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When Death's Door Didn't Open: Meningitis in China by Fred and Suzanne Gale |
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Chapters: From a Coffin-Sized Bunk to the Holiday InnFifty Percent Chance of Survival Masked Nurses, Machines, and Tubes Healing Tears and a Van Reservation |
3 Masked Nurses, Machines, and Tubes (Friday evening, en route to China) It takes about 24 hours to fly to China from the east coast of the USA. Suzanne had plenty of time to pray, and plenty of time to contemplate what she might find at her destination. She knew enough about spinal meningitis to know that her husband could die before she got there. |
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| The plan was to fly to Guangzhou, collect Fred’s luggage from the hotel, return to the airport and fly to Hong Kong. When they arrived at Guangzhou, Suzanne and Pastor Wong passed quickly through customs. As Suzanne walked out into the airport terminal, she heard her name being called. |  Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, one of the best hospitals in Southeast Asia |
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| It was Joshua, who
she hadn’t seen in nine years. He said, "Do you remember me?" After so many
years she still remembered his face well, and she almost wept. Joshua and a representative
from the American consulate took them to the hotel, where the staff had everything ready.
The hotel booked a flight to Hong Kong and within three hours they were on their way. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, no hotel rooms were available. A big rugby tournament was underway and all hotels were full. But, miraculously, a friend of Pastor Wong’s was able to find rooms in a hotel just 10 minutes from Fred’s hospital. God’s provision to get these two people from Washington, DC to Hong Kong in such a short amount of time was truly awesome to watch. ** Suzanne learned from the doctor that, in addition to the meningitis, an MRI showed a partial blockage of a vein in Fred’s brain. In addition, the hospital in Guangzhou had given Fred a dehydration therapy that had affected his kidneys. It was still not clear whether Fred would survive, and if he did, whether he would sustain permanent brain, kidney or other damage. Meningitis can devastate the human body. Of those who survive the initial onslaught, many meningitis victims remain comatose for weeks. Internal organs can be damaged. The bacteria often settle in joints of the arms or legs, causing infections that can lead to amputation. Brain damage, impaired vision, hearing, paralysis and chronic depression can result. When Suzanne finally arrived at the hospital, Fred was still alive, but it was a scary sight. Through the isolation room window she saw her husband surrounded by masked nurses, machines, and tubes. His whole body was stiff as a board. Suzanne was allowed to go in to see Fred, wearing a mask and gown. The nurse called his name loudly several times until he opened his eyes. Suzanne told him she had come and that people were praying for him. He made some sounds and lost consciousness. Pastor Wong reported back Fred’s status to our church in Washington, DC, where his wife, Nancy, had mobilized the entire church to pray. On Saturday, when Fred was being transported to Hong Kong, 15 people gathered in Washington to pray. On Sunday, the church service turned into another prayer time for Fred. The worship time took on a new freshness as people called upon God. Our associate pastor was nearly in tears as he led the service. It was clear to everyone that God was moving. |
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