“I kindly asked a custodian if he could point me in the direction of the emergency room, and after traversing the longest and darkest hallway of my nightmares I finally came across the emergency wing of the hospital. ”
The cool night air prickled at my skin, sending an immediate shiver down my spine. I wasn't used to 45 degrees in May. I was relieved when three girls from Alabama joined me, and we all joked and laughed about how different it was here already as we took a cab into the city. As 1:15 am rolled around, I was finally standing at the door to my new home for the next 4 weeks. Dazed, cold, and a little scared, I walked in alone and told the guard I was looking for Ms. Caicedo when suddenly, she appeared in the elevator. Relief washed over me as we took the elevator up to the 5th floor and I entered my room.
The apartment was sleek and modern, with floor to ceiling windows. A little white furball named Jack followed me around wherever I wandered. Ms. Caicedo was kind and her two year old son was shy but bubbly, and I slept soundly that night knowing they were just across the hall.
When I arrived to the Academia the next afternoon, I was quickly handed my folder with my rotation information and sent on my way with the rest of the group for a informational tour of Quito. We were told how to use the public transportation, shown how to get to the main hospitals we might be rotating through, and before I knew it we were right back at the Academia. It was a whirlwind of information, and I felt out of breath from the excitement (and the walking). Rather than take a taxi, I decided to walk up the hill to my host family apartment before darkness fell upon the city. Actually out of breath and exhausted, I finally reached the summit and climbed into bed.
We took a walking tour of Quito
(there was a LOT of walking)
The view from the top of my host's apartment
after my trek up the mountain
Around 3 am I woke up with a terrible pain in my chest. I elevated myself and tried to get back to sleep but it was no use. By 4:30 I became very worried, and called an emergency nurse line. The nurse on the other end of the phone finally decided I should get myself to a hospital, as I was having difficulty breathing and the pressure in my chest was only seeming to get worse. I calmly woke my host mother and informed her I needed to go to the emergency room. She called me a taxi, and alone and in the rain, I cabbed to the hospital at 5 in the morning.
The lights were off throughout the entire first floor of the hospital. At first I worried I had been taken to the wrong place. I kindly asked a custodian if he could point me in the direction of the emergency room, and after traversing the longest and darkest hallway of my nightmares I finally came across the emergency wing of the hospital.
Trying to get across to the nurses and doctors what was wrong with me was a real challenge considering my level of Spanish. I told them there was a pain and pressure in my chest and that I could not breathe well, and after a few tests they determined my heart rate was upwards of 120 beats per minute and my blood oxygen concentration was below 80. Frantic, they administered oxygen and laid me in a bed. The doctors took blood, ran an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG for short), took a chest x-ray, and more. Afraid I had severe altitude sickness, they were taking all the precautions to be sure I had no fluid in my lungs and that my heart was okay.
In short, I did have severe altitude sickness. My resting heart rate would not fall below 110, my blood oxygen was low, and they discovered an arrhythmia in my heart (an irregular heartbeat). Thankfully, I had no fluid in my lungs, but the cardiologist was very concerned about my tachycardia and arrhythmia, so he requested I stay the full day and night in the hospital. I was relieved when people from the Academia finally began to show up, and they helped me to understand what was going on. I was monitored for the day and evening, and given beta-blockers to slow down my heart rate. After a long and sleepless night, I was freed from the hospital.
I could finally begin what I had come to Ecuador to do: learn Spanish and shadow physicians in hospitals. When I was released from the hospital on Tuesday I was taken to the Academia where I met my new host father, Carlos. He took me to his home and I was welcomed with open arms by his wife, Adriana. There I also met their son, Juan Jose, and another girl named Somerton taking classes at the Academia who would be my sister and confidant throughout my trip.
On Wednesday I had my first shadowing experience at the Maternidad Isidro Ayora Emergencia, or the Emergency room of a public maternity hospital in Quito. Under Dr. Gomez I was able to witness numerous exams, an ultrasound of a ruptured ovary, and a diagnosis of both pelvic inflammatory disease and preeclampsia without high blood pressure. It was extremely interesting to watch him work, and I was glad the medical students on rotation were interested in talking with me and helping me with my Spanish.
The weekend was certainly the best part of my week. The Academia put together a day trip to Otavalo, and about 8 of us embarked early on Saturday morning. Otavalo is a small town located about 2 hours north of Quito, and it boasts the most famous indigenous market of Ecuador. Along the way to the market, we made a few stops, like visiting the center of the world.
The line between my feet is exactly lined up with the equator!
We took breakfast at a local shop in Cayambe, where we observed how Bizcochos (a type of biscuit native to Cayambe) are made and then got to enjoy some with coffee, eggs, and good company.
Next was Mira Lago, a breathtaking stop filled with music, alpacas, and the most spectacular view of Cotopaxi volcano.
We finally arrived in Otavalo, and although the market was overwhelming it was extremely exciting and enjoyable. I bought the coziest alpaca blanket for only $20, as well as gifts for family and friends. By the time we finished at the market we were all starving, so we stopped in Cotacachi for lunch. We gazed longingly at the beautiful leather boots, belts, and bags handmade by local leather shops there, but had to pass up buying anything because most of us were out of money!
Although my trip had a rocky start, I have truly enjoyed soaking up the culture and the kindness of the people here. And hey, I am getting some great photos too!
