Month: May 2008

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MRI Results and Update

First, sorry for a day-late update but I stayed with Soojin at the hospital for past 24 hours so I had no Internet access…  and MRI results weren’t explained to us till about 6 pm local time anyway.  But in short, MRI results didn’t show anything to worry about.

I forget all the medications names but she’s been on IV medications of several kinds and at least Soojin’s conditions have been slowly improving.  The doctor told us that she can check out on Thursday and finish resting up.  SHL (Sudden Hearing Loss) is 50/50 in terms of full recovery in her high frequency hearing.  Her vertigo is lessening with the medications and some shots to her neck… forget what it was.  😛  You know me… clueless when it comes to medical stuff.  I think it was some kind of anesthesia.

Her place is shared with 4 other ENT patients, all females.  I couldn’t sleep till about 4 am because some of those grandmas snored louder than I do and two even talked in their sleep!  Loudly!  And personally, I still don’t understand why it takes 7 medications and a shot in the butt to cure cold!  I believe it’s all those medications that has been giving me diarrhea for past 4 days!  🙁  It sucks…  I skipped today’s breakfast to see if it helps…

I just wanted to thank everyone who has been praying for us and especially for Soojin.  We know now just how much God loves her.  🙂  And also how much you guys love her as well.  Thank you, thank you!  😀  I just pray that once she returns to her mom’s home, she will recover and be able to enjoy the rest of the time with the family.

My flight is tomorrow (Wednesday).  Don’t forget to pick me up Danny!  😛  See you all soon…

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MRI Update and the Kids

Well, though they took the MRI today AND the CT scan, they won’t know anything till Monday. Why? ’cause our important doctors are off on weekends. 🙁 So no one knows how to read them. So off we went to relieve Soojin’s aunt from taking care of Soojin at the hospital. We took a taxi to the Chonbuk University Hospital and I am still amazed at the fact that it only cost $5 to get there! 😀

When we got there, the wing that she was moved to was a very nicely built new section. Clean, bright and it didn’t smell like a hospital! Soojin was in decent spirits… but she’s been on IV and steroids to start some of the treatment, along with some other fluids for MRI. At least one of those have made her stomach feel all too weird and though she is hungry, she hasn’t had the desire to eat much.

The kids were rather happy to see their mommy… especially JJ. Why am I surprised? For the most part since her sickness, the kids have been very much go-lucky and played very well together, almost seemingly unaware of their mother’s sickness. But I knew at least Anna was old enough to know a bit about being sick and such. JJ rushed to mommy’s side and brushed her hands against his cheeks and caressed his face on it. He can be such a sweetie sometimes. 🙂 As for Anna, Soojin told me that they have their “secret” code of affection. I found out to my astonishment, that it was their index fingers kissing each other! She said that their fingers were worms and that it was their “worm kiss”. In fact, the night before she was hospitalized again, that makes it Thursday night, I put JJ to sleep. And when it was Anna’s time to sleep, she wanted to sleep with Soojin. Though I protested a bit, Soojin said it’s ok (and that I could move her to the other room where I slept with the kids after she fell asleep). As the two laid side by side, Soojin asked if Anna remembered their secret shake and upon doing their shake, Anna cried! 🙁

Anna has always been very much an emotional girl. Laughing one minute and then crying the next. And it felt like she couldn’t pretend and hold her tears back… and the floodgate opened. She cried for the first time then. It nearly broke my heart hearing her cry next to her… I really pray that Soojin gets well enough before I leave for the States on Wednesday.

On related sibling note, the two have always played so well together. Sure they do fight and tell-tale on each other frequently, but for the most part, they play very well with each other. I can only thank Soojin for bringing them up so brightly. I have always hated having to restrict kids in their enjoyment of life. I know I have to help them know when to cut it down or such… especially when it’s night time (for the neighbors’ sake) and at places like hospitals where sick people need to rest. But for the most part, even in public, I try to minimize interrupting their fun. Even others comment on how well they play with each other… it’s very noticeable when one’s sleeping or sick ’cause it’s quiet. When both are awake and well, however, it’s a ruckus. And for the most part, I like it. 🙂 Here’s couple of clips of what their fun looks and sounds like…

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Sudden Hearing Loss with vertigo

At least that’s what the doctors are calling it now from the Chonbuk University Hospital.  Worst part is that I feel responsible.  Why?  It’s because they say that it’s due to stress and fatigue, and I was responsible for the busy schedule while in the country trying to visit all the relatives and friends.  🙁

They are taking MRI to check for possible tumor in her ear.  If tumor exists, she has to be moved to Seoul for surgery.  :O  If not, they will treat her via medicines and what not here.  I just pray that it isn’t a tumor and that the treatment would be short.

