Photo: Harpy Eagle, Panama’s National Bird
With desire to share with you
All things Panamá,
The following is a li’l story ‘bout healing.
While uncovering buried treasure
During our move from Olinda, Maui, to Boquete, Panamá,
Andrew’s stomach lining was torn
With the weight of moving heavy materials.
Another name for this is: hernia.
The symptoms mostly showed up
At the conclusion of the majority of our moving,
After having completed the packing of both pallets
That were being sent to Panamá.
After arrival in Panamá
And following a few months of recovering
From the enormity of the transition,
We began asking our new friends in Boquete
(Think coconut 🥥 telegraph)
For a recommendation of a surgeon,
(Having learned from our research
That a hernia can only be fully repaired surgically).
With two recommendations by amigos
For the good Doctor Caballero,
We made an appointment with him
Right here in Boquete
(Most medical care is in David, a half hour drive from Boquete).
With ease,
Ultrasound, blood work, and ekg were performed locally
Within a few short miles from our home.
With all green flags from the test results,
The surgery was performed 2 days subsequent
(No long delays to see a doctor
Or schedule the surgical procedure).
Any questions we had prior to surgery
Were directed to the good doctor via WhatsApp,
Where he responded within moments
With knowledge, compassion, and kindness.
On Monday, October 13,
We drove to a small clinic in David
For the one day procedure.
Andrew was escorted to a private room
(Which just happened to be Room #1
With 1’s being a sweet reminder
That we are guided and on course⛵️)
And taken into surgery within the hour.
Dr. Caballero let me know when the anesthesia
Was in effect before surgery began,
The results of the surgery
Following the completion of the procedure
(All went well despite the hole being larger than anticipated),
And spent a number of moments with Andrew and me
After the anesthesia wore off
Detailing what to expect over the following week during recovery.
We returned home late that afternoon.
Since returning home, Dr. Caballero has guided us
Via conversations through WhatsApp
With minute details in healing,
Sharing a palpable interest in Andrew’s expedient recovery.
The cost? $5K. Out of pocket.
Given that most readers of this Friends Journal
Live in the USA,
I imagine that you can easily identify
The diversity in health care
Amongst these two countries.
We have felt cared for and tended in all ways
Without delay and with an underlying salient support🙏
