5 Different Hospitals this week! Elder Scharman says good-bye; more Alps

Our Church Week—In the past 10 days, we have visited 5 different hospitals spread all across Southern France; 2 different hospitals in Tarbes, 1 in Pau and now 1 in Bayonne on the Atlantic Coast. We made 2 visits to Jean Michel in 2 different hospitals, spent 3 nights in Bayonne with a sick Elder, made 3 visits with Michel in 2 different hospitals and 1 visit with Gilles. We may have a new career.

Elder Scharman—Transfers come to all the Young Missionaries and now it is Elder Scharman’s turn. He has been with us for 6 months under the new guidelines of staying longer in one area. You can get pretty attached by then. We got attached, the Branch got attach and he especially got attached. They put their lives on hold to help others and when it is time to leave they realize a part of their heart will always stay here. What a down-home nice Elder! This is a young man with no guile and one you want all your daughters to know. He is gentle, kind, always a nice word and assuming the best.

Elder Scharman shared his parting testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. He was very tearful and it was an emotional good-bye for him. We sang “God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again”. That is an emotional song to begin with. Then we all felt the loss. We always know it is coming for them; we just wish we did not have to say goodbye: it’s never easy. We got teared up knowing our day will come to brave our own good-bye, now sooner than later.

Elder Carter—We got a call from the Mission President Sunday afternoon at Church during our monthly repas/potluck. Elder Carter, who we just visited in Bayonne doing apartment inspections a few weeks ago, was in the hospital with pain and suspected appendicitis. He tried toughing it out not wanting to miss Church and thinking it was the flu or he ate something that didn’t agree with him. Soon enough, and while at Church his color was not good so some members said it was time to go the Doctor and brought him to the Emergency Room. The minute some said, “Might be appendicitis” he said yep, this is no ordinary stomach ache. We hung by for word on the scan they were about to do to confirm appendicitis. It was appendicitis.

So we said our good-byes at Church, brought the Elders home and began to pack to head back to Bayonne (1 ½ hours). The drive FELT much longer (for Meg….filling in for “Mother Hen” for his worried Mom) until we were safely in Bayonne at the hospital. His companion, Elder Neumann, was in the waiting room with 2 members until we arrived. They brought him beaucoup food and stayed with him until we were able to arrive.

Surgery was quick, 1 hour. He was just glad to get rid of that piercing pain!

The Elders live literally across the street from the Hospital, a stone’s throw away. How convenient is that? In this case, it was an unforeseen blessing we’d all find out about months after he was transferred to Bayonne. On Sunday, we brought Elder Neumann back to their apartment to collect some things for both Elders to spend the night with Elder Carter. They are never to be alone and their loyalty really shows and increases in times as these.

As we were heading across the parking lot back to the hospital, the Anesthesiologist was exiting the door. We said hello (not knowing who she was). She greeted us as well, but then she saw our nametags and stopped us. She introduced herself saying things went very well. Talk about a blessing! Now we could share her professional feedback with his waiting-in-the-wings family asap.

By the time we could see him, his color was not quite back and he was still groggy. We called the Mission President to let him know Elder Carter was out of surgery and doing well. Music to his ears! Every few minutes Elder Neumann would receive a text from Church members to send their well wishes. The news spread like wildfire as did the calls to know how to help.

We ended up spending 3 nights. We’d go over each morning and spend the day with both Elders. That’s where we really got to each of them individually.

Elder Carter stayed 3 days—2 partial days and 1 full day in the hospital. Initially, we were asked to bring him back to Tarbes to recover; but we decided the trip to Tarbes would be too much on Elder Carter. Every time he would try to stand, his color would go out of him. We also noticed the great outpouring of support from their ward in Bayonne and felt that was a better choice. So we checked in with the Mission President to clear having him recover in Bayonne. The ward was already bringing meals and helping Elder Neumann until we got to Bayonne. It turned out to be a real revelation—on discharge day we literally wheeled him across the hospital parking lot to where the Elders lived. He was SO warn out and white again by the time we wheeled him 5 minutes over and up the elevator. It was immediately clear the trip to Tarbes would have been too much for him.

We stayed at their apartment for quite a while and continued to check on Elder Carter until his color returned. We decided to stay another night in Bayonne, check up on them again before we left the area. They felt good to be on their own and Meg would call daily, more if needed, to check up on them. The main thing for Elder Neumann was to watch Elder Carter’s color changing when he sits up. Let him sit on the bed (count to 10) stand (count to 10 again) then take a few steps with his companion by his side at all times. They tried a short walk in the sun by Thursday. Elder Neumann noticed Elder Carter’s color changing and knew when to head back.