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Unfortunate Turn of Events: Soojin’s Condition

Well, Soojin went to see a local ENT specialist today and came back with a not-so-good news…  after some testing, the doctor thought that her left ear’s high frequency response was rather poor.  And that this may not be BPPV after all.

What’s worse is that he thinks that there may be a tumor in the ear.  She will be hospitalized at local University Hospital for MRI to see if there is a tumor.  If there is a tumor, she will have to be moved Seoul for surgery.  This totally sucks.  Tumor?!  Dang… 🙁  And if it’s not a tumor, it may be a virus or something…  sheesh…  Anna cried today after Soojin told the kids that she will be gone for several days.

Please pray for good development….

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Feeling very crappy

Well, I guess I couldn’t stay away from sickness….  starting Monday, I started to have a runny nose, which later became a full-blown out sickness.  I have had fever, body ache, and severe coughing.  Blah indeed…

So I went to some of the clinics, an even without insurance, my visits were always about $12!  But socialistic tendencies must have price ’cause the doctors were very straight to the point, and no personal touch whatsoever!

Not to mention that each visit I had gone, once to Internal Medicine, another this morning to ENT doctor, both ended with shots to the butt!  🙁  It has been more than 20 years since I had shots on the butt!  I don’t know why Koreans insist on that.

Soojin will be visiting an ENT specialist to see about her BPPV later today.  Please pray that her condition will improve.  I would just hate to leave her here while she’s still sick.  There’s evidently a set of head rotating exercises that is supposed to improve the condition.

On similar note, I don’t know why we are facing such huge sicknesses… it’s not like I’m good enough to be compared to Job.  But trying to remind ourselves that God has a reason for all this madness is the only thing that gets me through.

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Update on Soojin’s Status

So once we got back from Namwon (my late grandfather’s home), we were hanging out and resting and planning… when all of a sudden, upon Soojin’s return from an interview, she complained of dizziness.  She went to bed early.

However, when she woke up at 6:30 am on Saturday morning, she wanted to be rushed to ER and she was debilitated and beyond capable of standing up.  After calling 119 (Korean version of 911), ambulance came in 5 minutes!  I was impressed!  What impressed me even more was the fact that ambulance ride was FREE!!

She spent the next 4 hours or so at Yesu (Jesus) Hospital and was diagnosed with what is known as “Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo“.  It basically immobilizes you by messing up your “ear stones” that help your balance.  When she returned, she was in major agonizing pain and suffering.  Imagine being stuck in a 50-mph merri-go-round for continous time!  🙁  She threw up pretty much everything.  And when she couldn’t even keep water down, we had to hospitalize her for IV to keep her hydrated.

Another impressive thing?  ER bill was $400!  Shoot… if our State-side of medical bills were of that caliber!  And she was hospitalized for day and half which, without insurance, only cost $150.  Perhaps social health care isn’t so bad.  When she returned home, she’s been bedridden since and slowly recovering.

She isn’t throwing up anymore.  She drinks water and porridge and is able to keep them down.  She can slowly walk herself.  But two things I learned is that:

  1. This condition can come back anytime once you have it
  2. Recovery can take as long as several months

So please pray for quicker recovery and that it wouldn’t come back.  Thanks everyone for your prayers and concerns.  While it wasn’t desirable to spend our long overdue vacation being sick and all, we believe it’s for a reason.  At least, the kids are handling it well…  watching loads of cartoons and loading up on awesome (but bad for you) snacks!!  😛

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Visiting My Belated Grandparents’ at Namwon

On Wednesday, we visited my late grandfather’s home in Namwon.

Now, my eldest uncle owns and runs the farm.  In fact, for a bit, we had to go gather some firewood!

They also own 8 cows along with some farm land…

After that, we headed out to the city to meet up with my cousin, Jung Hwan, and he treated us to “crab stew”.  After which, he took us to a place dedicated to Korean version of Romeo & Juliet, aka. “Choon Hyang Jun“.

And yes, you will notice that I have no grey hair!  😛  Dyeing hair in Korea is as cheap as $10!  Cha-ching!

You can find more pictures on my flickr account.  The next morning, we visited my great-grandparents’ and grandparents’ graves.