August 6, 2012

Cool story about a senior sister missionary here that was sick and needed platelets. I was one of the missionaries that got to donate.

August 5, 2012

Dear Elders and Sisters;

We want you to know that you have taken part in one of the greatest miracles that we have ever seen.  A week ago Saturday, Sister Whitaker, called to ask about the red spots that she had all over her body, and the blood blisters that she had in her mouth.  She was obviously having bleeding issues. Sister Alvarado and I rushed her to a lab not far from her apartment and waited for the results of the platelet count.  Platelets are the particles in the blood that stick to the wall of a vessel and to each other to make a plug if there is a tear in the vessel.  Small tears happen daily. Normal range is 140 – 440.  We were told to bring anyone to the emergency room if their count was below 80 to receive platelets as we treated Dengue patients.  Below 20 is life threatening and below 10 usually results in spontaneous bleeding into the body cavities and death and her count was “1”.  Sister Alvarado took her to an emergency room and they verified the first test.  They then said that they did not have the ability to treat her and sent us by ambulance to Centro Medico. Her status moved her to the top of the emergency waiting line and they began more tests.   We knew when we left the ER at 2:00 AM Sunday morning that only our Father in Heaven could save her.  We prayed with all the energy of our souls that He would wrap His arms around her and keep her safe.  Our prayer was joined by Elder and Sister Whitakers’ and others as they learned the emergency.  By Sunday morning a fast was in place and a call to pray was organized mission wide to take place at designated times.  The whole mission knelt together at the same time to pray for her, and our prayers were answered. She was still alive and appeared to have no active internal bleeding.  She made her way to the top internal medicine doctor in the teaching hospital.  When we talked with him on Tuesday, he said that in his career, or the history of the hospital, or in all of Puerto Rico had there ever been a platelet count so low. Every time they stuck her with a needle to get blood, she would bleed under the skin and her arm was totally black and blue.  She began receiving donor platelets and her count went to 3 then to 9 then back to 3. Her body was destroying them as fast as they were put in.  The doctor said that that many platelets were hard to come by and President Alvarado got permission from Salt Lake to ask the missionaries to donate platelets. What a response! Everyone wanted to give.  Most were not eligible because of the stringent rules in the blood bank, but all hearts were willing.  Sister Whitaker said that she could tell when she got a bag of platelets that was given by a missionary.  There was an overwhelming feel of strength and love when they were going in.  She could feel the love in every drop.  She was given prednisone to slow down the immune response.  They did every test possible to determine if there was internal bleeding.  She had a brain scan, abdominal scan, spleen ultrasound, lung x-rays.  All said that there was no internal bleeding.  She was still being wrapped in her Father’s Arms.  Then the blood tests began to fail.  After the blood was drawn but before the count could take place the platelets clumped together.  They had to run the tests a different way.  Finally Friday afternoon we had a count again. It was 24!!!!  Saturday it was 35 and there had been no donor platelets given which meant that she was making her own platelets.  This morning, Sunday, the count was 64 and still she was making them all on her own.

If the law of justice was in full force, she would have died last week-end.  Because she is one of the Savior’s own and those who fasted and prayed for her are His sheep, He could use the Atonement to fulfill the demands of justice and wrap her in a safe blanket until she is physically ready to function on her own.  We are so thankful that the mercies of the Atonement are available to His sons and daughters.

Sister Whitaker sends her love and tears with thanks for all of you that have given so much from your hearts.  This miracle would not have happened without everyone in the mission doing their part.  Prayer Power is Awesome!!!

Now, we are not out of the woods. As Sister Whitaker is recovering, we have our next missionary down with Dengue.  Please continue to pray for those that are sick that they might recover quickly.  Pray that this Dengue stumbling block might be taken from us that we might be more about our Father’s work if it is His will.

We love you all,

Sister Alvarado, Sister Visker