than when we came! The hotel also has a huge pool, a great view and a bowling ally! I have to say it felt like we were "away" form the resort and almost home. Don't get me wrong, Paradise is incredible, but feeling "normal" is priceless!

My other favorite discovery besides some good shopping and beautiful art galleries was THE DONUT STAND!! Our taxi driver almost locked up his breaks when I spotted this little stand and yelled "Donuts!!!" :-) It is owned by a (I think US) woman who has been there for 27 years. She and her staff make all the goods by hand and they are wonderful! Not good for the diet, but a true treat! There is also a Subway in Belize City...another taste of home.

Maybe it sounds strange that I am sharing all the things that you have at home as our biggest finds... So here are a few things I have been holding back:

1. They eat Chicken Feet like its a wing

2. They eat Cow Foot Soup

3. They eat Iguanas and Iguana eggs

4. When you buy a whole chicken form the store.... you know the stuff that comes in a nice little bag inside the chicken in the US,its not in a bag and includes a few more organs and 2 feet.

And that is why I like Donuts!

Its the rain season... and it does rain each day. Usually in the morning and again in the afternoon...then again at night. :-) We have a little tropical storm coming in tonight. Should be some big thunder...The area is under a flood warnig already. The blue crabs are on the march. They come out when it rains. They are everywhere. One ran at me instead of away from me when I went running a few weeks ago. I have also been told that their claws can puncture tires. I'll take some photos tomorrow. But tonight, whit the waves big, the locals will catch them in nets.

the net that you would put some uncooked chicken in for bait. (I guess feet)

Blue Crabs

Blue Crab Eggs

Well, I will get out the camera a bit more and get back online more as well. We sure miss everyone and look forward to our trip home in September.

Well, back to the Twins Game! Circle US Bert!!

Much Much Love!

~V and P

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to our fathers Robert and Ken!! We love you and miss you!

A Happy Fathers Day to Caleb!

Happy Fathers Day to our Brothers, Brothers In Law, Uncles, and Cousins!

And a Happy Fathers Day to all of our dear friends who help make us Aunt Trixie and Uncle Phil. A special shout out to the single fathers who do it all and make it look so easy! (And that, Eric, you can Black and Decker!)

Love
P and V

No new is good news...

Well, things are coming back to normal around here. People are back to work, the resort sands are raked, the rooms are filling up with about 30 guests and the Spa is open and booking appointments.

There was some issues with the water in our building. But its back and its running clear. I think if I had to choose between running water and electricity... I would choose the water!

I see the guest out swimming in the pool and Sea... and I kinda cringe. The pool is still a bit green and the sea is still kinda brown. I think people think its brown from the waves... but its not. A few nights ago the sea smelled so bad... You couldn't pay me to even walk in the sea right now. I miss the beautiful blue-green!

Thursday late afternoon, the Blue Crabs came out. They were everywhere! I'll have to get photos the next time. They run all over the resort, in the dining room, on the roads....everywhere.

We got our first letters in the mail! One was mailed on April 27, the other on May 10. Thank you Michelle! Send to the address on our card or to:
C/O Jaguar Reef Lodge
Hopkins Village
Stann Creek District
Belize, Central America

Well that is the latest and greatest!
Love Phil and Vicki

Tropical Storm #1

Stan Creek District Map

Sunday night we had a tropical storm move over us. The wind was amazing! We were safe in our apartment. In the morning we got up to take some photos of the storm damage.

Around 7a.m. there was word that Sittee, the next little town over was flooding! Many of the resorts workers live there. As time went by we heard there was one death. The bridge on the Southern Highway were washed out, and the bridges going to Belmopan are washed out.

Our own guides and workers joined in the rescue missions with the boast and docks. The next dock north of us was being used to rescue people form the town of Dangreag where we shop. The power had to be turned off for the safety of the rescues.

So in trying to keep things feeling normal, we at the spa tried to do some services... but with no power and water it was not going to happen. We were able to do 2 massages before we had to stop. Then around maybe 10.am. I had a note on the front desk to come and look out back on the road.... the water was coming!! In the first time that people in our area could remember, the road and Hopkins was being flooded! There was a crocodile sighting floating down the road as well.

Talk about seeing people work had and fast! They JRL crew drove workers home who were stranded, they moved all the cars and golf carts.... They did a fantastic job of getting all that needed to be done, done. Phil made some quick sand bags and sealed doors to the basement with the washer and dryer. He prepped a lot of little things and then with 2 other guests, (Hi Nancy and Bill!! We hope to see you again when you come back!!) went further down the beach and dug a trench to help drain the flood water into the sea. I got the upstairs Vista suite cleaned up from the rain leaks and made up a few extra beds in case we had to move people upstairs. I also made some candle kits for each room for lighting at night. The water rose fast and by dark was going down.

We had no electricity, no running water, the generator was under water as well. Its amazing how all the guest mad the most of it and had fun. The drinks were a little strong last night too...that may have helped. the dinner was fantastic that JRL Kitchen made. (we cook with gas here) By 7 we got the Almond Beach generator back up and running so they had AC for the night. We set up a open suite for employees to take showers. That was like Heaven!! Our building didn't have the generator, but we had a nice wind coming off the ocean.

This morning we awoke to an almost dry road. We got some of our guests out at 6:30 another couple at 8:30. That was when our power came back on. And that was also when I was given the news that the water is coming back up. Its rising in Sittee right now and the next couple to leave will go by boat to Dangrega as the roads are being closed again. So I am not sure what "round 2" will be like for us today.

I talked to some of my employees and the water went all through Hopkins. One of my employees houses is some 10-15 feet off the ground...the water was half way up to her home!

So we are safe and sound... Its just a part of the adventure! Lots of clean up going on today. Can't wait to take a shower!!

Here are the photos:

First here is the must see photos of our area http://www.nemo.org.bz/nemonews/news_releases/article_335.php

Storm Damage Photos

Then the flood waters came....

See the water here... the next truck photos is where it water crested for the most part...

From the construction sight next door to us.... A pole floating away. We had 5, we have 1 still here... The water did get to the rims by the end of the daythis is the road I run/walk each morning... Looking from behind JRL towards the SpaStaff Kitchen and staff rooms upstairs, resort laundry room lower level.... I often park under that tree to the right.

Final Photo: The sea is all brown form the river waters. This happens all the time when it rains, but usually you can see the blue-green water of the sea like a line further out... can't today!