What a very pleasant set of young men; they were great to talk with and we had some really nice conversations. Both were very teachable and willing to do whatever we recommended: very impressed; hats off to them. Elder Neumann was the perfect nurturing companion, making breakfast, helping his companion stand and walk, etc. When Marc took Elder Neumann out to get groceries, Marc recommended a whole chicken to roast then make into soup afterwards with the broth/pickings. We walked him through the steps of how to roast a chicken; he was willing to learn and proud of himself afterwards. Now he has a new recipe in his back pocket for his remaining time here!

Jean Michel—We returned through Pau to visit Jean Michel in that hospital and check on our second-year legality paperwork, which was in and complete. We got our second-year card first then headed over to the hospital. Tatiana was there and said he was to be released; they were just waiting for the Doctor to make his rounds. Finally he came. He gave the release. They had everything packed and we helped carry their bags down the long, long hall to the entrance to complete the discharge. But midway, Tatiana noticed the prescriptions were not on the discharge papers. She’s a nurse in training and was talking the Doctor for quite some time. Meanwhile we talked in the hall with Jean Michel who was telling us how surprised his children would be as he was coming home earlier than anticipated and they did not know. We talked about their impending excitement knowing both of their children. Yes, they would be very excited!

Long story short; the attending Doctor could not release Jean Michel. What a disappointment! We were halfway down the hall, bags in hand. Tatiana tried everything including the Doctor faxing the medications. But in the end, it was decided he did not have the ultimate authority to release Jean Michel. Back we went to the room. We wanted to cry for him. He has more than his fair share of medical challenges, we’d do anything to lift that load.

Jean Michel has practically lived in hospitals since he was 6 years old. We just found out he needs another, unrelated surgery next month. In the end, it will improve his quality of life. His dialysis appointments will continue 3 times a week. Marc told them about the new prototype kidney “filter” he just read about and saw the accompanying video; this cutting-edge technology will change people’s lives for the good. It’s being coined the “bionic” kidney and it will do away with the need of dialysis. Jean Michel had just watched the same video and is hopeful again. It’s hard to say how long it will be until it is marketable beyond the prototype and enough are made. What an incredible medical advancement for those with failing or failed kidneys facing hours upon hours of dialysis and the accompanying fatigue. Truly remarkable!

Michel Dimon—We got a call from Bernard, Michel Dimon’s brother-in-law, just as we were ready to walk out the door. Michel Dimon had just passed-on minutes ago. We were stunned. When we had seen him a week before, he was in good spirits. We knew what lie ahead for him to recover: a month and a half in bed. That would not be easy. But in retrospect, we knew pneumonia was a risk with him flat on his back for that length of time. When we were gone helping Elder Carter, he was transferred back to the main Hospital to be treated. We went over as soon as we could. Just as we were ready to walk out our main door below, Anne called to tell us he had just been transferred over. She knew we were gone and wanted to make sure we knew. We then had to share the difficult news with her. She had just gone over to visit him and found out he was transferred.

Michel Dimon’s family have wonderful support as a family but it is never easy. It can be a sudden shock and needs time to sink in. But through their tears, they knew where he was and they were happy that he did not have to suffer long and in bed. The family knows they will see him again. They have been to the temple to be sealed together as a family.

At the end of each day, we know our way has been paved whether it’s in France or any other portion of God’s world. Some days/weeks it is so apparent we can’t help but marvel at God’s goodness and His love for His children in times of sickness and in health, trials and challenges that we all face.

Gilles—Yesterday we visited the Tarbes Hospital to see Gilles, the husband of one of our members and who had a small hemorrhagic stroke. He is out of Intensive Care now and will go to a Rehab Unit for 1 month. He is 82, soon to be 83. He has some very slight left-sided paralysis and no speech impediment. We thought he looked great and his paralysis was not even noticeable. Meg’s Mother had a massive hemorrhagic stroke some years ago so we are personally familiar with how debilitating strokes can be. She lost EVERYTHING—walking, talking, swallowing—but made a full and miraculous recovery. So we were glad to see Gille’s stroke was mild and that he is on the road to recovery.

The pictures this week are of towns and scenery taken along the trip heading to Lyon a few weeks ago. Enjoy

A la prochaine.